Eagle Meadow, Sonora

Hiking trails are spread everywhere across the mountains. There is something for everyone in the Sonora Pass region, as there are all kind of trails, easy, intermediate and high elevation and also long day adventures.  Eagle Meadow is located east of Highway 108, approximately half an hour away.

Photo source

There are three easy, natural, wonder trails. The first one is Columns of the Giants. It is a one way, quarter mile (0.25 miles/0.4 km) trail located next to the Pigeon Flat Campground, which is approximately 1.5 mi/2.4 km east of Dardanelles Resort. It is an easy trail, that takes you to an unusual geologic formation with magnificent views of basalt columns, reminding of the Devil’s Postpile.

The second one is Trail of the Gargoyles. It is a 1.5 mi/2.4 km, one way trail, taking you to some strangely shaped, volcanic, rock formations, called Trail of the Gargoyles. To reach this trail, drive east from Strawberry to the Herring Creek Road turnoff on the right.

Photo source

When reaching the overlook up the trail, you get a spectacular view of a canyon and mountains. The third trail is the Trail of the Ancient Dwarfs. It is a one way, 5 mi/8 km hike, leading you through a forest of ancient dwarf trees. A visit to this trail is best combined with a view of the ancient Bennett Jupiter, because they are both near Eagle Meadow.