Little Elden

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Spring · Views · Wildlife

Little Elden Trail connects the Sandy Seep trailhead to Shultz Pass and forms a segment of the Arizona Trail around the fire-scarred east side of Mount Elden. The trail itself passes through grasslands with unburned pine, oak and juniper as it steadily gains altitude. This area is also an important wintering ground for mule deer, which might be seen any time of year.

Look for a round water retention basin (which will likely be empty) - immediately uphill from this basin a quick side-trip leads to the reliable pools of Little Elden Spring. In addition, Elden Spring Road is just northeast of the trail here, with ample parking at a well-signed trailhead.

Beyond the spring the trail enters pretty aspen and mixed conifer forest and climbs smoothly toward Schultz Pass. A few stretches of trail pass through areas burned in the 2010 Schultz Fire, but these are short enough to be more interesting than unpleasant.