Drove up to the baldy west trail but it said no camping..?

[hellothere]

I thought it was for backpacking and day hikes. We hiked a bit in just to look and I didn’t even see many places to camp. Not much flat land. We want to go back up in a few weeks, any good other trails in that area you recommend we can backpack? Preferably with water and places to pitch a tent. Thanks.

[chumley]

@hellothere
The no camping sign applies only to the trailhead. You may backpack along the trail. There are dispersed sites down near the river beginning about 1.25 miles from the trailhead until about 3 miles in before the trail begins to climb and flat ground is hard to come by.

You should see this sign just beyond the start of the trail reminding you that camping is limited to groups of 6 or fewer.
[ photo ]

[hellothere]

@hellothere
The no camping sign applies only to the trailhead. You may backpack along the trail. There are dispersed sites down near the river beginning about 1.25 miles from the trailhead until about 3 miles in before the trail begins to climb and flat ground is hard to come by.

You should see this sign just beyond the start of the trail reminding you that camping is limited to groups of 6 or fewer.
[ photo ]

Thanks for the reply!!! We got to an area where we hiked along the side of a big grassy hill, then after that we went through some more trees where it was a huge grassy plain to our left. There was like a patch of random trees down there too. Is the sign you speak of past that? If what I even described makes sense. If it helps the grassy area I described was just before the trail started incline again and you come up to a couple of round metal tubes/tunnel where a little stream goes through. Was there going to be more flat ground? Basically I’m just trying to figure out if we were even close to the camping spot you described. Because we want to go back.

[chumley]

The flat areas are down the grassy slope from the trail. If you don't venture down there you might not see them. It's a wilderness, so there aren't developed places to camp. You are supposed to set up a site wherever you want as long as it's at least 100 feet from the creek and 100 feet off the trail. It's a popular area for backpacking so you will likely find signs of use in some spots, but there are no official or developed sites to camp in. That's the charm. The sign in the picture I posted is very close to the trailhead.

[hellothere]

@chumley Okay I saw flat land down there. There’s no trail that takes you down there correct? Just gotta walk down on your own right?

Also, any other good trails you reccomend in the area?

[chumley]

West Baldy is the trail I'd recommend. Also if you drive 10-15 minutes south [ Thompson Trail #629 ] is very nice.

[azbackpackr]

@hellothere
What Chumley said. Also, East Baldy Trail is close by. Springerville Ranger District Office has a nice booklet, free.