Abert’s Squirrel
Distance: 24.4 miles; driving time is approximately one hour.
Difficulty: All but 8.5 miles is paved; the remaining all-purpose, gravel road is suitable for passenger cars in good weather.
Access:
- From the Lakeside Ranger District office, travel southeast on White Mountain Blvd. 0.2 of a mile.
- Turn left onto Porter Mountain Road.
- Proceed north 1.7 miles.
- Turn right to remain on Porter Mountain Road (Forest Road 45); the road name changes to Penrod Road if you proceed straight here.
- Drive 8.3 miles to the junction with Forest Road 182.
- Turn right and proceed 8.6 miles on FR 182 to its junction with Buck Springs Road.
- Turn right and proceed ½ mile to the junction of Buck Springs Road and White Mountain Blvd.
- Turn right and drive 5.3 miles to the starting point at the Ranger District office.
Highlights: This route through ponderosa pine forest provides a good opportunity to view mule deer, elk, a variety of forest birds, including wild turkey, and small- and medium-sized mammals, including Abert squirrel. The best times to view wildlife along this route are when animals are most active at dawn and dusk.