Fall Hiking and Snow Sports in Arizona's White Mountains

From here the way trundles west along a series of ridges, in and out of views of vast spaces south, east and north. Mount Baldy looms larger, the further up you go. At mile seven look for the remnants of a crashed plane by the obvious vegetated spring area.

Continue one mile to join the top of the West Fork Trail, your summit. The actual peak is visible through the trees, but it would be best to get permission from the Apache tribe before heading any further. Try contacting the Hon-Dah Casino before you go (see toll-free number below).

Sunrise Area

Sunrise Ski Resort: Great for biking around and a decent ski area too. Summer events include downhill mountain bike races, fishing derbies and scenic chair lift rides on weekends. Carry your bikes up the chair lift and bike around the miles of trails on the mountain slopes. There's a nice Fourth of July Festival with fireworks over Sunrise Lake too.

In the winter the place comes alive with skiers and boarders staying at the resort, which is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe. There are three mountains, ten lifts (including a high-speed lift, the only one in Arizona), 65 trails and 800 acres of ski-able terrain. It's the largest ski resort in the state.

Call the resort at 1-800-772-7669, or click on http://www.sunriseskipark.com/

Sunrise Lake: Drive past the Sunrise Ski Resort and don't look back. There are better places, for free. This is a good spot for picnics and fishing in the warmer months, and for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the snow. The large fields spreading out to eternity reminded me of Jurassic Park; I expected to see herds of Gallimimus flocking across the meadows. And the bugling elk sounded like Brachiosaurs at sunset. Swooping Pterodons would complete this picture, in a land before time.

A left turn will dump you at Sunrise Lake, offering a wide alpine plain ringed by spruce in the near distance, with Mt. Baldy and enigmatic Escudilla Mountain in the farther view. Flat with some rolling terrain, the meadow surrounding the lake offers miles of easy access and free exploration. Sunrise campground is located closeby with primitive, secluded sites under the pines.

For more information

The White Mountains are just a two-hour drive from Phoenix or Tucson, or a longer 2 ½ hour trip from Flagstaff. Alberqueque is 240 miles to the east. The following White

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