The Sandy Seep Trail is a good hike for a beginner or for anyone wanting to get in shape before tackling a 4 or 5 rated trail. Sandy Seep is well named as the area receives the runoff from Mt. Eldon and much of the trail at the start is a sandy wash covered with rocks washed down from the mountain slopes. The trail is located off Highway 89 north. Go east from Flagstaff till you pass the Townsend - Winona Road. The trail head is about a half mile past the intersection on Forest Road (FR 9139) on the west side of the highway. The trailhead is well marked from the highway look for the brown trailhead signs and arrows.
The beginning of the trail is very wide and level, with a base of sand and loose rocks. There are larger boulders nearby and lots of charred and fallen trees. You will hardly notice that you are gaining elevation until you come to the foothills of Eldon. You find mostly Juniper trees and Gamble oaks on this part of the trail. As the elevation begins to rise the dominate Ponderosas will take over the landscape, though due to a terrible fire in 1977 and another in 2010 the trees are conspicuously sparse. Many of the trees that remain bear the scars of the fire’s devastating passing on their trunks and lower branches. About a fourth of a mile from the trailhead you'll come to a well marked left turn for the Arizona Trail which runs the length of the state from north to south. Unless you are thoroughly prepared for a thousand mile hike, go right and stay on the much shorter Sandy Seep trail.
As the elevation continues to rise and the trees thin you’ll have great views of the eastern side of Mt. Elden and Little Elden. Look east to see the amazing number of volcanic hills that formed this region. The slopes and foothills approaching Eldon are covered with the snags of burned trees the remains of a once thick pine forest wiped out by the forest fires. The regrowth along the trail is mostly oaks and junipers as the trail ascends. A mile and half brings you the intersection of the Little Elden Trail going right and Christmas Tree Trail on the left. Taking the Little Elden trail with bring you to the Heart Trail in roughly a quarter mile.
The trails will go on and on and they are good but more difficult hikes but an hour of walking may be enough and you can head back to your car parked at the trailhead parking lot. The total hike to this point is about 3 miles and you will have ascended about 300 ft from the start.
If it is early in the morning or late in the evening watch for Mule deer as you go back. There will be lots of Pinion Jays as well as Sparrow, Juncos and Purple Finch to keep you company on the trail back.
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