[Patrick L]

I was thinking about a lasso along Grandview in the future. I didn't see a route on the site for the trail that runs east/west passed Miners Spring from Grandview to Tonto. Does anyone know much about it?

Based off of the topo maps, I'm looking at the following: down Grandview, west down Cottonwood Creek to Tonto, then to the trail mentioned above and back up Grandview. Could probably shorten it by heading all the way down Grandview to Tonto and going left or right to get back to the trailhead. Recommended? Discouraged? I don't know much about GC.

[nonot]

There is a trail that starts from to top of the mesa and goes off the east side of horseshoe mesa, it will pass the turnoff for Miners Spring, and end down to at the intersection with the Tonto a litle bit west of Hance Creek. From there you can take the Tonto around Horseshoe Mesa to Cottonwood Creek and come back up Cottonwood Creek onto Horseshoe Mesa. I have done all but the Miner's spring part of this loop already, and will pick up this missing piece this Spring.

[nonot]

I've done the trail that goes off the west arm down the north side of Horseshoe Mesa - it isn't that great. Doing the lasso per your original idea may be more enjoyable. However it's pretty long for a dayhike, might be better as an overnight backpack.

[Patrick L]

The Cottonwood Creek/Miners Spring loop looks to be somewhere around 12-13 miles. Sounds doable as long day, but the climb out would surely be a slow butt-kicker. Perhaps the trail along the west arm with a loop back around Miners Spring, which is somewhere around 10-11 miles, would be better. Especially with Cave Of The Domes.

I'm thinking of doing this, or something else at the Grand Canyon (if the weather/trail conditions permit) for AZ's centennial. This is really the first trail I've considered...

[hikeaz]

Why not backpack down to H.M. (3 mi.) drop your gear there and do the day hike clock-wise, picking up water @ Miner's in the afternoon for your evening's camp on H.S. Mesa and do the cave in the AM and hike out after that.
No reason, IMO, to rush through ANY hike in the Canyon.

[hippiepunkpirate]

http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=15497

[Patrick L]

If I did it in a day, I would definitely want to stay longer, but I don't have the gear for an overnight right now.

That photoset makes a solid argument, Jake.