Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
Trailheads in Arizona
Near Blue, AZ in Arizona
What to Pack for Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
Preparation starts with your pack. Here's what to bring.
The conditions at Lower East Eagle Trailhead call for specific gear — here's a tailored packing list.
Essential
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Water (minimum 2L) — Even cool-weather hiking demands steady hydration, as exertion and altitude increase water loss faster than most expect.
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Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Even well-marked trails have confusing junctions, especially in fog or snow; a GPS unit or downloaded map keeps you on route.
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Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Quality sunglasses prevent snow blindness and reduce eye strain during long days on exposed trails or ridgelines.
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First aid kit — Adhesive bandages, antiseptic, and athletic tape handle the most common trail injuries and weigh under a pound.
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Extra food — Blood sugar drops fast during sustained effort outdoors, and having a reserve keeps your body and mind sharp.
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Headlamp with extra batteries — Batteries drain faster in cold weather; carrying spares ensures you won't be left in the dark when you need light most.
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Fire starter — Starting a fire boosts morale and provides light, warmth, and a way to purify water in an emergency.
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Emergency shelter (space blanket) — If an injury forces you to stop moving, a reflective blanket prevents the rapid heat loss that leads to hypothermia.
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Knife or multi-tool — In a survival situation, a blade lets you process tinder, build shelter, and prepare food.
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Extra clothing layer — Wet clothing accelerates cooling; a dry backup layer can prevent hypothermia when conditions turn.
Wildlife Gear
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Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — Solo hikers are more vulnerable to predatory behavior from mountain lions, which typically avoid groups.
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Noise maker — A loud whistle doubles as a rescue signal, serving both wildlife safety and emergency communication.
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Gaiters — Beyond snakes, gaiters also protect against thorns, brush, and ticks in overgrown trail sections.
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First-aid snakebite kit — A lightweight pressure bandage and marker for tracking swelling take up minimal space but provide critical aid.
Seasonal Gear
- Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
- Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
Activities & Best Time to Visit Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
The Forest terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.
The Forest landscape around Lower East Eagle Trailhead makes it well suited for backpacking, hiking, photography.
The scenery here earns a 65/100 photography rating — Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 3 excellent meteor showers.
Activities
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backpacking — Lightweight equipment and route awareness are key for safe travel.
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hiking — With sturdy footwear and preparation, trails open up expansive views and quiet solitude.
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photography — Outdoor photography invites you to slow down and frame the beauty around you.
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picnicking — Whether lakeside or in a meadow, it's a relaxed way to savor both the setting and the company.
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walking — Perfect for all ages, a casual walk can turn any outdoor space into a relaxing nature experience.
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wildlife_viewing — Bring binoculars and patience — nature often rewards careful, respectful observers.
Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Terrain: Forest — Expect cooler temperatures and higher humidity under tree cover. Wildlife habitat is abundant, especially in mixed hardwood or conifer stands.
Wildlife Safety at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
Knowing what to watch for helps you enjoy the outdoors here safely.
Wildlife safety at Lower East Eagle Trailhead comes down to awareness. The area's danger score of 35/10 reflects Mountain lions, Venomous snakes, Flood zone, Remote (150mi from city).
- Mountain lions
- Venomous snakes
- Flood zone
- Remote (150mi from city)
- Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2)
- 3 excellent meteor showers
- Fall foliage
- Spring wildflowers
Venomous Snakes
0 venomous snake species are found in this area: .
- Watch where you step and place hands
- Stay on trails
- Wear boots and long pants in snake country
- Do not reach under rocks or logs
- If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
- Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol
Nature & Wildlife at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
The Forest terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.
Nature at Lower East Eagle Trailhead includes 4 tree species, 1 wildflower, and a range of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Trees (4)
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Southwestern Ponderosa Pine — Its thick bark forms broad orange plates separated by dark fissures. -
Emory oak — Leaves are glossy dark green above. -
Arizona sycamore — Large lobed leaves resemble those of other sycamores. -
gray oak — The bark is gray and lightly furrowed.
Wildflowers (1)
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California poppy — Four-petaled blooms that close at night or in cool weather.
Shrubs (2)
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Creosote Bush — An evergreen desert shrub with small resinous leaves divided into paired leaflets. -
tree cholla — Spines detach easily and cling to fur or clothing. The plant produces greenish to yellow flowers in spring.
Other Plants (5)
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alligator juniper
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Parry's agave
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ocotillo
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pointleaf manzanita
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fishhook barrel cactus
Mammals (3)
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Bighorn Sheep — Sure-footed build adapted to steep cliffs. -
American Black Bear — Adults typically weigh 150–600 pounds depending on region and sex. -
Mule Deer — Bucks carry branching antlers that fork rather than form a single main beam.
Birds (30)
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Mountain Bluebird — Slim thrush shape -
Bufflehead — Compact body and short bill -
Common Raven — Heavy bill and wedge-shaped tail -
Gadwall — White wing patch visible in flight -
Sandhill Crane — Long legs and neck
Reptiles (5)
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Greater Earless Lizard — Typically 4–6 inches long including tail. -
Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake — Usually 2.5–4 feet long. -
Ornate Tree Lizard — Typically 4–6 inches long. -
Gopher Snake — Adults commonly reach 3–6 feet in length. -
Clark's Spiny Lizard — Usually 5–8 inches long.
Amphibians (2)
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Canyon Tree Frog -
Red-spotted Toad
Insects (14)
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Blue-ringed Dancer -
White-belted Ringtail -
Powdered Dancer -
Dusky Dancer -
Sooty Dancer
Other Wildlife (2)
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Arizona Bark Scorpion
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Red Shiner
Nature Bingo at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.
