Best place for overnight hike in mid October in AZ

[davel138]

Looking for some insight and opinions for a great overnight hike in hike out in mid October time frame. Looking for great scenery and near water.

[joebartels]

@davel138
Unsure where or what kind of mileage you seek but I'll throw out

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=56 Haunted Canyon - Superstitions
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=168 KP South Fork - Apache-Sitgreaves NF
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=785 Mount Lemmon / Lemmon Rock Loop - Tucson
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15762 Barbershop Cyn & Dane Cyn - Mogollon Rim

http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=5597

[te_wa]

call aravaipa for permit info
they have 2 day pass, 19th/20th (wed-thurs) open. better grab one soon. i'll be there on 14/15th. it's a spectacular little place. the side canyons are even better!

[chumley]

call

What's that?

http://www.recreation.gov/entranceSearc ... rkId=74989

[big_load]

call

What's that?

Something that old people do. Not as old as the people who write letters, though. Or really old people, who use a pen knife for the purpose for which it was named.

[SpicedRum]

Mazatzal loop. Hike in Y-Bar trail stay at Bear Springs and then hike out Barnhardt trail.

[ljcygnet]

Don't overlook the high country. I'm in the Payson area and that's one of my favorite times of year.

Check the weather FIRST and have alternate plans. Mid october is often dry, with sunny days and chilly (30-40 degree) nights, but it is possible to get an early snow storm or to have an early winter rain storm. (I've seen 4 inches in one day from an early winter rain storm, and it was 35-40 degrees the whole time. Big fat NOPE for hiking in that!) You don't want to be hiking in either, so this suggestion comes with the caveat of watching the weather. Mostly, the weather tends to be really nice, though.

If the weather's nice most of the trails in the Payson area would be great. There will be far fewer people, the elk will be in rut, the leaves will be changing, and you won't die of heat exhaustion in the middle of the day.

(Edit to add that they close the Rim Road 300 in late october or early November depending on weather. I'm thinking of hikes below the Rim like See Canyon, Horton, various stretches of the Highline, etc, etc.)

[chumley]

they close the Rim Road 300 in late october or early November depending on weather.

The Rim Road is open until well after it snows. The rim is a very popular area for hunting and the rim road is an important part of accessing the area during autumn hunts. Firewood and Christmas tree permits are issued and tree cutting areas are accessed from the Rim Road until the depth of snow makes it impassable. I cut a Christmas tree up there annually and I've never seen the road closed before December 15.

But FR300 is not maintained in winter so early snow can make it impassable, and by the week between Christmas and New Year it is usually closed and gated.

[ALMAL]

Hells Hole, the temps are great then and the creek is always flowing.
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=616