Freidlein Prairie Trail

The Freidlein Prairie Trail is a route that climbs below the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona. This hike mostly shows off the beautiful ponderosa pine forest, with its wildlife and its (seasonal) wildflowers. This hike gives you peekaboo views of the tallest mountains in Arizona as you go. It’s a moderately difficult hike that should be enjoyable for strong beginners and better.

There is no signage at the beginning or end of this trail that specifically states Freidlein Prairie Trail. You’ll be following part of the Arizona Trail. Our route ends at a given point, but feel free to turn around earlier or later on the hike.

From the trailhead, hike north, taking a set of switchbacks up atop the short cliffside. You’ll cross over a canyon and then traverse across the cliffside. There’s a nice viewpoint about 100 feet to the left of the trail about the two-mile mark. Follow the markers in the first that say “Trail” as you go. Where our route ends, there is a trail that continues on, so you can keep hiking if you’d like, or you can retrace your steps to the trailhead.