Which Cabin Loop trail?

[codyiscool]

How long does the whole thing take? Which for a 1 nighter? Is there a lot of water for refill?

[joebartels]

@codyiscool
Segment mileage is at https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=797

Water tab is under the map
Desktop -> right column
Mobile -> water is under Route tab

[codyiscool]

@codyiscool
Segment mileage is at https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=797

Water tab is under the map
Desktop -> right column
Mobile -> water is under Route tab

Do I ever neeed to worry about water sources being dry?

[big_load]

Do I ever neeed to worry about water sources being dry?

It depends which ones. Some are pretty reliable, others less so. I think of General Springs, Aspen Spring, and Pinchot Spring as always having water (which covers the trip pretty well for me), but you'll have to make your own judgment based on the reports.

[codyiscool]

Do I ever neeed to worry about water sources being dry?

It depends which ones. Some are pretty reliable, others less so. I think of General Springs, Aspen Spring, and Pinchot Spring as always having water (which covers the trip pretty well for me), but you'll have to make your own judgment based on the reports.

In general when hiking how can I know if a trail has water for sure?

[joebartels]

In general when hiking how can I know if a trail has water for sure?

you'll have to make your own judgment based on the reports

[rcorfman]

Besides the ones listed by big_load, Barbershop Spring, Coyote Spring, and Dane Spring are very reliable. Water shouldn't be an issue on the Cabin Loop.

[big_load]

Dane Spring

I forgot, that was a good one.

[nonot]

Do I ever neeed to worry about water sources being dry?

It depends which ones. Some are pretty reliable, others less so. I think of General Springs, Aspen Spring, and Pinchot Spring as always having water (which covers the trip pretty well for me), but you'll have to make your own judgment based on the reports.

In general when hiking how can I know if a trail has water for sure?

Keep in mind above all you are responsible for yourself and there are often no absolute guarantees. If you are hiking along a creek or stream that is permanent all year round, then there is little to worry about. But in Arizona those aren't as common as other states, and furthermore the closer you are to a city, they tend to be more crowded and trashed. Your odds are greatly increased by checking for recent triplogs, doing research, and especially checking for anyone that has logged water reports. However, this can limit you to only going places that others have recently visited.

When people don't mention water on their trips, usually they are nice enough to respond if you ask them, for example, I asked JJ3:

https://hikearizona.co...

While the internet is full of liars and scumbags, for the most part the HAZ community is pretty good at not lying about the presence of water, though be careful you don't misinterpret someone's joke.

[ALMAL]

@codyiscool
BTW, did you mention when you're going and what start and end point?

[codyiscool]

Suggestions on a trail? It looks like there’s several. We’re planning a one nighter. Maybe 2 if I can get another day off

[chumley]

@codyiscool
I like the east loop. It's 18 miles if you just do the loop, or 20 if you start and end at Buck Springs Cabin. You can go in either direction, and you'll end up on the northern half of the Houston Brothers trail at about the halfway point in mileage, making it a nice place to spend the night. There are nice places to camp from Pinchot guard station to McFarland spring, and several sources of water as well (as has been explained in previous replies above).

I have no idea the speed you hike, but I think average is about 2mph, so I would guesstimate 6 hours +/- for each day with breaks factored in.

Here's a https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12479 of the east loop to follow.

[hikeaz]

@codyiscool
I like the east loop. It's 18 miles if you just do the loop, or 20 if you start and end at Buck Springs Cabin. You can go in either direction, and you'll end up on the northern half of the Houston Brothers trail at about the halfway point in mileage, making it a nice place to spend the night. There are nice places to camp from Pinchot guard station to McFarland spring, and several sources of water as well (as has been explained in previous replies above).

I have no idea the speed you hike, but I think average is about 2mph, so I would guesstimate 6 hours +/- for each day with breaks factored in.

Here's a https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12479 of the east loop to follow.

Plus many opportunities to do a 'beer drop' beforehand near the FR crossings too!

[codyiscool]

@codyiscool
I like the east loop. It's 18 miles if you just do the loop, or 20 if you start and end at Buck Springs Cabin. You can go in either direction, and you'll end up on the northern half of the Houston Brothers trail at about the halfway point in mileage, making it a nice place to spend the night. There are nice places to camp from Pinchot guard station to McFarland spring, and several sources of water as well (as has been explained in previous replies above).

I have no idea the speed you hike, but I think average is about 2mph, so I would guesstimate 6 hours +/- for each day with breaks factored in.

Here's a https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12479 of the east loop to follow.

Thanks so much!!! They’ll be parking there? How do I know where I can start and not start? This is the image I was looking at:
https://hikearizona.com/images/maps/pay/cabinloop2.png

[codyiscool]

@codyiscool
I like the east loop. It's 18 miles if you just do the loop, or 20 if you start and end at Buck Springs Cabin. You can go in either direction, and you'll end up on the northern half of the Houston Brothers trail at about the halfway point in mileage, making it a nice place to spend the night. There are nice places to camp from Pinchot guard station to McFarland spring, and several sources of water as well (as has been explained in previous replies above).

I have no idea the speed you hike, but I think average is about 2mph, so I would guesstimate 6 hours +/- for each day with breaks factored in.

Here's a https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12479 of the east loop to follow.

Plus many opportunities to do a 'beer drop' beforehand near the FR crossings too!

I don’t get it lol. Beer drop?

[big_load]

They’ll be parking there? How do I know where I can start and not start?

The places where people park are pretty recognizable. I've never had problem finding a spot near where I want.

[codyiscool]

Do people ever do the entire loop? Looks like it’d be 50 miles or something

[codyiscool]

Is going north going to be up and south down? I like to have an easier way home

[chumley]

As I posted above, here is a GPS track of the 18 or 20 mile east loop: https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12479
Here's the 18 mile west loop: https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=1081
Here's the complete 27-mile outer Loop: https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=37086

These GPS tracks (and many others) are all available under the "Route" tab on the hike description page linked in the first reply. If you're doing hike research, you may want to check out the "official route", "other routes" and "alt routes" to see how other people have hiked the loop.

When you view a route, it will show the elevation profile of the hike (left side on desktop, click "menu" on mobile to see it). This will help you easily view the uphill/downhill profile, and you can choose which direction you would rather hike based on your personal preferences.

[codyiscool]

As I posted above, here is a GPS track of the 18 or 20 mile east loop: https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12479
Here's the 18 mile west loop: https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=1081
Here's the complete 27-mile outer Loop: https://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=37086

These GPS tracks (and many others) are all available under the "Route" tab on the hike description page linked in the first reply. If you're doing hike research, you may want to check out the "official route", "other routes" and "alt routes" to see how other people have hiked the loop.

When you view a route, it will show the elevation profile of the hike (left side on desktop, click "menu" on mobile to see it). This will help you easily view the uphill/downhill profile, and you can choose which direction you would rather hike based on your personal preferences.

Thanks so much!!! I appreciate the thorough reply!