South Fork Trail
Greer, AZ
South Fork Trail follows the South Fork of the Little Colorado River through a narrow canyon lined with old-growth Douglas fir and Engelmann spruce. The trail crosses the river multiple times over a 4-mile stretch, passing through dappled forest light and moss-covered boulders. It is considered one of the most scenic streamside hikes in the White Mountains.
Photography Guide
- Best Time
- morning
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Shot Types
- detaillandscapelong-exposure
- Best Seasons
- summerfall
Author's Comments
Most people in Arizona do not think about Douglas fir. They think about saguaro and red rock and the long horizontal of the desert, and so a trail like this one stays quiet by virtue of being unexpected. The South Fork runs through a narrow canyon south of Greer, and walking into it in late June feels like walking into a different state entirely. The air goes cool. The light goes green. The river is small and busy and crosses the trail again and again, and you give up on dry boots somewhere in the first half mile. What I love about this place is the dappling. Old-growth fir and spruce filter the morning sun into something soft and moving, and the moss on the boulders holds that light in a way that a camera can almost catch if you are patient. Long exposures work here because the canyon stays shaded well into the morning. Set up over a small cascade, let the water blur, let the moss stay sharp. The frame almost makes itself. I would come in September if I had to choose. The aspens up on the ridges have not yet turned, but the light has already started to lengthen, and the crowds, what few there are, have thinned to almost nothing. Bring a tripod. Bring boots you do not mind soaking. Walk slowly and stop often. This is not a trail to cover end to end so much as a trail to settle into for a morning, and the photographs that come from it will look nothing like the Arizona anyone expects.
Gallery
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