Directions: Traveling through Heber on AZ260, turn right directly past Tall Timber recreational park onto FR 50. Drive about 5 miles until you see the hiking trail sign for the Heber Hollow trail on your right. Parking is limited; you may have to park alongside the dirt road unless you are on an ATV.
About the hike: This 0.9-mile one-way hike is rated easy with a 153 ft elevation gain. The trail is smooth and clearly marked. It’s an excellent mountain biking path.
We started leisurely hiking below the towering ponderosa pines. It was 1:00 pm, the wildlife snoozing the afternoon away were nowhere to be seen.
With no wildlife to photograph, I turned my attention to the beautiful autumn colors painting the landscape.
Hiking through the Ponderosa Pines leads you to an open, uncovered area where the midday sun could become overpowering. It's a short area of the hike, during summer, watch out for the heat.
Sunburst's of yellow and oranges on the oak leaves added a warm glow to the landscape. I stopped to capture a few pictures of these beautiful fall leaves.
Slightly to the right of the trail was this twisted alligator juniper tree. I could not resist the temptation to stop and snap a picture.
Remnants still litter the forest floor from the Rodeo Chediski wildfire that burned in east-central Arizona beginning on June 18, 2002, and controlled on July 7, 2002.
The end of the trail meets up with a service road. You can continue hiking along the SR or turn-around and walk back the way you came. Round trip, you will have gone 1.8 miles.
The Ponderosa Pines sweeping views welcome you back to the trail-head.
