Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop

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Abineau and Bear Jaw trails are Northern Arizona classics, known for their rich aspen groves and stunning views on the San Francisco Peaks. That said, this loop is not for the faint of heart. It climbs steeply on rough terrain into high elevations, and covers a respectable distance of more than 7 miles.

Summer monsoons are common in this area and weather can change very quickly. In winter, this trail is inaccessible due to road closures in the area.

Climb the steep and rocky Abineau Trail #127 into the inner basin of Abineau Canyon. From here, the route trends gently downwards on the Waterline Road (Trail) which brings mountain spring water to Flagstaff). Leave the waterline on the Bear Jaw Trail #26 which is rough with loose rocks and ruts, and descend back down to the trailhead.

From the Abineau/Bear Jaw trailhead (accessed by dirt road), start up the trail and soon find the fork where Abineau Trail #127 goes right and Bear Jaw Trail #26 goes left. Most people start with Abineau and descend on Bear Jaw. in Abineau Canyon, the trail is nice smooth dirt at first. It winds through aspens, conifers, and small meadows as you ascend the lower slopes of The Peaks.

Higher up, the trail gets steeper and the forest thicker. Once above 10,000 feet, the broad canyon narrows to something more like a gully, and the forest thins because this makes an avalanche path in the winter. Views here are stunning, both up to Humphreys Peak and out across the landscape. The going is a bit tough because there may be downed trees and rubble from avalanches covering the trail at times.

Abineau Trail ends at a panoramic spot on the Waterline Road (Trail). From there, the route turns down and follows Waterline for 2 miles. Look for the small sign marking Bear Jaw Trail and turn to begin descending more steeply. Bear Jaw is a winding trail with rocks, roots, and ruts near the top, but it mellows out farther down near the trailhead. This trail is wooded for nearly its entire length, and the aspen display is stunning in the fall.