White Mountains Online

Hannagan Meadow
Cross Country Skiing Area

 

Cross Country skiingArizona's White Mountains

Season: Late November to Mid-April (think snow!)

19 Kilometers of groomed trail

No Fee!

Snow and Road Conditions Report:For a current conditions report, call (520) 339-4384

Facilities:

  • 19 Kilometers of groomed trail
  • Lodging, food, ski rentals at lodge
  • Rustic log cabin resort

Features:

  • Scenic mountain meadow setting
  • Long season, lots of snow
  • Unlimited backcountry skiing nearby
  • Adjacent to major highway

Attractions:
Tall spire-shaped conifers, rustic wood rail fences and a historic log cabin resort combine to make Hannagan Meadow an unforgettable place for cross country buffs to enjoy their favorite sport. Nineteen kilometers of groomed trail wander along the edge of the meadow and thorough the forest that borders it across US highway 191 (formerly US 666) from the resort. These trails, which are open to the public free of charge, are groomed after every storm.

Hannagan Meadow stands at an elevation of 9,100 feet which means that the snow that you can usually find there from mid-November to late April is deep and dry. Trails in the area are suitable for all levels of skiing skill and the areas best suited to novice skiers are every bit as picturesque as those for more accomplished skiers.

Though the area around Hannagan never gets really crowded, some people want to get even farther away from the madding crowd. For them, forest roads closed for the season and backcountry trails leading into the Blue Primitive Area provide excellent opportunities for primitive recreation in an environment of quiet and solitude.

Located at the southern end of Hannagan Meadow is one of the major jumping off points for trails leading into the Blue Primitive Area. Trails leading from this point toward the Blue River Canyon provide almost unlimited backcountry skiing for those with experience to safely enjoy it. Here, it's possible to start off in the snowy high country and ski your way to the canyon rim, from which you return to where you started or hike down any one of several trails that lead to the much warmer canyon floor 4,000 feel lower. The KP Rim/Willow Spring Loop offers a more manageable 11 kilometer loop along the edge of this scenic canyon country. It is blazed but not maintained.

Across the highway from the Meadow, on the same side of US 191 is the Hannagan Meadow Resort, a network of forest roads leads to other out-of-the-way places in the Alpine high country. Along FR 576 you don't have to ski far to get good overlooks into Fish Creek Canyon. FR 24 branches off the groomed Ackre Lake Loop to take you through more forests and meadows along the upper reaches of Fish Creek Canyon. Combined with FR 576 this route makes a long day loop into remote country.

Access:
Drive 22 miles south of Alpine on US 191. This highway is not plowed while winter storms are in progress on weekends and at night.

Notes:

  • No snowmobiles on designated ski trails (except maintenance machines)
  • Park in plowed turnoffs out of the way of travel.
  • No pets allowed on trails.
  • Observe standard cautions associated with winter sports.

For current information on trail conditions, please contact the Alpine Ranger District: P.O. Box 469, Alpine, AZ 85920, (520) 339-4384. For more information, please feel free to contact the USDA Forest Service, Alpine Ranger District.