El Lobo Lupus

Routendetails

# Detailed Route Guides

[El Lobo Lupus - Full Route Guide](https://www.theforrestbiome.com/el-lobo-lupus.html)

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# Route Overview

This bikepacking loop-us (“lupus”) heads through the high elevation heart of the White Mountains, Blue Range, and Mogollon Rim of eastern Arizona where the Mexican Gray Wolf has been reintroduced.  The route name is a play on words as it is a "loop" involving the goal of seeing wolves (Canis lupus), especially the Mexican Gray Wolf which is commonly called "El Lobo."  The Mexican Wolf is a highly endangered subspecies of the Gray Wolf.  It was nearly wiped out by predator-eradication programs, but the species was reintroduced to Arizona and New Mexico in 1998 and has slowly increased to a population of over 200.  Riders will travel through the territory of El Lobo - mountainous terrain known as the "Alps of Arizona."  This land encompasses not only tributary headwaters of the @poi[Gila](88277790) and @poi[Little Colorado Rivers](79533799) but also some of the tallest peaks in Arizona at @poi[Escudilla](88277062) and @poi[Baldy](88164347).

Bikepackers will traverse through miles of @point[subalpine meadows](d,118715.1) lined with conifers and aspens, travel through dense @point[ponderosa pine forests](d,82494.38), ride along trout-filled rivers and lakes, and get endless high-elevation views. Cyclists will ride up to 10,000 feet on @point[Escudilla Mountain](d,282282.33) and down to 5,800 feet along the @poi[Blue River](88277790) near the last federally-designated Primitive Area in the United States. Look forward to riding along the banks of the @poi[Black River](79531922), staring at the complex neon greens of @poi[Hannagan Meadow](88278845), seeing the ecological succession of montane forests after the @poi[Wallow Fire](88278846), riding the perimeter of high-altitude @poi[Terry Flat](88277786), passing by @poi[enormous lakes](79533795) in big sky country, and catching glimpses of wildlife such as Mexican Wolves, Black Bears, Mountain Lions, Elk, Big Horn Sheep, and Deer.

The goals of the route are to
1. Wrap and weave through the heart of Mexican Wolf (El Lobo) territory in eastern Arizona.
2. Travel through the high-altitude "Alps of Arizona" for a rare southwestern summer bikepacking route.
3. Hit up the most scenic, notable, and beautiful areas found in the White Mountains.
# 
## Recommended Tire Size: 2.4"-2.6"; Minimum Tire Size: 2.2"

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# Riding Seasons:
* BEST TIME: Early Summer (Late May - Mid June)
* BEST TIME: Fall (September - Early October)
* DOABLE: Summer/Monsoon Season (Mid June - August)
* NOT Recommended: Winter (Late October - Mid May)
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# Surface Color Guide
- Purple = Improved Dirt Surface (2WD, Wider, Smoother, Better Maintained, Intact, Graded, etc.)
- Red = Rugged Dirt Surface (4WD, Doubletrack, Rough, Less Maintained, etc.)
- Brown = Primitive Dirt Surface (Particularly Rocky, Rutted, and Eroded)
- Black = Singletrack
- Blue = Vehicle Pavement

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# Surface Conditions and Route Difficulty

The White Mountains of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest have a network of broad, relatively smooth forest roads that El Lobo Lupus primarily follows. These roads are either hero dirt that is hard-packed and suitable for skinny tires or loosely graveled with little washboard. Most of the sections requiring pavement stick to roads and highways with broad shoulders or sidewalks. When shoulders are absent, paved roads tend to be in areas with fewer vehicles.  Wear bright colors, use flashing lights, and ride defensively as proactive measures for safety along paved roads.

There are a few sections of rocky 4WD roads. They frequent the burn scars and lower elevations of the route, especially where ATVs are common. Expect long lengths of washboard, decaying road, and erosion. These will be bumpy but short-lived compared to the rest of the route.

If rain/snow are forecast, the lower elevation portions of the route may become peanut butter/death mud and impassable in places. This is especially true around @poi[Show Low](79530783), @poi[Pinetop](79535185), @point[Vernon](d,44476.69), @poi[Springerville](79531906), and @poi[Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area](88267344). Leave No Trace and avoid riding at these times until the route dries out.

