Painted Bluff
Painted Bluff Trail is a 10.6-mile trail in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Arizona. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking.
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 end | 33.1721° N, 109.3727° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 33.1424° N, 109.4825° W · 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
| Length | 10.6 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 5-8 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 13 |
| Forest | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (unit 0301) |
| States | Arizona |
| Detail published | management 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.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 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
Painted Bluff Trailhead (#13) Trailhead No season published | under 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.
Trails nearby
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
- PrescribedD3 Bear Rx
20 mi from the trail midpoint · 5,072 acres
- PrescribedD3 Hagen Rx
21 mi from the trail midpoint · 5,757 acres
- PrescribedSafford Piles Rx
41 mi from the trail midpoint · 367 acres
- PrescribedFta Tonto North Rx
41 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
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Painted Bluff Trail?
The Forest Service records 10.6 miles under this name in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, the sum of 1 segment.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Painted Bluff Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Painted Bluff Trail start?
The line begins at 33.1721° N, 109.3727° W and ends at 33.1424° N, 109.4825° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Painted Bluff Trailhead (#13) Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Painted Bluff 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 Painted Bluff Trail?
Granville Campground (0.9 mi) is within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists it with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Painted Bluff Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately 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 Painted Bluff Trail?
The typical grade is 5-8 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Painted Bluff 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 Painted Bluff Trail?
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Forest Service unit 0301. The trail is in Arizona.
Is there a fire near the Painted Bluff Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest D3 Bear Rx at 20 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named Painted Bluff 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 November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.