Quaking Aspen Canyon Trail 86,Gila National Forest

Access to this trail is off the Mcknight Road. About 10 miles in, there is a turn-off for Forest Road 537. The initial pitch down into the canyon is very steep, with a some large road bed rocks that scraped the bottom of our truck. There is some shady, spacious, flat camping areas a short ways in along the stream,which usually has some water and even tiny fish(not trout).

We parked and started walking down the road, passing an old homestead with corrals, sheds and a cabin.


Eventually there was a fork in the road. The left branch continues on the East Canyon Trail(FT 93). We headed right on FT 86( Quaking Aspen Canyon). It was pretty pleasant walking on a clear Autumn day. Huge oaks were in brilliant color, and eventually we saw a few aspens a short ways past the junction with the Rabb Park Trail.
A nice walk in a section of the forest that attracts very few hikers, although hunters do frequent the area.IMPORTANT UPDATE: Parts of this hike are within the Silver Fire burn area (June,2013).