Bill Williams Mountain Trail #21

Approach

There are two routes to the top. The Bill Williams Trail and the Benham Trail. The description/directions for the Bill Williams Trail is the described on the front page....

Off if I40-exit 161/Frontage Road head west again past Day's Inn until you reach a sign for the Bill Williams Ranger Station.

There is a small parking lot directly east of the Ranger Station. The signed/mapped trailhead is 20 feet away.

Follow the paved path for about 20 yards and it turns into the actual trail.

Route Description

The Bill Williams Trail is very lush as the first portion takes you up Grambling Oak and Juiper/Pinyon groves then up higher through Ponderosa and finally Firs and Aspen....

The first mile is uphill and very dry...you'll pass several trail markers that signal a loop to Clover Springs campground. The second mile levels off and is fairly flat, but steadly rises to a moister, well shaded ravine. From here, the last mile, it is a steady stream of switchbacks up the NorthWestern slope of Bill Williams Mountain. A few switchbacks below the opening to FR111 (the road to the Lookout) you will see a sign for Bixler Peak (8K+)...

Once at the top of the trail, there are some log/benches for a very nice spot to eat and rest. A short scramble west, gives you spectaular veiws south and west...

Follow the road up to the Radio and Lookout towers for even better views. Climbing the stairs to the Lookout Tower (Box was closed when I was there) will yield great 360 degree views of the Western portion of the Colorado Plateau.

Essential Gear

Extra Water in warmer months...

Well maintained trail....not too rocky/loose...I used my Trail Joggers rather than my Trekking boots...

Optional poles/sticks; trail is realatvely short albeit steep in places. May not be worth the effort.

Camera!

Leashed dogs are allowed, but I let mine roam (leash in hand) as this trail has relatively light use...

Would be an interesting (easy) trail for snowy, wintery acents, I presume crampons and tool would be in order though...

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Flora/Fauna

If your lucky, you may find numerous forms of wildlife on this triail. As mentioned it climbs through different zones each slightly different, ecologically speaking.

Black Bear, Mule Deer, Elk and Bobcat have all been reported. Various reptiles including various lizards and snakes. (I saw the largest horned toad in my life on this trail...bigger than my adult size male hand!!)

Entomology studies would be fabulous as there is much decay/dead forest growth in the upper region...bugs/flys were everywhere!!

As mentioned, there are different levels of forestation and the all of the plantlife that follows the tree patterns differ as well.

Images

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