Crew Driving Directions
Below you can view the accessible areas that crew can meet their runners. There are 12 total areas (including the Finish) that runners can be met by their crews. If you look at the area map below of the Highline National Recreation Trail you can see Pine TH (race start), Geronimo TH, & Washington Park TH on the left side of the map along the Highline Trail. The 87 in the lower left is the main road that leads from Phoenix up through Payson, then Pine, then Strawberry, AZ to the top of the Rim. For crew to meet their runners from the start at 10am they will drive up the 87 to the top of the Rim to Pine Canyon Trailhead. It's right off the 87 and about a 20 minute drive from the start. The next aid station is Dickerson Flat which is on the plateau called Milk Ranch Point. This is also very accessible. If you go to those two aid stations you will then have to drive back 15 minutes on dirt roads back to the 87, then 20 minutes down the Rim and then 6 miles of dirt road to meet the runners at Geronimo Aid Station. Given the runners are dropping down the Rim only 5 miles they likely will be at Geronimo in under an hour or about an hour for most given the 2000+ feet dropping off the Rim. So Crews might want to either skip Dickerson Flat AS or skip Geronimo AS and go straight to Washington Park. It all depends on the runner and how safely you want to drive. :)
Likewise, this comes into play again when runners are heading up the Rim from Washington Park. To drive from WP to meet runners at Pinchot Cabin you are driving 16 miles back on the dirt roads to the 87, then over 30 minutes to the turnoff onto the forest roads and then another 25 minutes to the Pinchot Aid Station. You'll beat the runners there but it is some driving because the Mogollon Rim has very few direct access points so getting to the top via car is limited to one of two ways within a 50 mile radius. The 87 and the 260, both highways. Later in the race crews can access both Buck Springs & Pinchot Cabin in the same loop runners take so it's more worthwhile to make the trip.
All forest roads and crew accessible aid stations can be found quite easily and with a standard vehicle. The roads are well groomed forest roads traveled frequently by campers, hunters, and sightseers. I have omitted the Houston Brothers aid station from being crew accessible as it is right off the Rim Road #300 and on a blind corner. For safety reasons please do not go to that aid station. It will also limit the vehicle traffic for runners on that 4.5 mile stretch on the Rim Road overlooking the valley below.
This a very crew accessible course and all but Hell’s Gate are accessible by a standard car. All access roads are dirt but improved surfaces with minimal locations that are challenging with a car.
Pine Canyon AS - Head north on the 87 through Pine and Strawberry towns up to the top of the Rim. On the right hand side of the road at the top of the Rim is a turnoff with a large wire gate wide enough for two cars. This is the location of Pine Canyon Aid Station. With the gate open for race day we can likely fit a dozen or more cars along the 87. Please be sure to park in a safe location along the road not blocking the runners access on their way out of this station. From the start of the race to this location it likely will take 15-20 minutes of drive time up the Rim.
Dickenson Flat AS - Leaving the Pine Canyon AS go north again on the 87 a couple miles to the signed turnoff for “Rim Road.” Take a right and go straight at the first intersections. You access Rim Road #300 here but for Dickenson Flat AS you want to go straight several miles until you run into it along this road.
Geronimo AS - To reach Geronimo you need to return to Pine and after the starting line Pine Traihead turnoff there is a left turn for “Control Road” #64. This left turn off the 87 is the Control Road that accesses all of the Rim’s lower trailhead’s (Geronimo, Washington Park, and Hells’ Gate.) This road has many mile markers for Camp Geronimo (same as our AS) and Washington Park that allows for easy navigation along this road. This road is improved dirt but windy and often has elk on it. Should you be traveling early morning or evening please be on the lookout for elk near or on the road. For Geronimo you’ll follow the Control Road 6 miles and take a left at the signed marker. The AS is 1.8 miles up the road at the Geronimo Trailhead parking area. We likely won’t run out of parking but should we do, park along the road allowing plenty of space for emergency vehicle traffic to pass.
Washington Park AS - To reach race headquarters return to the Control Road and turn left to continue back east. This road will take you east to another signed turnoff (left) which says 4 miles for Washington Park and then 30 feet later says 5 miles. Either way, continue north towards the Rim itself, the road brings you to a junction with mailboxes along the road. Merge to the left side and go past the mailboxes. Shortly thereafter the turn for Washington Park points you right and then immediately to the left. This short section is bumpy for cars so take it easy. Its very brief. This last mile passes several great camping spots and dead ends at Washington Park Trailhead. If you are visiting your runner or coming to pace and leaving a car be sure to leave it along the road where there is PLENTY of space for an emergency vehicle to get through. This is very important.
Hell’s Gate AS - Please do not visit this location unless you are the volunteer or are running through in the race. The access road is washed out and not accessible, very small and cannot accommodate additional traffic.
Houston Brothers AS - To get to the Cabin Loop Aid Stations (Pinchot Cabin, Houston Brothers, Buck Springs) you have to drive ALL the way back around the control road to the 87, up the 87 to the Rim Road turnoff, 15 miles along the winding dirt road on the Rim Road #300 just to get to the top of the power lines above Washington Park. From there its 4.5 miles to Houston Brothers which is visible as you drive up. This station is on a sharp corner so parking here and having additional pedestrian traffic is potentially dangerous. If you chose to visit this location please be very careful with parking and of course, when passing our runners please slow down to limit dust and cheer them on as you pass. No form of assistance though. That is considered cheating. Verbal support only.
Pinchot Cabin AS - To get to Pinchot Cabin take the #96 Forest Road off the Rim Road (passed this intersection leaving Washington Park climb to Houston Brothers) and follow about 8 miles north to Pinchot Cabin.