The technical difficulty of the route is due to the presence of sections of singletrack along the @point[Apache Railroad Trail](d,116563.77) and several portions of the route that take rocky and steep 4x4 roads through burn scars up in the mountains.  Luckily, these sections are infrequent and eclipsed by the common, broad, and well-maintained dirt roads that make up the majority of the route.  As well, I've provided paved alternates for those looking to avoid the Apache Railroad Trail.  The overall majority of US Forest Service roads on-route are typically in great shape and rarely rutted. Hero dirt and hard-packed smooth substrate make up a majority of the backroads that El Lobo Lupus sticks to.

The physical difficulty is mostly due to the amount of climbing on this route and some of the grades of the climbs - such is the payment for enjoying high-meadowed peaks and river-filled valleys. The White Mountains, Blue Range, and Mogollon Rim are high-elevation areas along a rugged mountainscape of crumpled land. Climbing long ascents each day is assured and should be expected. Some noteworthy climbs will take a good portion of the day to ascend and feature steep grades; these sharp inclines may warrant hike-a-bikes depending on your energy level.

## Noteworthy Climbs
1. @slice[Riding to the top of Escudilla Mountain](d,268233.4,292422.9) and along Terry Flat
2. @slice[The ascent out of Blue, AZ](d,377922,398556.5)
3. The rocky, steep @slice[climb up to Hannagan Meadow](d,446890.3,465589)
4. @slice[The climb from the Black River to Big Lake](d,522367.3,538275.5)
## 
## Noteworthy Primitive, Rocky Surfaces
1. @slice[The connector road between Point of the Mountain Overlook and Water Canyon Road](d,155053,156250) on the way down to Springerville (The last bit of it is an ATV pumptrack that you may need to walk for how rutted, steep, and rocky it is; luckily it is a very short section).
2. @slice[FR 403 that takes riders into Alpine](d,236410.5,252351) is a 4WD road with some bumpier sections and some washboard.
3. @slice[The climb up to Hannagan Meadow on FR 24](d,458685.4,463407) is especially rocky and eroded from its location in a burn scar.
4. Some of the roads leading @slice[back to Show Low and Pinetop](d,610803.4,619042.1) can be rutted out, especially where ATVs frequent.
5. The @slice[Apache Railroad Trail](d,552433,555960.8) is poorly maintained and little used singletrack, meaning it is often grassy and overgrown; its surface substrate is loose balls of cinder. Where it goes is beautiful, but if you want to skip it, I've included POIs on the RWGPS map indicating paved highway alternatives.
## 
## Noteworthy Vehicular Pavement
1. @slice[The climb out of Springerville to Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area](d,170391.3,176826.6): Although there is a guardrail and no shoulder, there is a passing lane allowing cars to safely get around you.  The road is busy with cars and trucks.  Climb early in the day to beat an increase in traffic.
2. @slice[Porter Mountain Road outside of Pinetop](d,636115.8,645001): There are relatively good lines of sight. The road is busy. The further around Porter Mountain you get, the fewer the vehicles seem to become.
3. @slice[Exiting and entering Show Low](d,1787.8,7652.3): Stick to the sidewalks while entering and leaving Show Low. The highway has a massive shoulder you can ride along.
4. @slice[Vernon](d,26578.9,46593.2): This is a low-use road frequented by locals. It travels through small communities and along quiet backroads.
5. @slice[HWY 373 into Greer](d,94918.8,102042.4): A high-use road off the highway for getting to Greer. Expect lots of traffic but a workable shoulder and good lines-of-sight.
6. @slice[HWY 273 along the base of Mount Baldy](d,555960.8,562423.8): A workable shoulder, good lines-of-sight, but lots of vehicles including trucks and RVs.  Absolutely gorgeous scenery.  
7. @slice[HWY 261 along Mexican Hay Lake](d,142097.1,150337.8): Low traffic and workable shoulders. Lots of places to pull off and take in the scenery along a quiet backroad highway.
8. @slice[HWY 191 along the base of Escudilla](d,292422.9,307765): Lots of traffic but a fantastic shoulder.
9. @slice[HWY 191 from Hannagan to Blue Vista](d,465137.6,479312.1): Small, but workable shoulder. Low traffic past Hannagan and great lines-of-sight.
## 
The route is intended to be ridden in a clockwise direction. I've secured permission from the @poi[Show Low Elks Lodge No. 2090](89197363) for bikepackers to park their cars on the premises. There is a $4 per night fee per vehicle for parking. Make sure to contact Catherine Cribbs via email (showlowelks.cribbs@gmail.com) beforehand to secure permission and talk logistics; she'll be your point person. Let her know that you are a cyclist looking to ride/bikepack the El Lobo Lupus and the start/end dates for leaving your vehicle. However, this parking will be dependent on space. If there is a banquet hall rental or an event at the Elks, then cyclists will need to find another location to park. A huge THANK YOU to the Show Low Elks for providing this parking!

