[domromer]

I'm going to backpack the Mount Baldy loop this weekend, I was wondering if I should bring my fishing rod? Are there trout in the east and west forks of the Little Colorado? Also we will be getting there late Friday night. Are there any national forest campgrounds close to the trail we could stay at the first night?

[AZHikr4444]

I was just up there last week, Dom. It's freakin' beautiful- one of the best hikes I have ever done. I can't answer your question about trout- although I did see tons of people fishing at Sheeps Crossing.

There are a bunch of campgrounds along 273 past Sunrise. Winn is in between Sheeps Crossing (for the West Baldy trailhead) and Gabaldon Campground (for the East Baldy). The East Baldy trailhead is only a mile from Gabaldon, but you can't camp there unless you have horses. You can park there- it's better parking than the actual trailhead, and you can hit the trail from there too. Parking is way at the end of the campground. The trail there is marked with a board and easy to follow. Just hit the trail there, it follows a fence line then after about 1/4 mile, it will fork. The right fork has a stock fence- take that one, go through the gate, and after another 1/4 mi. you'll cross the East Fork of the Little Colorado. There is a sign there: Mt. Baldy 7 mi. (go left after crossing) or Greer 6 mi. ( go right. I am assuming that right is where the trail comes in from the actual trailhead). Don't know that you needed all that beta, but I haven't seen any details anywhere about the trail leaving from Gabaldon, so I thought you might like the info.

There's a forest Road just past Gabaldon- don't remember if it had a number, but there was a white sign there at ground level that said "APN Camp" or somethin'. Turn right there- the road winds through the forest and there are some great spots- free too. It turns more and more 4x4 the further you go in- and finally it reaches a meadow where there was some sorta ATV jamboree- there was quite a bit of ATV and pickup truck traffic along the whole road when I was there- and that was on a Wednesday, so I can imagine what it would be like on a weekend.

Winn is 14 bucks a night. The Apache-Sitgreaves Website has a complete list of campgrounds along 273 and beyond.

It's beautiful up there- no water on Baldy though- don't envy you have to carry it all!

Have fun,
Mike

[Vaporman]

I was planning on hitting this hike this weekend also, but the lady who is putting it together said she called the FS and they said the trail is closed until they get more rain...... I found the news on the website also if you want to confirm it.

http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/information/f ... 061706.pdf

[joe bartels]

Date: June 17, 2006

Information Office: 928-333-6263

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have implemented Stage 2 smoking and campfire restrictions effective Monday June 19, 2006.

This means that no campfires or charcoal fires are allowed anywhere on the national forest.

Smoking is allowed only within a building or a vehicle.

The use of chainsaws is not permitted from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and the use of motorized vehicles off of roads and trails is not permitted.

The use of torches and explosives are not permitted and the operation of any internal or external combustion engine without a properly operating spark arrestor is prohibited.

You won't be able to carry your nitro, but otherwise it looks okay

[joe bartels]

I just called and asked if the Mount Baldy Wilderness was open to hiking, the lady said it closes tomorrow morning.

You could fly and get a quick hike in

sorry for the news

[domromer]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll be forced to take a 4 day weekend in Durango.

[AZHikr4444]

Wow, looks like I made it up there in the nick of time. All the fire restrictions were in place last week, but you could still use propane stoves.

C'mon monsoons!

[azbackpackr]

Closed this morning. But it has been raining here every day for several days. (I live 40 minutes from the Baldy trailhead.) It won't stay closed very long, most likely, but will not be open for your planned weekend.

[Vaporman]

Sweet, it reopened this weekend and we're hiking Mt. Baldy next weekend with Escudilla the following day. But thanks to the closure I was able to join this awesome group down in Havasupai.