Rock Wall Trail a pleasant surprise along Rim
Fitting squarely into the “who knew” category of Rim country hiking trails, the Rock Wall Trail is a pleasant surprise hiding in clear view of State Route 87 near the hamlet of Strawberry.
The unsigned, unadvertised route follows rugged Forest Road 608 as it clings to flaking limestone ledges below the Mogollon Rim. Ascending more than 1,000 feet through the filtered shade of Emory oaks and ponderosa pines, the red-earth Jeep route hangs in precipitous knots above Strawberry Canyon and is shored up by artfully constructed stone retaining walls where it bends along the choppy contours of the gaping, conifer-fleeced gorge.
In the beginning, the route is not marked, but once you’ve navigated through the maze of paths at the trailhead, the rest of the way is simple to follow.
From the trailhead, pass the gate, veer right and follow the power-line road 500 feet to a fork just before the road heads steeply uphill. Turn left here (marked by a green metal post at N 34 24.405, W 111 28.891). From this point, ignore the side paths and veer right to stay on the wide road heading uphill.
In just under a mile, the first of the eponymous rock walls stabilizes a hairpin turn. Additional fortifications are visible high on the cliffs across the canyon. That is your destination. As the trail climbs, views of the Mazatzal Mountains peek through the forest before it swings onto a scenic, exposed ledge where the road is hacked from wildflower-embellished vertical rock faces.
The 2-mile-long “walls” portion of the hike ends where the road heads inland at the trail’s high point. Although this is a popular turnaround spot, you can opt to follow the 608 signs 2 more miles through fragrant woodlands to reconnect with SR 87. Return the way you came.
Length: 4 miles round trip for the “walls” segment or 8 miles round trip for the entire road. Rating: Moderate. Elevation: 6.000-7,160 feet. Getting there: From the State Route 87/ 260 junction in Payson, go 17 miles north on SR 87 to the trailhead at mile marker 270 on the right. There’s parking for about four cars. Additional space is at the Trail 15 lot a few yards up the road on the left.