Mogollon Crest Trail to Mogollon Baldy

Gila Wilderness, Gila National Forest (Sandy Point, east of Glenwood)

Check before you go. Check before you go: The lightning-caused Sacaton Fire (June-July 2026, about 9,800 acres) burned roughly 3.5 to 4.5 miles west of Mogollon Baldy Lookout. Its closure order (03-06-04-26-002, effective July 1, 2026, 'until rescinded') closed the northwestern corner of the Gila Wilderness, with a boundary along the Mogollon Baldy Trail and the Crest Trail. The order no longer appears on the Gila National Forest alerts page as of October 2026, but no rescission notice was found. Ben Lilly and Willow Creek campgrounds farther along NM 159 are closed for post-fire flood risk (Order 03-06-06-26-001); the forest's alerts page now says through Jan. 1, 2027, or until rescinded, while the order's own alert page (last updated July 21, 2026) still says Oct. 16, 2026. NM 159 east of Mogollon closes in winter. Call the Glenwood Ranger District (575-539-2481).

The Crest Trail runs along the spine of the Mogollon Mountains, past Whitewater Baldy, which Backpacker calls the range’s highest peak, from Sandy Point on Bursum Road to the fire lookout on Mogollon Baldy. The Forest Service lists it at 11.8 miles one way, nearly all inside the wilderness.

It’s a high, burned-over ridge walk, and NPS recommends it for experienced backpackers.

The hike

From Glenwood, the Forest Service directions go 3.4 miles west on U.S. 180, then 17.3 miles up NM 159 (Bursum Road) to the Crest #182 Trailhead at Sandy Point, which has a vault toilet but no water. The lower road has steep grades and tight turns, with length limits for big vehicles. Wikipedia notes that east of Mogollon the road is unpaved and closes in winter.

SummitPost describes a moderate 1.5-mile climb to the wilderness boundary at about 9,800 feet, then flatter forest along the east flank of Willow Mountain. Backpacker’s 2013 guide puts Bead Spring about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, on steep ground not suited to camping. Backpacker gives 4.9 miles to Hummingbird Saddle, where the Crest Trail meets the Whitewater Creek Trail and most backpackers spend the night. HikeArizona says there’s a spring about a quarter mile down Whitewater Creek Trail from the saddle.

Beyond the saddle, HikeArizona’s guide describes the trail skirting Whitewater Baldy, crossing to Center Baldy, passing a poorly marked junction at West Fork Saddle (keep left), and climbing to the Mogollon Baldy Lookout, about 14 miles round trip from Hummingbird Saddle. Camping isn’t allowed at the lookout, the guide says, and it suggests Snow Park, about 1.5 miles past it. Don’t take water from the lookout cistern without asking.

Fire has shaped this ridge. The Forest Service says the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire burned the canopy along much of the trail, and much of it is coming back as aspen; Backpacker says the trail is popular in fall when they turn gold. Gila Trails Info, which lists the trail as logged in 2025, says it’s in a high-intensity burn zone where “trees are falling rapidly.” NPS mentions heavy locust regrowth. In 2026, the Sacaton Fire burned a few miles west of the lookout.

Gila Trails Info lists a 17.6-mile Sandy Point, Hummingbird, and Redstone loop for a shorter trip. Backpacker warns snowdrifts can linger into mid-June.

For lower Gila trips, see Jordan Hot Springs and the West Fork to White Creek.

Tips

Stay off the ridge in high wind. Burned snags fall, even after trail crews clear them.
Confirm the road and any fire closure with the Glenwood Ranger District.
Plan water by spring. Carry enough to reach Bead Spring or the saddle spring, and more for a dry camp.
Watch afternoon weather. HikeArizona describes clear mornings turning to heavy afternoon rain.
Expect snow into June on north-facing stretches.

Camping

No permit is needed for backpackers; organized groups need a Forest Service permit. NPS asks you to camp at least 200 feet from springs, streams, and trails. Don’t camp in the trailhead lot (Forest Service) or at the lookout (HikeArizona). Hang food at least 10 feet up. Forest Order 03-06-00-25-002 limits stays to 14 days in 30. The Gila lifted fire restrictions on July 20, 2026.

Inside Intel: Backpacker says most backpackers camp at Hummingbird Saddle for its plentiful sites and nearby spring, and suggests a quieter, aspen-lined flat about 3.2 miles from the trailhead if you carry water in. HikeArizona’s guide, written from several Scout trips, also recommends a night at the saddle and Snow Park beyond the lookout.

Trail facts

Distance: 23.6 miles round trip (11.8 each way, Forest Service)
Route type: Out and back
Difficulty: Strenuous; above 9,000 feet the whole way
Campsites: Dispersed; Hummingbird Saddle (about 5 miles), Snow Park
Water: Springs only; treat it
Permits: None for individuals
Bear and food storage: Hang food (NPS)
Dogs: Allowed under control (NPS); leashed at the trailhead
Trailhead: Crest #182 Trailhead, Sandy Point, NM 159
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Pitching at Hummingbird Saddle:

Camp sits above 10,000 feet on a burned ridge where afternoon storms build fast, so a sturdy shelter matters. See the backpacking tents reviewers trust.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.