4 Miles

200 feet

Easy!

B- Views

Forest Road 44 Hike Overview

 This is a great place to stop and stretch your legs when you are driving the Bloody Basin Road. It’s flat and in a pine forest! Because it’s around 4000 feet it’s also a bit cooler. 

Map & Elevation Profile

Total distance: 3.56 mi
Max elevation: 4794 ft
Min elevation: 4601 ft
Total time: 01:20:25

Map for Forest Road 44 in the Tonto National Forest

Good map for the area!

Forest Road 44 Hike Nat Geo Map 850

Nat Geo map #850

Mazatzal and Pine Mountain Wilderness Areas Map. Great overview map of the area (affiliate link).

Parking

We parked at the eastern side of Forest road 44 (it’s a loop). There is a little pull out at the start of Forest Road 44 and another area to park 30 feet or so in.

Forest Road 44 Hike Trail Notes

The first time we drove Bloody Basin Road, I noticed this little road on the mesa and thought next time we are walking this. Secretly, I really wanted to camp here but we weren’t able to due to the forest closing for the month of July. Next time!

This small hike was a great break from the car. We had already been in the car for a couple of hours and it felt great to stretch our legs. This mesa top has pine trees and grassy meadow areas. It’s beautiful! The road was definitely driveable but I am glad we walked it instead.

Our goal was to walk to the mesa edge on Forest Road 3159 and look out over the Tonto. Forest Road 3159 started as a nice wide forest road, got narrower and less road like, and then just disappeared. Note that on the Nat Geo #850 map it is marked as a high clearance road. It is in the beginning but quickly fades. There was a fence recently installed and what looked like a trail next to it. We followed this until it just got too brushy and there was a section that would have required stepping/getting over the barbed wire fence. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the mesa edge but we did spend some time in the trees. Definitely still a win!

So, is hiking on Forest Road 44 worth it?

Absolutely. Especially if you love these dry higher altitude areas with pine trees and need a break from the car while driving the Bloody Basin Road.

Get more inspired to get outside:

PCT Trail Journal: Day 21 Bird Spring Pass to Kelso Road

15.652822 feet up3287 feet down Kelso Road188.56 hours 3 minutes🌟Hiking through 5+ miles of Joshua Tree forest👉The down is really hurting my left knee.May 2, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 21 Bird Spring Pass to Kelso Road The wind was howling all night. I'm glad I had...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 20 Walker Pass to Bird Spring Pass

21.114163 feet up3845 feet down Bird Spring Pass173.67 Hours 48 minutes🌟Wildflowers + Joshua Trees👉Need to be more careful with my gear so I don't destroy it all. May 1, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 20 Walker Pass to Bird Spring Pass I slept ok. I woke up a lot but...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 19 Walker Pass to Walker Pass Campground

0.8836 feet up 259 feet down Walker Pass Campground152.60.3🌟Seeing my love👉Don't panic, everything will be fine. April 30, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 19 Walker Pass to Walker Pass Campground Day 19 started out with a great morning with my significant other. We...

PCT Trail Journal: Days 15 – 18 Rest Days in Idyllwild & Palm Springs

00Idyllwild Airbnb & Hotel in Palm Springs151.80🌟Face mask, lotion, and a hot bath 🌟Nice comfy soft beds 👉It's ok to not hike hard on the trail all the time. 👉Planning a flip is hard and the weather should definitely be considered. 👉Being a thru-hiker means doing...

PCT Trail Summary: Week 2 Miles 68.4 to 131.6

PCT Trail Summary: Week 2 Miles 68.4 to 131.6 Dates Hiked April 17 - April 23, 202365.19,327 up8,338 down21 Hours 18 Minutes💖Seeing Kari from my hometown! 💖Resting at Stagecoach - the folks were so friendly 💖Hanging in Julian with Hannah, Jorrit and Liam 💖Hiking with...

PCT Trail Summary: Week 1 Campo to Mile 68.4

PCT Trail Summary: Week 1 Campo to Mile 68.4 Dates Hiked April 12 - April 16, 202368.411,037 up10,161 down26.9 HoursHiking with Happy6 & 20D The wildflowers 🌸 My positive mindsetOther hikers & flowers!I would listen to my body more and not suffer through so...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 14 Mile 146.1 to Paradise Valley Cafe (Mile 151.8)

6.21909 up873 downIdyllwild Airbnb151.82 Hours 4 MinutesIdyllwild and town food!I start out with big hunger and then can't eat everythingApril 25th, 2023PCT Trail Journal: Day 14 Mile 146.1 to Paradise Valley Cafe (Mile 151.8) Hiked on April 25th, 2023 On day 14 of...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 13 Miles 131.6 to 146.1

15.612405 up2336 downMile 146.1146.16 Hours 11 MinutesThe wildflowers 🌼🌼🌼Need larger battery pack ASAP!PCT Trail Journal: Day 13 Miles 131.6 to 146.1 Miles 131.6 to 146.1 on the PCT were good and hot filled with more wildflowers than you could imagine. There was a lot...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 12 Miles 115.4 to 131.6

16.033291 up1906 downMile 131.6131.65 Hours 50 MinutesListening to my book while hikingI am quite dirty. So dirty that bandaids and tape won't stick to my skin. PCT Trail Journal: Day 12 Miles 115.4 to 131.6 Miles 115.4 to 131.6 were both hard and gave me a sense of...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 11 Miles 104.8 to 115.4

13.531519 up1513 downMile 115.4115.44 Hours 56 MinutesWalking through field after field of wildflowers I don't need 10 bars per day and should focus on the base meals in resupply boxesPCT Trail Journal: Day 11 Miles 104.8 to 115.4 Miles 104.8 to 115.4 on the PCT were...