The Steeple Trail is located outside of Alpine, AZ along the east-central border of AZ & NM.
The trail is located in the Blue Wilderness area and access is limited to only hiking and pack animals.
From the intersection of US191/180 in Alpine, AZ travel east on US180 toward New Mexcio approximately 4 miles.
Perhaps 1/2 mile before reaching Luna Lake, travel south on the Blue Road for approximately 30 miles into the Blue Wilderness Area.
Travel time from Alpine is over an hour due to the winding gravel mountain road and frequent river crossings.
This area is not well known to most hikers given it's fantastically remote location.
However hunters have known about the area for years and flock here in the fall to hunt mule deer, white tail deer, trophy elk, turkey, bear and mountain lion.
The Blue River could support a native trout population, however Arizona Game & Fish does not have plans to stock the Gila or Apache Trout at this time.
The best time to hike "Down on the Blue" is from mid-November to the end of March.
The elevation is just above 5000' along the river and the mountains soar to just under 10000'.
The temperatures along the river is very hot during the summer and this supports a large rattlesnake population, especially the Black Rattlesnake or Timber Rattler by it's local name.
The Steeple Trail is at an elevation of approximately 5200' and is well marked off the Blue Road and has a small parking lot along with a NFS kiosk - there are no facilities at the trailhead.
The trail head is located on the north-western section of the parking area and immediately travels uphill.
The first three miles of the trail take you to the top of Steeple Mesa, we like to call it "Rocky Mesa".
The trail on the mesa and the mesa itself is littered with fist sized rocks that make quick travel almost impossible.
If your ankles are weak, you may want to consider hiking poles and a pair of boots with good ankle support.
Once on top of Steeple Mesa the trail heads due west for 4 miles where it intersect with the KP Trail to your left (south) or continue to the right (north) on Steeple Trail # 73.
From the intersection you are approximately 1/4 mile from Mud springs, the only available running water on the trail.
Above Mud Springs the trail becomes less navigable and finally approximately 1.
5 miles above Mud Springs (7700' +/-) becomes downright impassable.
There have been several wildfires in the area and the trail is clear to Mud springs, but don't bother with traveling beyond..
..
I tore up a shirt and a pair of hiking pants log hopping through very thorny New Mexican Locust trees during our recent trip.
Once this was one of the finest trails in the Blue Wilderness Area, it allowed access up to the KP Rim (9800') and then onto Hannagan Meadow Lodge.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this as a destination as travel time will dwindle down to less than one mile per hour.
Author's Note: The Steeple Trail was devastated by the 538,000 acre Wallow Fire (summer 2011).
The area is presently closed to public access and will likely remain so for years.
The trail is located in the Blue Wilderness area and access is limited to only hiking and pack animals.
From the intersection of US191/180 in Alpine, AZ travel east on US180 toward New Mexcio approximately 4 miles.
Perhaps 1/2 mile before reaching Luna Lake, travel south on the Blue Road for approximately 30 miles into the Blue Wilderness Area.
Travel time from Alpine is over an hour due to the winding gravel mountain road and frequent river crossings.
This area is not well known to most hikers given it's fantastically remote location.
However hunters have known about the area for years and flock here in the fall to hunt mule deer, white tail deer, trophy elk, turkey, bear and mountain lion.
The Blue River could support a native trout population, however Arizona Game & Fish does not have plans to stock the Gila or Apache Trout at this time.
The best time to hike "Down on the Blue" is from mid-November to the end of March.
The elevation is just above 5000' along the river and the mountains soar to just under 10000'.
The temperatures along the river is very hot during the summer and this supports a large rattlesnake population, especially the Black Rattlesnake or Timber Rattler by it's local name.
The Steeple Trail is at an elevation of approximately 5200' and is well marked off the Blue Road and has a small parking lot along with a NFS kiosk - there are no facilities at the trailhead.
The trail head is located on the north-western section of the parking area and immediately travels uphill.
The first three miles of the trail take you to the top of Steeple Mesa, we like to call it "Rocky Mesa".
The trail on the mesa and the mesa itself is littered with fist sized rocks that make quick travel almost impossible.
If your ankles are weak, you may want to consider hiking poles and a pair of boots with good ankle support.
Once on top of Steeple Mesa the trail heads due west for 4 miles where it intersect with the KP Trail to your left (south) or continue to the right (north) on Steeple Trail # 73.
From the intersection you are approximately 1/4 mile from Mud springs, the only available running water on the trail.
Above Mud Springs the trail becomes less navigable and finally approximately 1.
5 miles above Mud Springs (7700' +/-) becomes downright impassable.
There have been several wildfires in the area and the trail is clear to Mud springs, but don't bother with traveling beyond..
..
I tore up a shirt and a pair of hiking pants log hopping through very thorny New Mexican Locust trees during our recent trip.
Once this was one of the finest trails in the Blue Wilderness Area, it allowed access up to the KP Rim (9800') and then onto Hannagan Meadow Lodge.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this as a destination as travel time will dwindle down to less than one mile per hour.
Author's Note: The Steeple Trail was devastated by the 538,000 acre Wallow Fire (summer 2011).
The area is presently closed to public access and will likely remain so for years.