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# Water and Food

## Water Reliability Scale
- 1 = unreliable
- 2 = seasonal
- 3 = mostly reliable
- 4 = definite source
## 
Most food resupplies on this route are only a few days apart. The largest resupply distance is during the last part between @poi[Alpine](79531913) and @poi[Big Lake](79533796). Due to their elevation and geological composition, the White Mountains are rich with water sources. There are numerous springs, ponds, lakes, rivers, creeks, and streams. Many are reliable or definite. This is still Arizona and the southwest though - it can get hot and exposed on a sunny day. Plus, there is lots of climbing. Make sure to carry a few liters at a time and plan ahead for how far it is to the next water source. Most of the seasonal water sources noted on the RWGPS map will run in early summer after a wet winter, but may be completely dry after a dry winter or further into the hot summer; don't rely on these too much.

You may see lakes, reservoirs, or streams that I haven't tagged with a POI on the map. That's often because these are more marsh-like with muddy/murky, plant-choked shores that would make obtaining water difficult. I avoided tagging these sources in lieu of clearer, more accessible sources.

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# Fees and Permits

There are no fees or permits to ride this route through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

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# Important Information

Hunting Season: Starts in September and goes through December. The White Mountains are a premier destination for big game hunting. Expect the forest in the autumn to be filled with hunters. You'll see more trucks, backcountry campers, ATVs, and individuals on foot. WEAR ORANGE and make yourself visible as you ride. Be smart and be seen during hunting season. Water sources and meadows may have more hunters scoping them out.

Attitudes about Wolves: There are some real, open, hostile, and even aggressive sentiments against the Mexican Wolf in many places along this route. You'll routinely see signs posted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department offering $48,000 rewards for information leading to individuals illegally killing lobos (and these killings do happen). You can expect to see posters, signs, banners, poems, and more reflecting some individuals' desires to exterminate or remove the wolves. There is also strong anti-US Forest Service and anti-government sentiment reflected in the decorum of some of the businesses of the towns you pass through. Make no mistake, livestock killings by wolves do happen and it impacts people's lives. Predator reintroduction is complex, difficult, and requires both science, politics, and relationship-building. Make sure to read the social situations you are in and judge how open you want to be about the wolves.

Bears and Food Storage: Black bears are abundant throughout this entire route. Have a sure and proven method to safely secure and store your food each evening when you camp. This could be a bear hang, a bear canister, or an Ursack. All the campgrounds require food storage and have signs posted everywhere about being in "bear country."

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# Camping

There are numerous awesome and free dispersed camping opportunities throughout this route. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest allows dispersed camping nearly everywhere. The only exceptions are the @poi[Mount Baldy/Lee Valley Recreation Area](88163634), the @point[Greer Recreation Area](d,99739.11), the @poi[Black River Recreation Area](88277792), and @poi[Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area](88267344). There will be prominent signs delineating these boundaries; signs will indicate that camping is only allowed in designated sites. Don't dispersed camp in these zones.

Beyond that, there are copious free camping opportunities. I've put POIs on the map for noted USFS campgrounds that El Lobo Lupus passes. Some of these have a fee to stay in and others do not. There are a few lodging opportunities along the route at USFS cabins and motels in @poi[Springerville](79531906), @poi[Alpine](79531913), @poi[Greer](79535179), and @poi[Hannagan Meadow](88278845). Call ahead to make reservations because these fill up quick during the summer season.

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