3 night easy backpack route for Thanksgiving Weekend

[tonydavid]

Hi...I really need your advice. I am planning a relatively easy 3 night backpack trip for me (57) and my (12) year old son over Thanksgiving weekend. We live in Southern CA and this backpack would be on our way to hiking the Grand Canyon Dec 1-4 (to Phantom Ranch for 3 nights.

I am looking at the Superstition Mountains but am confused about a good route, that would be 3-5 miles a day, not too popular(especially over long weekend!), accessible trailhead with all wheel drive Subaru station wagon, has water sources and good camping spots. I have been trying to reach the wilderness ranger at Mesa Ranger station for 2 weeks and he hasn’t call me back. I am open to other destinations between LA area and Williams Arizona as well.

I am pretty experienced in the backcountry but want to keep our legs relatively fresh for the hike we will be doing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon after this short backpack.

What would you do if you were me given the criteria I laid out? I would appreciate so much your help on…..

Trailhead access?
Route?
Camping Spots?
Water Sources?

Thank you!!!!!!

[nonot]

Haunted Canyon.

Hike in on day 1, explore on day 2, hike out on day 3. Get water from the spring on the way to the old cabin.

[joebartels]

Aside from Boulder Canyon, Reavis Ranch and Rogers Canyon the further you go east the less chance of seeing people.
Good water sources generally translate to popular in a dry climate.
Aside from the far west you shouldn't have trouble figuring out a camp.

Here are the trails and the four most dependable water sources.
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=4321

If you see something that interests you in the map others can probably fine tune the specifics.

[big_load]

Haunted Canyon.

Hike in on day 1, explore on day 2, hike out on day 3. Get water from the spring on the way to the old cabin.

This is a good one. Not too difficult a hike.