Barnhardt Road near Payson, AZ is a mud/dirt access road which narrows after 4 miles into the Barnhardt Trail, known as the gateway to the Mazatzal Wilderness area and connects with the Mazatzal Divide which is part of the Arizona Trail. The beginning is bikeable, after that the hike leads to several medium size waterfalls, so it's at its best in spring or during a period of considerable moisture in the area as the falls are seasonal.
Three-and-a-half miles up Barnhardt Trail’s many switchbacks, you will arrive at a grotto in the mountainside. A shallow pool of cool water, often dry in the summer, flows out of the almost hidden waterfall a few yards back in the narrow opening in the grotto.
Moderate difficulty for mountain biking for the first few miles, then it is best to leave the bike and hike the last mile or so to the first falls.
The trail begins at Barnhardt Trailhead, four miles west from highway 260. The dirt road is usually well maintained and easily accessible by a passenger car when dry. After rains it is best to leave the car before tire tracks become too deep and muddy. But even if started further below the landscape approaching the mountains is beautiful. The dirt road dead ends at the trailhead with a large parking area. This trailhead serves both Barnhardt Trail #43 and Y-Bar Trail #44 which heads southwest.
arizonahikersguide.com/barnhardt-trail
paysonroundup.com/news/2012/apr/11/hiking-barnhardt-trail
fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/null/recarea/?recid=35281&actid=50

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Elevation 1,000 m

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Location: Gila County, Arizona, United States

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