Hike | Houston Brothers Trail #171 – Arizona Hikers Guide

Hike:

You can take this hike from either the northern end or the southern end (both trailheads are described below).

1. Start at the northern trailhead if you want a shorter hike from the trailhead to Pinchot Cabin to Aspen Springs (3 miles one way)
2. Start at the southern trailhead if you want a longer, gradually downhill hike through Houston Draw and stopping at Aspen Springs (around 4.5-5 miles one way)

We decided to start from the northern trailhead and make camp at Aspen Springs.  From the trailhead you go through a green gate and walk slightly downhill for about 1/2 mile until you reach Pinchot Cabin.  This cabin is still standing and is in good shape.  Please enjoy the area but don’t be an idiot and vandalize or carve a heart into the wood.  That is just plain stupid.  There is a nice little campsite at the cabin but I don’t recommend staying there (you’ve only hiked 1/2 mile for goodness sake).

From the cabin you have 3 options; Houston Brothers Trail, U-Bar Trail, or Fred Haught Trail.  Taking Houston Brothers trail, you will begin making your way into Houston Draw which is just stunning.  The scenery is worth every step.

After about 1.5 miles you will come to Aspen Spring on your left.  There is an old structure (maybe used for livestock?) with a standing fireplace adjacent to it.  Aspen Spring gets it’s name from the perennial spring that flows from the mountain on the south side of the meadow.  This is a great place to hang out, refill your water, camp for the night, or all of the above.

When we completed this hike we were mountain biking from Fred Haught trail and made camp for the night.  Once you have enjoyed your stay, please clean up the site and leave it better than you found it.  You can make your way back the same way you entered or continue on to complete the entire Cabin Loop trail system towards General Crook Trail.