South Fork Trail to Burro Tail to Horseshoe Pass, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Thursday morning the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club met up and headed up to the South Fork picnic area for the days hike.  Starting out on the South Fork trail, trail 243, the group headed up to Maple Camp.  The fall colors were still at their peak and the reds and yellows of the maples made a nice contrast to the green of the pines along the trail which winds along the streambed passing small waterfalls. After 1.2 miles, the group then took the Burro Trail, trail 240, climbing up to a sunny scenic overlook at Red Rocks  for a break and a view of the surrounding mountains.  A group of 5 then continued up the trail with no particular destination but as the group continued it was decided to complete the trail as far as Horseshoe Saddle.  Arriving at the saddle for lunch and photographs there was a discussion of possible day trip loop hikes that could be completed along this trail without retracing one's steps.  Then it was back down the trail and arriving back at the vehicles in the afternoon.  The total distance completed was 5 miles, one way, with about 2000' of elevation change.

A screenshot from Google Earth of the route to Horseshoe Saddle.

Slideshow of South Fork to Horseshoe Saddle hiking photographs.