Mogollon Monster 35K Course Map & Aid StationS
#1 Start to Dickerson Flat AS (Mile 5.6) – 5.6 Mile Segment
This sections starts out heading east from the Pine Trailhead along the Arizona Trail which is also the Highline Trail. You’ll follow this for approximately 1.5 miles to the turnoff for the Donohue Trail which will be to your left. This trail turns very rocky and climbs a series of switchbacks directly up the Mogollon Rim. The single track trail will eventually join a dirt road which you will continue on past the junction with the West Webber Trail and several other forest road pullouts.
Eventually you will come to see a meadow on the left side of the road. This is a popular place for campers and likely will be some traffic from other vehicles. Please be aware of this with headphone users and in general. You will see the Dickerson Flat AS well in advance as you come up on it on your right hand side. This is also the turn off for the Turkey Springs trail which will be your first descent off the rim.
#2 Dickerson to Geronimo AS (Mile 10.3) – 4.4 Mile Segment
Leaving Dickerson Flat AS runners head east up the trail to Turkey Springs, visible from the Aid Station. (Don’t go straight on the forest road, make sure you take the marked trail with a wooden sign you can see clearly from the aid station.) You’ll start towards the eastern edge of this part of the Rim and will be afforded with your first views of the Mogollon Rim as you crest the edge and drop down off the Rim towards Geronimo Aid Station. This is nearly entirely all downhill from Dickenson Flat to Geronimo and stunning in its view several times. The first drop off the Rim is very rocky and difficult to run but opens up to switchbacks all the way down to where it intersects with the double track Geronimo Trail. This trail winds all the way down to where it meets the Highline Trail and then the lush forest where the Geronimo Aid Station sits. This area has several creek crossings, high ponderosa growth and some very runnable terrain before crossing West Webber creek just before the aid station.
***At the bottom of Turkey Springs Trail you’ll reach an intersection where you can continue straight down the double track towards Geronimo Aid Station or take a hard right at the sign and go up West Webber trail. We put an “A” frame sign that you’ll see directing you down the mountain to Geronimo. If all goes well, you will revisit this section coming up the trail from Geronimo and you’ll take West Webber back up the rim to mile 93. Just keep going down the trail and you’ll be fine. But take note as you pass the sign, you’ll see this again and this is where you’ll start the final climb of the race.
#3 Geronimo to Donohue AZ (Mile 15) – 4.9 Mile Segment (Water Only)
Leaving Geronimo Aid Station you cross the creek and head up the Highline Trail you descended the day prior when you came down Turkey Springs. Be sure to turn right off the Highline to the Geronimo Trail. You’ll follow the ribbons back up the trail, mostly a double track, until you reach the intersection for Turkey Springs and West Webber Trail. This is where you will go LEFT on West Webber. There is a wooden sign, our markers and an “A” frame sign we place there to make it obvious.
West Webber, if you are in a mindset to enjoy it, is a beautiful trail in the forest. More lush than most areas in the lower half of the Rim it’s a beautiful canopy trail along the forest floor before hitting a wall.
Then it goes straight up.
This is “D**k Knocker.”
1,000 feet in climbing in 1.0 miles at mile 92.0 to 93.0. At this point in any race being PC has long lost its value. The inaugural year 4th place finisher Marius Toma was running into the finish line with me saying, “You know...that last climb...that was...that was really unnecessary…”
Maybe, but it got you to the top and just take the left at the road and you’ll run into Donohue Aid Station at the start of the Donahue Trail. Don’t get too excited, it’s just a water jug and some radio guys. Although the radio guys are really nice.
#4 Donohue to Finish in Town of Pine (Mile 22) – 7.1 Mile Segment
Donahue Trail leaves the forest road and heads back into the forest. You’ve already been on this stretch of trail at the start of the race. It’s a nice single track for a while before it dumps back onto a forest road, this one filled with old volcanic rock. It’s no bueno. But it’s a short stretch before going back into the forest and some awesome downhill trail with the view on both sides peeking through the trees. You’ll hit a ridge, cross some openings and then hit the switchbacks. Down you go all the way through the boulder field that gets Donahue that slight twitch in people’s faces when they talk about it. You’ll intercept the Highline Trail and you’ll be going right at the “T.” This is an awesome downhill to Pine Trailhead where we started, such a long, long time ago.
This aid station is at the location of the start of the race and at this point only 2 miles remain to the finish line. Pacers are welcome here to the finish. There’s no point in spending much time here. It’s a parking lot. It’s 2 miles from the finish.
Leaving Pine Trailhead AS you’ll run down the paved road for the trailhead to just before the 87 highway. To cross the road you’ll drop down 15 feet to the right to a culvert access point and go UNDER the road in the tunnel. This is the safest way to get across what can be a busy road. The tunnel is free of debris and about 30ft long. On the opposite side you will be directed 100 meters to the right to Bradshaw Road. Go left down the hill to Old County Road and go right. This is all paved now and the road goes through a residential street until it meets up again with the 87. Head left along the wide shoulder into the town of Pine. You have about ½ a mile left and it’s all through the town itself. Follow the wide shoulder inside the white line past the Sidewinder Saloon, Ponderosa Market, old buildings and the finish line will be at the Community Center by the ice cream shop on Randall.
