 Indian Springs Trail #627, Big Lake Lookout |
 Big Lake Lookout Tower. |
 The aspens that surround the Big Lake Lookout Trail are the tallest aspen I have seen on the mountain. |
 Pictured left to right: Corrine Neal, John McCaslin, Esther Miller and Lee Nuzum. Tall aspen tower over us as we hike toward Indian Springs. This is a great fall hike. |
Indian Springs Trail is a long, moderate hike with a spur trail to Big Lake Lookout and another one to the West Fork of the Black River. Both spur trails are optional, but the Big Lake Lookout trail (a short half-mile hike) is my favorite. Large rock formations and tall cliffs surrounded by giant aspen is what awaits us as we reach the lookout. As we reach the top of the tower, the views are spectacular.
There are two springs along the Indian Springs trail. One is the historic Spillman Springs, composed of large wooden troughs and a pipe with a steady flow of water. The other is Indian Springs, a small pond located approximately half-way around the trail (a great place to stop for a snack or lunch). These springs do not contain potable water.
The historic Apache Railway corridor makes up a large portion of this trail. The barren berms were once lined with metal tracks for a steam engine that carried lumber from the town of Maverick to the town of McNary. In its later years the old steam engine carried sight-seers along these scenic trails.
We cross FR 249E as we head back to the trailhead. The sign at the last fork in the trail lets us know the spur to the north leads to the Rainbow Campground (part of the Big Lake Recreation Area), but we head south, crossing FR 249E again, and back to our car.
To find Indian Springs Trailhead, from Pinetop, follow Rt. 260 to Rt. 273 (Sunrise turn), turn right and follow this road past Big Lake (Rt. 273 turns into FR 249), follow this until you see FR 249E (first right turn), turn right and the trailhead is located .3 miles on the left. Drive time from Pinetop is approximately 1 hour. To drive to Big Lake Lookout, continue on FR 249 until you reach 249D, turn right and this road will take you to the tower.
There are two springs along the Indian Springs trail. One is the historic Spillman Springs, composed of large wooden troughs and a pipe with a steady flow of water. The other is Indian Springs, a small pond located approximately half-way around the trail (a great place to stop for a snack or lunch). These springs do not contain potable water.
The historic Apache Railway corridor makes up a large portion of this trail. The barren berms were once lined with metal tracks for a steam engine that carried lumber from the town of Maverick to the town of McNary. In its later years the old steam engine carried sight-seers along these scenic trails.
We cross FR 249E as we head back to the trailhead. The sign at the last fork in the trail lets us know the spur to the north leads to the Rainbow Campground (part of the Big Lake Recreation Area), but we head south, crossing FR 249E again, and back to our car.
To find Indian Springs Trailhead, from Pinetop, follow Rt. 260 to Rt. 273 (Sunrise turn), turn right and follow this road past Big Lake (Rt. 273 turns into FR 249), follow this until you see FR 249E (first right turn), turn right and the trailhead is located .3 miles on the left. Drive time from Pinetop is approximately 1 hour. To drive to Big Lake Lookout, continue on FR 249 until you reach 249D, turn right and this road will take you to the tower.
