The trail continues on a more reasonable grade toward Marble Spring, offering a glimpse of the Greer Basin. Near Marble Spring, the trail skirts and actually passes through an area that was logged in 1988. The trail soon leaves the forested area and cuts across wide meadows, detouring around cienegas, or marshy areas. Waterfowl can be found in these wet spots through the summer and early fall. Frogs sing away the summer as garter snakes hunt in the tall grass.
Elk are common sights, cooling themselves in the cienegas in the warm summer afternoons.
The trail continues through open country, bordered by tall trees, eventually following an old railroad grade near Colter Reservoir. These railroad beds are common through the Springerville and Alpine Ranger Districts. Posts set in the ground with a hiker symbol help delineate the trail's course through the meadow. Past Colter Reservoir, the trail crosses the gravel portion of AZ 273 before ending across the road in Gabaldon Campground. Use extreme caution while crossing AZ 273 for people tend to drive very fast on this stretch of road.