Backpacking trip for this weekend?

[mgoschler]

I have been lurking on this site for a while but this is my first post.

I would like to go camping next weekend, somewhere pretty cool because we will be taking the dog and I am always paranoid about her overheating. But we dont have reservations anywhere, and we won't be able to get anywhere until Sat morning, so the developed campgrounds will probably be full right? I prefer backpacking for the solitude anyway.

I thought the weatherford trail and mt humphrey's sounded good, until I read that the coconino forest is not allowing camping in the backcountry right now. So I am looking for some advice. I thought maybe we could do the mt humphrey's summit trail on Sat, then drive over to the prescott forest and find a place to backpack to and camp. I am not too sure of the distances between the two. Would that be a crazy idea?

any other suggestions of where to go? I looked at some of the places near Tuscon - we havent ben there at all yet - but I am not sure what the status of the fire is down there, and what trails are opened.


Thanks,
Meg

[Snick33]

Head East on 260 from Payson. Approx 2 miles past the Woods Canyon Lake turn-off you will find the road to Young, called of all things, Young Road. Proceed South, (the only way you can go) for another 2 miles, proceeding past Forest Road 512 to the next Forest Road on your right. It’s numbered but I’ve forgotten the number. Turn right, (West). There are a few campsites close to young road, but if you proceed west about a mile or so, you will see small driveway trip roads leading off to the South, (left). These all lead to campsites right on the rim. You can’t build a fire but you can camp right on the rim. You will find the temperatures, at least 25-30 degrees cooler with a breeze. The view cannot be described, it’s the type of scenery that makes you put your camera away, no one would believe the photos anyway. The are no toilets or water, but you can drive back to the Ranger station at 260 and Woods Canyon and use the vault toilet. Stop at the ranger station on the way in and they can better direct you to where I’m talking about. It’s always quiet in that area, no rowdies. If you hike to the end of the road, then skew towards the rim for another 1\4 mile there is a pride, group, fletch, or whatever you call it, of Peregrine Falcons hunting on the rim.

[mgoschler]

Thanks! I think we will try that.

So you can drive right to the campsites? just wondering if we should bring our car camping *extras*

Camping near the car would be nice too in case it rains, I haven't been camping when it rained yet. And I have to admit that I am a bit of a baby when it comes to the being dirty. I love camping and hiking for the scenery/nature and the solitude, but I still always want a shower. So I think I might be really unhappy being all muddy and wet.

Thanks again,
meg

[Snick33]

Let's call it "Dispersed car camping" Yes you can camp right next to your car but at the same time be a long ways from your neighbor. I'm OK without a toilet but Susan doesn't do like the bears in the woods so the vault toilet is nice. For showers, we have always gotten by with a couple of gallons of water and a plastic cup. For the rain, buy a $15.00 10'X10' shelter from Popular Outdoors. They are a potential for a visit to divorce court to put up, but they keep you dry while your making up.

Ray the ranger stops by a couple of times a day just to just things out, and advise you of any bear problems, (unlikely but it happens). Trust me, you will love it.

[Nighthiker]

That area of the Tonto is closed the past two weeks.

[Snick33]

North of 260 is closed, I'm talking about South of 260. I know it's open, I camped there last weekend and chatted with Ranger Ray twice. I'm talking facts here, not anecdotal information. I would never be so stupid as to recommend a closed area, besides, come to thing of it, it's not even Tonto, it's Sitgreaves National Forest.


What area are you speaking about?

[CindyC]

Snick33 is right. Tonto north of 260 is closed. The area he is talking about is Apache Sitegraves and is open but with restrictions. The area around Young rarely closes. You can go to the regions section and check out their website if you have any doubts. I agree, it is pretty up there.

[Snick33]

After finally finding my Apache Sitgreaves map, (in my backpack of all the silly places), I've determined that it's Forest Road 512 that you take to the right off Young Road. Susan I will be their day camping Saturday. Look for the gold Jeep Grand Cherokee, stop by and say hi.

Rick

[mgoschler]

Cool maybe we will see you!

The ranger station isnt open on weekends is it? I guess I should try to get a map today, I really hate being without a map.

We will probably head up there on Sat also.

Thanks again!
Meg

[Snick33]

The station I'm talking about, (right across from the road to Woods Canyon lake on 260), is really more of a visitors center, and yes, it's open weekends. The Apache Sitgreaves map is available from Poluar Outdoors and from Wide World of Maps. As luck would have it, that particular section is difficult to read. I remember the visitors center as having a much clearer map of the area, and they are very helpful there.
Don't be discouraged if there is a crowd at the visitors center, they are mostly just people driving around, trying to see Arizona from their car. I may end up eating my words, but where I'm talking about camping, is rarely busy and I've always been able to find a nice quite place to camp.

Hope you make it, and have fun!

[Rileydog]

This place on the rim sounds just perfect! How many people know about it? Like do you think we would have a chance of finding a place on labor day weekend?

Chris

[Snick33]

Labor day would be dicey, unless you make camp a day early. Like most of Arizona, (in my opinion anyway) recreational and wilderness areas are very under utilized. A high clearance vehicle or SUV is the key to avoiding the unwashed huddles masses. But even in the popular places, like 4 Peaks, or the Mogollon Rim; a trip doesn't go by, without Susan or I muttering to ourselfs: "Where are all the people?" By the way, this location doesn't require a high clearance or SUV vehicle, it has in years past, but the roads in decent shape this year.

OK, my advice for Labor Day or Memorial Day . . . . . stay home and save your camping trips for virtually any other weekend.

Lastly; When driving on 260, in that area be on the lookout for elk, they are everywhere, and hitting one is a serious accident. I read that on 260, in Sitgreaves last year, there were six Elk accidents, per mile of road.