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Broadside Trail No. 436

Broadside Trail is part of the Mount Elden Dry Lake Hills Trail System and the Schultz Tank Trail System.

The Schultz Tank system is located on the north side of Dry Lake Hills and on the southern flanks of the San Francisco Peaks. The area is bisected by the FR 420/Schultz Pass Road and can also be accessed from the FR 556/Little Elden Springs Road. The trails that start from this system provide various outdoor recreation experiences. Hikers and equestrians can use the Weatherford trail to access the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. The trails that lead south into the non-motorized Dry Lake Hills area include Sunset, Schultz Creek, and Broadside trails. E-Bikes and dirt bikers can utilize the motorized trail system of Fort Valley from the Schultz Tank trailhead. Fort Valley is located to the north and west of Schultz Pass Road.

Trailside vegetation changes as elevation increases, from ponderosa pine to more alpine species such as Limber pine, Aspen, White fir, and Douglas fir. At about 9,000 feet a very noisy black, gray, and white bird makes its first appearance. This is the Clarks nutcracker, a type of jay, which is more commonly thought of as a resident of the Rocky Mountains but finds this part of Arizona very much to its liking. Black bear and mountain lions frequent the area but are shy creatures and rarely seen. You may also encounter wild turkey and blue grouse that come to Schultz Tank as a water source.

Specific Trail Information

Trail Number

436

Trail Type

Standard/Terra Trail — A trail that has a surface consisting predominantly of the ground and that is designed and managed to accommodate use on that surface.

General Information

  • Difficulty: Easy.
  • Length: 3.24 miles.
  • Trailhead Elevation: 8,108 ft.
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 692 ft.

Non-motorized use only.

Exterior image of the Flagstaff Ranger Station.

Address: 5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: 928-526-0866
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: SM.FS.Cof_Webmail@usda.gov

Getting There

Directions

Location: North of Flagstaff, along Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420).

Access: From Flagstaff, head north on U.S. Highway 180 to Schultz Pass Road. Take a right, heading east, on Schultz Pass Road for 0.5 miles to the intersection of Schultz Pass Road and Mt Elden Lookout Road. Go left on Schultz Pass Road (FR 420) for approximately 4.7 miles and the turn in for the parking lot will be on your right.

GPS (Map): 35°17'04.7"N 111°37'54.1"W

Recreation Opportunities

Last updated January 8, 2026