Abineau Trail—Waterline Road—Bear Jaw Trail Run

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Last week we did a trail run on the north side of the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff. We ascended via Abineau Trail, then began a gentle downhill on Waterline Road, followed by the main descent on Bear Jaw Trail. Aspen leaves were showing color on the north side of the peaks and our route took us through several stands where we could enjoy the color.

A trail runner ascending through a stand of colorful aspen trees on the Abineau Trail in the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff.
A trail runner ascending through a stand of colorful aspen trees on the Abineau Trail in the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff.
A view looking down Abineau Canyon in the San Francisco Peaks. In the far distance is the north rim of Grand Canyon jutting ~1000' feet higher than the south rim.
A view looking down Abineau Canyon in the San Francisco Peaks. In the far distance is the north rim of Grand Canyon jutting ~1000′ feet higher than the south rim.
A trail runner descends the gentle grade of the Waterline Road in the San Francisco Peaks.
A trail runner descends the gentle grade of the Waterline Road in the San Francisco Peaks.
A fallen aspen leaf glows in the afternoon sunlight.
A fallen aspen leaf glows in the afternoon sunlight.
A hillside of colorful aspen leaves on FR151.
A hillside of colorful aspen leaves on FR151.

We took a short break at the intersection of Waterline Road and Bear Jaw Trail to refuel before the descent. While sitting there we noticed carvings in the aspen trees. Closer inspection revealed that these were arboglyphs or dendroglyphs, made by Basque sheepherders throughout the West.

Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings. Santiago Parra carved his initials in these two trees in 1969 and again in 1971.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings. Santiago Parra carved his initials in these two trees in 1969 and again in 1971.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.
Basque sheepherder tree carvings.

There are many aspen groves along the upper sections of Bear Jaw Trail and carvings can be found in several of these stands. It’s interesting to see the name of a sheepherder on multiple trees, each with a different year.

I have previously written about similar carvings; those carvings were along a different section of Waterline Road and were burned in the 2022 Pipeline Fire. Hopefully these will remain for many years.

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