Half Moon Lake Trail – Alpine, AZ
The Half Moon Lake Trail is located in the Williams Valley Winter Recreation Area of the Apache National Forest and is under the jurisdiction of the Alpine Ranger District. The Half Moon Lake Trail is the longest in the trail system, approximately 10 miles, and offers year-round recreation for hiking and biking in the summer and cross country/cross country skiing in the winter.
Directions: Approximately 4.5 hours from Phoenix, Tucson or El Paso. From the intersection of US 191 and US 180 in Alpine, Arizona. Travel north on US 191 approximately 2 miles to the Forest Road 249 bypass. During the summer the sign reads “Big Lake” with an arrow pointing west and in the winter the sign flips down and It says “Williams Valley Winter Recreation Area.” Turn west and travel 3.4 miles to a wide point on the road with a Forest Service kiosk just below the shoulder of the road (south side). This puts you in the middle of the Williams Valley winter recreation area. The area is closed to motorized travel. N3351.760′ and W10913.205′ – Elevation 8675′.
Head south across the meadow, up a slight incline, and head to the tree line. You will pick up a trail known as the Valley Loop. Head west on this easy-to-follow trail as it meanders through the woods, turns south, past a gate, and opens onto Lookout Meadow. N3351.615′ and W10913.775′ – Elevation 8800′. The Lookout Meadow Loop is a great short hike in itself, maybe 1 1/2 hours and back to your vehicle. However, if you have a few extra hours, turn right (SW) and move uphill for a half mile or so. You will come to a fork in the road with a sign designating the correct fork as Up & Over. No tricks here, the trail literally goes up and down and is only about 1/3 mile long. Once you are “done” you will be on the Isolation Meadow Trail. N3351.430′ and W10914.155′ – Elevation 8770′. Take this trail southeast for a long way uphill, you will pass a small cold water tank that is much deeper than it appears! Continue up the hill and you will come to a woodpile on the trail with a gate just beyond it. Go about 200 yards out of the gate and to the northeast you will see a “blue diamond” trail designation attached to a large aspen. N3351.050′ and W 10914.055′ – Elevation 8980′.
For the next 3/4 mile you will head east and slowly ascend – trail is established but look for the blue diamonds in the trees to stay on track. Eventually you will come to a two way road. N3350.975′ and W10913.635′ – Elevation 9020′. Follow this double track uphill to the northeast, the blue diamonds will still guide you. Once you “top off” the trail will begin to meander through the woods with odd undulations and the occasional meadow. You will pass a trail called Ya Hoo, this trail will take you back to Lookout Meadow if you are running out of time. However, the next couple of miles is the best part of the day as you are now on the Half Moon Lake Trail. Within 1/4 mile to your left (east) is Half Moon Lake. N3350.765′ and W10912.840′ – Elevation 9200′. For most of the year the lake is dry and more or less a “mud hole”, but after the spring snow melts and during the monsoon season the lake fills with water. This is a great camping destination and a favorite haunt for huge bull moose.
After leaving Half Moon Lake the trail is fairly easy to follow with blue diamonds in the trees every few hundred feet. You will stay on top of the mountain (part of South Mountain) for one mile and then the trail will head back west. You will come to an open area and, for lack of a better term, an “intersection”. There will be a blue diamond on a ponderosa pine tree with an arrow pointing west. N3350.560′ and W 10911.935′ – Elevation 9350′. This is now a two way road again, follow it for 3/4 of a mile and it will gradually descend. To your left (SW) you will notice a meadow forming through the trees, it is best to go through the trees and into the meadow. However, if you stay on both tracks, it will drop you halfway in the meadow. This is the start of three “Hanging Meadows” that drain the north slope of the entire area. This is one of the most beautiful and remote locations in the Alpine…it is also a favorite area for skiing by locals, as there are numerous Telemark ski hills and excellent sunny picnic areas.
Continue traveling west and follow the edge of the meadows (on both sides) down the hill. You will come to another water tank, which is also deeper than it looks! N3350.805′ and W10912.535′ – Elevation 9200′. South and uphill from this tank is another large meadow that is fun to explore by skiing or hiking; it is also full of excellent places to camp. Looking down the slope and to the west, you will see the last of the three hanging meadows. Continue downhill and up and past a Forest Service berm. This trail is quite rocky with loose scree; It’s a great place for mountain bikers who prefer “rock gardens.” Within a half mile you will pass the lower Ya Hoo trailhead, another half mile and you will drop at the eastern edge of Lookout Meadow. N3351.275′ and W10913.425′ – Elevation 8880′. You will pass another gate and continue on the two-lane road which is on the northern edge of Lookout Meadow; another half mile and you’ll recognize your original point of entry to Lookout Meadow a few hours early.
The described route is more than 10 miles and will take 3-4 hours of walking or 2 hours of biking or skiing. Keep an eye on the weather, especially during our monsoon season from July to September, it rains almost every afternoon with frequent lightning.
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