Kendrick Mountain Trail

Kendrick Mountain (also known as Kendrick Peak or Mount Kendrick) is the second tallest mountain near Flagstaff. Its 10,418-foot summit is quite impressive, granting views over all other mountains in the area, and to the Grand Canyon in the north. In fact, you can see the Grand Canyon even better from here than from Humphrey's Peak (the highest point in Arizona, nearby). Kendrick's summit is shared with a fire tower, which is manned all summer and normally not open to the public. Next to the tower is a concrete helipad which doubles as a nice viewing platform for hikers.

Kendrick has three trails that lead to its summit, but Kendrick Mountain Trail is the most direct and most popular. It's also the most shaded and all-around most pleasant. The other two trails go through an extensive burn area with very little shade. You will still see the effects of fire quite obviously on Kendrick Mountain Trail, too, but you can appreciate the mosaic of burned and unburned forest that's typical of wildfires, and witness the regenerating growth that follows.

Except for a little rolling terrain right at the beginning, the trail is all uphill. On a sunny day, expect it to be hot. There is no water at the trailhead or anywhere along the trail, so come prepared. You'll travel from ponderosa pine forest around 7,000 feet elevation, up through oak and aspen, then into subalpine spruce and fir at the upper elevations. Clearings grant big views throughout the hike, so you can really see how far you've climbed. You'll know you're nearing the top when you enter a broad meadow and see an old building. This is the historic lookout cabin, built in 1912. It's on the National Register of Historic Places, and was narrowly saved by firefighters during a large wildfire in 2000.

After crossing the meadow, the final stretch to the summit is especially steep and rocky, but it's relatively short. Once on top, you'll walk around the base of the fire tower and find the concrete pad. This is the perfect place to stretch out, have a snack, and take in the surroundings. Summer haze or monsoon humidity may obscure the Grand Canyon, but on a clear day you can make out many cliffbands of the North Rim, and see the topography of the Kaibab Plateau beyond. Come in the fall for the clearest air and most comfortable hiking weather.