General Crook Trail #140

General Crook Trail #140 (ref: 140) is a long-distance hiking route in Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest, near the Payson area on the Mogollon Rim. It’s typically hiked as an 8–10 mile section depending on start/end points, and it’s mapped as a footway along named trail segments (2 members).

Expect moderate effort. Reported elevation gain for this #140 section is about 400–529 ft, with a blue-rated difficulty level for hiking/multi-use use patterns, so plan on steady climbing rather than a flat stroll.

Access and logistics for #140 are usually handled as a through hike. One common setup runs between Rim Top Trailhead and Carr Lake Trailhead, using about 5 miles of Rim Road (FR300) for the shuttle between trailheads.

Common staging elevation at Rim Top Trailhead is reported around 7,550 ft, with Carr Lake Trailhead around 7,105 ft, so the route generally works as a descent overall if you start at Rim Top and finish at Carr Lake.

The historic context is tied to General George Crook’s 1870s-era supply movement across the region; the Forest Service divides the larger General Crook Trail corridor into multiple numbered trail pieces, with #140 covering the Rim Top–Carr Lake area segment.

Terrain is forested/mixed with a hiking trail tread that can pick up storm-season impacts. Plan to scout for fallen wood crossing the tread after wet/active weather periods and route into your navigation plan before you commit to sections of trail.

This route is multi-use in practice (hikers/runners and mountain biking are all seen on the corridor), so keep an eye out for other users while you’re moving through narrower segments of the mapped trail.

More information: General Crook Trail: P12-P2 - Kingsnake's Home Den, Hiking The Incredible Colchuck Lake Trail: A Complete Guide, General Crook Trail #140 in Arizona - Pacer Walking App