Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests · Arizona · Trail 17

Aker Lake

Aker Lake Trail is a 9.1 miles trail in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Arizona. The Forest Service rates it trail class 4, highly developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests official page carries current alerts and closure orders.

Map

One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.

One end33.6171, -109.3342 · Directions ↗
Other end33.6171, -109.3342 · Directions ↗

The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.

The trail

Length9.1 miles
Trail class4, highly developed
Typesnow trail, land trail
Surfacenative material
Typical grade12-20 percent
Typical tread width18-24 inches
Motor vehiclesClosed to all motorized use year-round
AccessibilityEvaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines
Trail numbers17, SNO-17
ForestApache-Sitgreaves National Forests (unit 0301)
StatesArizona
Detail publishedmanagement level, with uses

Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.

Allowed uses

HikingAllowed year-round
Horse and pack stockAllowed
Mountain bikingAllowed year-round
SnowshoeingAllowed year-round
Cross-country skiingAllowed year-round

A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.

Trailheads

No season published
0.1 mi
No season published
No Overnight Camping
0.1 mi
No season published
0.1 mi

Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.

Camping nearby

Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D7 Brushy Mtn South Rx

    44 mi from the trail midpoint

  • Prescribed
    D7 Butler West Rx

    44 mi from the trail midpoint

  • Prescribed
    D7 Rhoton Seep Rx

    45 mi from the trail midpoint

  • Prescribed
    D7 Arab Rx

    46 mi from the trail midpoint

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.

Explore

Reference

Questions people ask

How long is the Aker Lake Trail?

9.1 miles, the sum of the 2 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

What is allowed on the Aker Lake Trail?

hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Where does the Aker Lake Trail start?

The line begins at 33.6171, -109.3342 and ends at 33.6171, -109.3342. The nearest recorded trailhead is Steeple/Foote Creek Trailhead, 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the Aker Lake Trail in a wilderness area?

No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Where can I camp near the Aker Lake Trail?

Hannagan Campground (0.1 mi), KP Cienega Campground (2.3 mi) and Strayhorse Campground (4.6 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.

Source: Campsite Atlas

How developed is the Aker Lake Trail?

Trail class 4, which the Forest Service describes as highly developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

How steep and how wide is the Aker Lake Trail?

The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the Aker Lake Trail accessible?

No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Who manages the Aker Lake Trail?

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Forest Service unit 0301. The trail is in Arizona.

Source: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests official page

Is there a fire near the Aker Lake Trail?

4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-17, the nearest D7 Brushy Mtn South Rx at 44 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.

Source: Fire nearby

Source

This page is built from 2 segments named AKER LAKE in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0301. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.