Wildlife Challenge
Botany Challenge
Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee Climate & Sun
Here's the weather and sun data to help you pick the best time to visit.
Expect Semi-Arid weather at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, with the most comfortable conditions from Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Climate type: Semi-Arid
Annual avg temp: 54.9°F
Annual precipitation: 17 in
With an average annual temperature of 54.9°F and 17 inches of precipitation, Lower East Eagle Trailhead has mild, dry conditions. Summer highs average around 74°F, while winter lows drop to 38°F.
Best months to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct.
| Month | Avg Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 1.5 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 1.1 in |
| Apr | 52°F | 0.5 in |
| May | 60°F | 0.4 in |
| Jun | 70°F | 0.4 in |
| Jul | 74°F | 2.8 in |
| Aug | 72°F | 3.2 in |
| Sep | 67°F | 2.1 in |
| Oct | 57°F | 1.1 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 1.0 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 1.5 in |
Daylight & Sun Times
Daylight ranges from 10 hours in winter to 14.4 hours in summer — a difference of 4.4 hours.
Summer: 5:07 AM – 7:28 PM
Winter: 7:14 AM – 5:11 PM
Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee Trip Planning & Access
Now for the logistics — distances, costs, and accessibility details for Lower East Eagle Trailhead.
Plan for a drive from Phoenix to reach Lower East Eagle Trailhead.
Visitor Friendliness
Accessibility: dog-friendly (likely_allowed), family-friendly (excellent), elderly-friendly (highly_suitable).
- Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
- Families: excellent
- Elderly: highly_suitable
- Strollers: excellent (100/100)
- Beginners: Good starting point (Moderate difficulty (+5))
- Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)
Places Near Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
Extend your trip with these nearby outdoor spots.
Extend your visit with these nearby options — 14 destinations sit within range of Lower East Eagle Trailhead.
Nearby Trails
- Coyote Trail, Greenlee 1.16 mi
- Warren Canyon Trail, Greenlee 2.97 mi
- Squirrel Canyon Trail, Greenlee 3.67 mi
- Mud Springs Trail, Greenlee 3.68 mi
- Cow Head Trail, Greenlee 4.36 mi
Nearby Campgrounds
- Honeymoon Campground (N, 0mi), Greenlee 0.09 mi
- Kp Cienega Cg Campground, Greenlee 10.08 mi
- Strayhorse Cg Campground, Greenlee 10.8 mi
- Hannagan Cg Campground, Greenlee 14.2 mi
- Upper Juan Miller Cg Campground, Greenlee 16.12 mi
Stargazing & Night Sky at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
The night sky adds another dimension to an overnight visit here.
Stargazing at Lower East Eagle Trailhead benefits from Typical truly dark site darkness — Bortle class 2 on the light pollution scale.
Constellations
Key constellations visible from this latitude include Ursa Minor, Cepheus.
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Ursa Minor — Visible throughout the year in much of the United States, Ursa Minor rotates steadily around the North Celestial Pole. -
Cepheus — Though its stars are modest in brightness, Cepheus is visible year-round from most of the U.S.
Meteor Showers
The Geminids peaks around December 13-14 and is the best meteor shower visible from here.
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Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)Find a dark location away from city lights and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust for peak rates.
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Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)Look toward the northern sky after midnight for the highest activity.
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Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)Expect fast, bright meteors and occasional fireballs under dark skies.
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Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)Plan for early morning viewing; activity increases in the hours just before sunrise.
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Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)Southern states often see stronger activity due to radiant placement.
Planets
Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:
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Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star -
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky -
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light -
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue
Equipment Guide
- Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
- Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
- Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune
Viewing Tips
- Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
- Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
- Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
- Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
- Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
- Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)
Best Viewing Months
- Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep
Seasonal Highlights at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
Beyond the night sky, the changing seasons shape what you'll experience here.
Each season reveals a different side of Lower East Eagle Trailhead, from wildflower blooms to fall foliage.
Spring Wildflowers
Peak bloom: March - April
Check local park websites for bloom reports
Fall Foliage
Peak color: October 15 – November 5
Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen
Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier
Bird Migration
Spring peak: March - April
Fall peak: October - November
Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges
Indigenous Land at Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee
The natural world here has been shaped by thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship.
The land around Lower East Eagle Trailhead has been home to Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache) for thousands of years.
Territories
Data from Native Land Digital
Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee Geology & Natural History
Beyond the trails and wildlife, Lower East Eagle Trailhead sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.
Bedrock Geology
- Rock Type
- Middle Miocene to Oligocene volcanic rocks
- Formation
- Peach Springs Tuff; Apache Leap Tuff
- Lithology
- Major:{basalt,andesite,dacite}, Minor:{rhyolite}
- Age
- Cenozoic
Mineral Deposits
- Deposit Sites
- 8
- Richness
- Moderate
- Minerals Found
- Sand and Gravel, Construction, Uranium, Stone
Endangered Species
- Species at Risk
- 1478
- ESA Endangered
- 29
- ESA Threatened
- 16
- Conservation Score
- 100/100
Temperature Records
- Record High
- 105°F (2017-06-06)
- Record Low
- -37°F (1963-01-13)
Wildfire History
This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.
- Recorded Fires
- 60
- Largest Fire
- Rattlesnake (26,068.3 acres)
- Most Recent
- 2024
- Fire Risk
- Extreme
Watershed
- Watershed
- Yellow Pine Tank-Black River
- Water Quality (Good)
- 0%
- Impaired
- 0%
Lower East Eagle Trailhead, Greenlee Safety & Conditions
Check current conditions from these authoritative sources before you go.
Conditions change quickly outdoors. These links provide current data for the area around Lower East Eagle Trailhead.
Coordinates: 33.474092, -109.480575