Lake Mountain Trail

The Lake Mountain Trail is a 3.6 mile trail located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and is part of the White Mountain Trail System. This trail is wonderful for hikers looking to escape the crowds and enjoy the pine trees.  The trail is off a gravel road that is well maintained in the summer months. While there are no facilities at the trailhead there is ample parking for hikers.  This trail is significantly less crowded than trails closer to Pinetop Lakeside, but similar in surroundings and vistas.  

This trail can be broken into three parts.  The first section has a slight uphill where hikers will meander through the pine trees.  The trail is well maintained and easy to follow and hikers will walk through a beautiful new growth grove of pine trees to enjoy.  This portion of trail’s incline is very manageable and prepares hikers for the upcoming incline.  Hikers will then come across an old forest road and come to the first trail intersection. Hikers will stay to the left towards the lake mountain summit.  This portion of trail begins flat but has a short, but steep incline to a false summit.  This false summit is a perfect place to enjoy the surrounding views of the white mountains.  From there hikers will hike to the saddle and begin the final climb on the third portion of the trail.  

Hikers will find the final trail intersection where they will take a left turn and begin climbing up a series of switchbacks.  Then hikers will take a slight decline to an open meadow/marsh (or “lake”) that the trail gets its name from. Hikers can end their hike here or take the last final climb to a Fire Lookout, however, the lookout is closed to the public.  Hikers can then turn around and return to the trailhead the way they came.