[snowbored]

I'm new to the site, but glad that I finally found a good hiking/backpacking site for AZ. Anyway, I'm looking for a day hike near Payson tomorrow in which I can take my dogs. They can pretty much get up and down anything I can, but I'd like to do something remote enough to have them off leash. I don't mind a fairly intense hike. I've never been to the Payson area so any input would be great. Thanks for the help!

[Tough_Boots]

The Pine trailhead has a lot of options to choose from. You could also go a little farther up to Strawberry and hike above the rim.

[coanbru]

You could also go a little farther up to Strawberry and hike above the rim.

With the heat tomorrow, that would probably be a better option.

[chumley]

Horton Creek Trail on a Friday should be fine. As with anytime you are hiking with dogs off leash, have a leash ready if you run into somebody else, but I wouldn't expect much traffic on a weekday. It will be relatively hot there, but the creek will allow the dogs to cool off.

As others have said however, going up on top of the rim might be a better option given the warm weather right now. An old favorite is the Cabin Loop (the best leg is the Houston Brothers Trail). It'll take you an extra hour of driving past Payson, but its a great area, and should be a more temperate hike right now. I'd be surprised if you saw a single other person on a Friday, and the dogs would love it.

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