You’ll see the finish line.
I recommend a full sprint to the finish.
This sections starts out heading east from the Pine Trailhead along the Arizona Trail which is also the Highline Trail. You’ll follow this for approximately 1.5 miles to the turnoff for the Donohue Trail which will be to your left. This trail turns very rocky and climbs a series of switchbacks directly up the Mogollon Rim. The single track trail will eventually join a dirt road which you will continue on past the junction with the West Webber Trail and several other forest road pullouts.
Eventually you will come to see a meadow on the left side of the road. This is a popular place for campers and likely will be some traffic from other vehicles. Please be aware of this with headphone users and in general. You will see the Dickerson Flat AS well in advance as you come up on it on your right hand side. This is also the turn off for the Turkey Springs trail which will be your first descent off the rim.
#2 Dickerson to Geronimo AS (Mile 10.3) – 4.4 Mile Segment
Leaving Dickerson Flat AS runners head east up the trail to Turkey Springs, visible from the Aid Station. (Don’t go straight on the forest road, make sure you take the marked trail with a wooden sign you can see clearly from the aid station.) You’ll start towards the eastern edge of this part of the Rim and will be afforded with your first views of the Mogollon Rim as you crest the edge and drop down off the Rim towards Geronimo Aid Station. This is nearly entirely all downhill from Dickenson Flat to Geronimo and stunning in its view several times. The first drop off the Rim is very rocky and difficult to run but opens up to switchbacks all the way down to where it intersects with the double track Geronimo Trail. This trail winds all the way down to where it meets the Highline Trail and then the lush forest where the Geronimo Aid Station sits. This area has several creek crossings, high ponderosa growth and some very runnable terrain before crossing West Webber creek just before the aid station.
***At the bottom of Turkey Springs Trail you’ll reach an intersection where you can continue straight down the double track towards Geronimo Aid Station or take a hard right at the sign and go up West Webber trail. We put an “A” frame sign that you’ll see directing you down the mountain to Geronimo. If all goes well, you will revisit this section coming up the trail from Geronimo and you’ll take West Webber back up the rim to mile 93. Just keep going down the trail and you’ll be fine. But take note as you pass the sign, you’ll see this again and this is where you’ll start the final climb of the race.
#3 Geronimo to Donohue AZ (Mile 15) – 4.9 Mile Segment (Water Only)
Leaving Geronimo Aid Station you cross the creek and head up the Highline Trail you descended the day prior when you came down Turkey Springs. Be sure to turn right off the Highline to the Geronimo Trail. You’ll follow the ribbons back up the trail, mostly a double track, until you reach the intersection for Turkey Springs and West Webber Trail. This is where you will go LEFT on West Webber. There is a wooden sign, our markers and an “A” frame sign we place there to make it obvious.
West Webber, if you are in a mindset to enjoy it, is a beautiful trail in the forest. More lush than most areas in the lower half of the Rim it’s a beautiful canopy trail along the forest floor before hitting a wall.
Then it goes straight up.
This is “D**k Knocker.”
1,000 feet in climbing in 1.0 miles at mile 92.0 to 93.0. At this point in any race being PC has long lost its value. The inaugural year 4th place finisher Marius Toma was running into the finish line with me saying, “You know...that last climb...that was...that was really unnecessary…”
Maybe, but it got you to the top and just take the left at the road and you’ll run into Donohue Aid Station at the start of the Donahue Trail. Don’t get too excited, it’s just a water jug and some radio guys. Although the radio guys are really nice.
#4 Donohue to Finish in Town of Pine (Mile 22) – 7.1 Mile Segment
Donahue Trail leaves the forest road and heads back into the forest. You’ve already been on this stretch of trail at the start of the race. It’s a nice single track for a while before it dumps back onto a forest road, this one filled with old volcanic rock. It’s no bueno. But it’s a short stretch before going back into the forest and some awesome downhill trail with the view on both sides peeking through the trees. You’ll hit a ridge, cross some openings and then hit the switchbacks. Down you go all the way through the boulder field that gets Donahue that slight twitch in people’s faces when they talk about it. You’ll intercept the Highline Trail and you’ll be going right at the “T.” This is an awesome downhill to Pine Trailhead where we started, such a long, long time ago.
This aid station is at the location of the start of the race and at this point only 2 miles remain to the finish line. Pacers are welcome here to the finish. There’s no point in spending much time here. It’s a parking lot. It’s 2 miles from the finish.
Leaving Pine Trailhead AS you’ll run down the paved road for the trailhead to just before the 87 highway. To cross the road you’ll drop down 15 feet to the right to a culvert access point and go UNDER the road in the tunnel. This is the safest way to get across what can be a busy road. The tunnel is free of debris and about 30ft long. On the opposite side you will be directed 100 meters to the right to Bradshaw Road. Go left down the hill to Old County Road and go right. This is all paved now and the road goes through a residential street until it meets up again with the 87. Head left along the wide shoulder into the town of Pine. You have about ½ a mile left and it’s all through the town itself. Follow the wide shoulder inside the white line past the Sidewinder Saloon, Ponderosa Market, old buildings and the finish line will be at the Community Center by the ice cream shop on Randall.
You’ll see the finish line.
I recommend a full sprint to the finish.
