The distance between Camp Geronimo to the Pine Trail Head is about 8 miles. After two miles out from Camp Geronimo the trail loses most of its canopy. The trail is quite open and is the hottest part of the trail up to the 3 mile point Pine Springs. At Pine Springs the underground water produces an oasis of trees providing cool shade. I stopped at Pine Springs for lunch and to rest in the shade for a while before moving on. From Pine Springs it's one more mile to Red Rocks Springs, the 4 mile mark, or halfway point. I stopped for lunch at Pine Springs because it has more shade than Red Rock Spring. I consumed 1-liter of water for every three miles. The water bladder in my pack holds two liters and was empty with two miles left in the hike. The last two miles is all down hill so my 750ml reserve bottle was more than enough to get me to the Pine Trail Head.

The parking lot is right at the edge of Webber Creek and once you cross the creek and get through the berry bushes is this sign.

Here is a view of the rim between miles 2 and 3, the hottest part of the trail.

Here is a another view of the rim between miles 2 and 3, the hottest part of the trail.

Heading down and around a curve I could see one of the water tanks near Pine Springs.

Sorry for the image tilt but you can still see water in the middle of the trail next to one of the tanks.

The rock in the shade where I had lunch at Pine Springs.

When leaving Pine Springs there is a sign next to an old wooden gate. The build date says 8/81 but I"m not sure if it"s 1881 or 1981.

The half way mark at 4 miles near Red Rock Spring.

Here is what the Red Rock Spring water tank looked like on that hot June day. I was almost tempted to jump in and cool off. I recommend using your water filter or filtration tabs if you want to drink the water from the tank.

Here is what the Red Rock Spring water tank looked like a month earlier when I hiked out to it from the Pine Trail Head. Notice the overflow of water on the down side of the tank.

It looks like the tank was constructed in October of 1934.

There are a couple of spots along the trail where pipes are showing. Years ago they piped the water down to Payson, so I have been told.

About 100 yards up from the water tank is the Red Rock Spring campsite. The campsite is off the trail and about 25 yards up the side of the rim. It"s not a good idea to camp overnight right next to a water source with mountain lions and bears around.

One mile past Red Rock Spring there is a campsite with a good view and shade. Even though the campsite is at 6,000 feet you can see that the prickly pear cactus survives the winter condtions.