Buck Springs AS - To get to Buck Springs you head back down the #96, head left on the #300 Rim Road to the #321 Forest Road. Go left and follow 3.3 miles to the Buck Springs AS which is visible from the road.
A decision is likely needed to be made by the crews in which locations you are going to visit as the drive from Washington Park to Pinchot Cabin would take likely a full hour despite it being only 9 miles away as the crow flies. The Rim Road #300 is winding, sharp turns and slow going because of the course it takes along the Rim. It’s incredibly beautiful but as a fair warning, it’s probably best to skip a station either above or below to cut out some driving time.
Likewise, this comes into play again when runners are heading up the Rim from Washington Park. To drive from WP to meet runners at Pinchot Cabin you are driving 16 miles back on the dirt roads to the 87, then over 30 minutes to the turnoff onto the forest roads and then another 25 minutes to the Pinchot Aid Station. You'll beat the runners there but it is some driving because the Mogollon Rim has very few direct access points so getting to the top via car is limited to one of two ways within a 50 mile radius. The 87 and the 260, both highways. Later in the race crews can access both Buck Springs & Pinchot Cabin in the same loop runners take so it's more worthwhile to make the trip.
All forest roads and crew accessible aid stations can be found quite easily and with a standard vehicle. The roads are well groomed forest roads traveled frequently by campers, hunters, and sightseers. I have omitted the Houston Brothers aid station from being crew accessible as it is right off the Rim Road #300 and on a blind corner. For safety reasons please do not go to that aid station. It will also limit the vehicle traffic for runners on that 4.5 mile stretch on the Rim Road overlooking the valley below.
This a very crew accessible course and all but Hell’s Gate are accessible by a standard car. All access roads are dirt but improved surfaces with minimal locations that are challenging with a car.
Pine Canyon AS - Head north on the 87 through Pine and Strawberry towns up to the top of the Rim. On the right hand side of the road at the top of the Rim is a turnoff with a large wire gate wide enough for two cars. This is the location of Pine Canyon Aid Station. With the gate open for race day we can likely fit a dozen or more cars along the 87. Please be sure to park in a safe location along the road not blocking the runners access on their way out of this station. From the start of the race to this location it likely will take 15-20 minutes of drive time up the Rim.
Dickenson Flat AS - Leaving the Pine Canyon AS go north again on the 87 a couple miles to the signed turnoff for “Rim Road.” Take a right and go straight at the first intersections. You access Rim Road #300 here but for Dickenson Flat AS you want to go straight several miles until you run into it along this road.
Geronimo AS - To reach Geronimo you need to return to Pine and after the starting line Pine Traihead turnoff there is a left turn for “Control Road” #64. This left turn off the 87 is the Control Road that accesses all of the Rim’s lower trailhead’s (Geronimo, Washington Park, and Hells’ Gate.) This road has many mile markers for Camp Geronimo (same as our AS) and Washington Park that allows for easy navigation along this road. This road is improved dirt but windy and often has elk on it. Should you be traveling early morning or evening please be on the lookout for elk near or on the road. For Geronimo you’ll follow the Control Road 6 miles and take a left at the signed marker. The AS is 1.8 miles up the road at the Geronimo Trailhead parking area. We likely won’t run out of parking but should we do, park along the road allowing plenty of space for emergency vehicle traffic to pass.
Washington Park AS - To reach race headquarters return to the Control Road and turn left to continue back east. This road will take you east to another signed turnoff (left) which says 4 miles for Washington Park and then 30 feet later says 5 miles. Either way, continue north towards the Rim itself, the road brings you to a junction with mailboxes along the road. Merge to the left side and go past the mailboxes. Shortly thereafter the turn for Washington Park points you right and then immediately to the left. This short section is bumpy for cars so take it easy. Its very brief. This last mile passes several great camping spots and dead ends at Washington Park Trailhead. If you are visiting your runner or coming to pace and leaving a car be sure to leave it along the road where there is PLENTY of space for an emergency vehicle to get through. This is very important.
Hell’s Gate AS - Please do not visit this location unless you are the volunteer or are running through in the race. The access road is washed out and not accessible, very small and cannot accommodate additional traffic.
Houston Brothers AS - To get to the Cabin Loop Aid Stations (Pinchot Cabin, Houston Brothers, Buck Springs) you have to drive ALL the way back around the control road to the 87, up the 87 to the Rim Road turnoff, 15 miles along the winding dirt road on the Rim Road #300 just to get to the top of the power lines above Washington Park. From there its 4.5 miles to Houston Brothers which is visible as you drive up. This station is on a sharp corner so parking here and having additional pedestrian traffic is potentially dangerous. If you chose to visit this location please be very careful with parking and of course, when passing our runners please slow down to limit dust and cheer them on as you pass. No form of assistance though. That is considered cheating. Verbal support only.
Pinchot Cabin AS - To get to Pinchot Cabin take the #96 Forest Road off the Rim Road (passed this intersection leaving Washington Park climb to Houston Brothers) and follow about 8 miles north to Pinchot Cabin.
Buck Springs AS - To get to Buck Springs you head back down the #96, head left on the #300 Rim Road to the #321 Forest Road. Go left and follow 3.3 miles to the Buck Springs AS which is visible from the road.
A decision is likely needed to be made by the crews in which locations you are going to visit as the drive from Washington Park to Pinchot Cabin would take likely a full hour despite it being only 9 miles away as the crow flies. The Rim Road #300 is winding, sharp turns and slow going because of the course it takes along the Rim. It’s incredibly beautiful but as a fair warning, it’s probably best to skip a station either above or below to cut out some driving time.
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