b"61T hanks to the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984, some of the most beautiful country in the Southwest has been preserved for future generations. There are over 200,000 acres of wilderness and primitive areas within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Travel is restricted to foot or horseback and mechanized equipment is prohibited.12 BLUE LOOKOUT TRAIL #71steep, high-country trail. The trail PAINTED BLUFF TRAIL #13This trail winds for 12 miles, droppingTrailhead (FR 184) is a trail system thatbegins about 0.6 miles below the over the edge of the Mogollon Rim tobrings travelers to the Blue Peak Lookoutlookout but you'll want to hike up descend all the way to Eagle Creek with a 3,617Tower and provides access to one of the Blueto the summit of Blue Peak to enjoy feet accumulated elevation gain. The trailhead isRanges better-known Wild West landmarks.the panorama. The Blue Range, located on the west side of the US 191, MP 177, 19Utilizing these three trails makes a wonderfulBlue River Canyon, Eagle miles north of Clifton. Head west toward the lowerday hike loop that can be enjoyed from springCreek, Mount Graham, and portion of Eagle Creek to view such attractionsthrough fall by hikers and horseback riders alike.the Pinalenos to the south, as ancient petroglyphs located on Painted Bluffs,Blue Peak is also Greenlee Countys Highpointthe Mogollon Range in New abandoned mines, and springs throughout thewith a peak height of 9,355 feet. Where there'sMexico and the canyon of the journey. This trail is rocky with a few steep spots.a lookout you know the views have to be good.San Francisco River are just Vegetation is sparse at lower elevations but a niceUnsurpassed panoramas, a touch of wild history,a few of the sights you can stand of Arizona cypress can be found near theand access to one of the Blue Area's largest sidesee from this vantage point.beginning of the trail. canyons are some of the attractions offered by this When you can tear yourself away from the 2 views at the trailhead and start back down the trail, you'll find you're in for a steep trip down a switchback staircase. The first stop along the descent to KP Canyon is an old cabin that was once used as a home by the lookout. It was also once used as a hideout by a bank robber who held up a bank in McNary in 1921 reportedly to secure money the bank refused to loan him to bring his mother to the US from Germany. Neither his altruistic intentions nor the fact that he was about to give himself up was enough to avert the tragic course of events the robbery set in motion. One member of the posse that came to apprehend the unfortunate soul shot him down as he stepped out of the cabin with his hands up. If you're on Forest Road 249 at the west end of Williams Valley you might notice his crude grave marker. The posse buried him there on the trip back to town.24 July 2023"