HI guys ,I am seeking some opinions. I will be in Show Low the night of July 3rd. The 4th I'm planning on day hiking around the Mt Baldy Area (I know the summit is off limits.) I'll car camp in the area and then the next day is the choice- I am considering day hikes in Escudilla wilderness area, Bear Wallow or down 191 out of the KP Cienega in the Blues. Sunday is a travel day down 191 the long way back to Tucson and the lovely heat of the desert. Most of the hikes I'm considering have been reviewed on this forum but I would appreciate input. I do a fair amount of photography and usually hike in all kinds of conditions and lots of off trail stuff--HELP!!
The loop up Mt Baldy is one of the best hikes in the state. You don't have to violate any rules up there to see a lot and have a good trip. Round trip it's about 17 miles, or you can leave a car at both ends and make it 14. Escudilla is a nice short one, be sure to go up the lookout if they let you.
There is a sweet loop you can do in a single day down to Mud Spring and Paradise Park in the Blue Range. You will use the Steeple Mesa and Grant Creek trails out of Hannagan Meadow. This part of the Blue Range is one of the most beautiful and under-visited areas of the state. Its really awe-inspiring to hike along and know that a wolf may be lurking over the next ridge.
Escudilla and Mt. Baldy are also great hikes. This area of the state is one of my favorites.
"Of course we weren't lost. We were merely where we shouldn't have been, without knowing exactly where that was."
In response to RedRoxx44's reply:Bear Wallow is a good choice, and, as far as I can determine, is open. Call the Alpine ranger station (928-339-4384) to confirm. I think most of the Blue high country north of KP Rim (that would include Paradise Park and Mud Springs) is still closed due to Thomas fire. Again, call the Alpine ranger station. If you have high clearance vehicle you might consider putting together a loop up to Blue L.O., down to KP Creek, and back up past Blue cabin. Offhand, I don't remember the specific trail names & numbers.
due to the fact my over rated IQ is derived from
speedy arranging of geometric shapes and solving mathematical equations,
I'm unable to quote intelligent life form...
Hopefully my photography skills are a lot better than my computer skills (not). For those who are interested I have 4-5 albums up at wedshots at my community page RedRoxx44. Unfortunately the areas are Death Valley, Anza Borrego and utah. My Canyon De Chelle and other Az shots I haven 't put together yet on the web. Back to the subject: the Mt Baldy trail was fairly busy (east Fork); the fish creek trail outside of the wilderness area in the Blues was beautiful and I saw no one all day, very intimate feel and hiking by creekside for 5 miles was really great. Lots of flowers, birds and butterflys. Pretty hot, but a dip in the creek cured that!