Kendrick Trail

Approach

Traveling north from Flagstaff on highway 180 for 18 or so miles, turn left onto Forest Road 193, which is just past the Nordic Center. Stay on FR193 for about 2-3 miles until you reach the junction with FR171. Go right. Stay on FR171 for a few miles, until you see a sign for Kendrick Trail and a dirt road heading off to the right (north). Turn right, and then take the immediate right fork. Stay on that dirt road for about a mile until you come to the Kendrick Trailhead, which is signed, has a bathroom, trash receptacles, a recycle bin (!), and ample parking.

Route Description

From the obvious trailhead at the parking area, follow the well-marked trail 4.4 miles up to the summit. The trail gains only about 2400 feet over the course of the route. Shortly after reaching a level, meadowy area at about 10,200 feet, you will come to an old cabin with a wooden sign in front of it. At the sign, a trail (Bull Basin Trail) heads off to the right and the Kendrick trail continues to the left. Go left and take the Kendrick Trail the remaining 1/4 mile up multiple switchbacks to the summit and the lookout.

The cabin in the meadowy area, incidentally, was built in 1911-1912 and served as the sleeping quarters for the original fire lookout. Sometime after that, a lookout structure was built at the top of the mountain. A concrete foundation is all that remains of the original lookout, as the current lookout was constructed slightly east of the original one in 1964.

By the way, the highpoint of the mountain is at the top of a small boulder underneath the stairs heading up to the fire lookout - in case anyone cares.

Essential Gear

Basic hiking equipment. There's nothing technical about this route.

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