Hi everyone, back again to get your suggestions I am taking a group of 8 on a two night backpacking trip in towards the end of April. I was going to try to get Aravaipa permits but I forgot and all the permits are gone for the dates we need. Our group has done the Grand Canyon.
I would love to explore Reavis Ranch but it seems it's difficult to get to now. Is that right?
I was also looking at Bluff Spring Trail and Dutchman Canyon to Charlebois Canyon. Would there much water or "green" on this hike?
I would love to go somewhere greener and with water. Any suggestions? Also we would need to be able to get to the trailhead using regular SUVs.
Oh, and hopefully not too cold at night...not below 40 degrees.
Just remember it can be 100° at the end of April. You don't know what the temperature is going to be, so if you plan a trip to Charlebois spring, then have a plan B at at a slightly higher elevation.
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April is a crapshoot. At Reavis Ranch, I would expect it do dip below 40 degrees at night. Whether than means there's snow on the ground in the teens, or if it just hits 39 degrees, will depend on the weather. It is best to have at least two plans (low elevation, high elevation) for backpacking trips in April, if you are seeking to avoid cold temps.
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I think your idea to do the supes in April is a bit too warm but if you're okay with that, Supes will be fine. If you want to be in the pines the end of April is a good time to hike the highline. Could get into the 30s below the escarpment but I did this last year at the end of April and it was in the 40s each night out there. If you just have three days and two nights to spare, a good shuttle would be 260 trailhead to Hatchery trailhead.
@wonderwoman78
Cabin Loop is too high in elevation, whereas the Highline trail that someone suggested might be just on the edge of doable. I doubt the roads into Cabin Loop will even be open in April.
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
West Clear Creek #17, starting at Bull Pen is prime at that time of year. Warm days nice nights in April. You can hike upstream following the creek, crossing multiple times will feel refreshing. Maiden Falls is a solid destination for a two night trip. You can loop back on Blodgett Basin trail, but the creek is so awesome you'll want to see it a second time.
Agree with comments above mostly. End of April, Cabin loop roads will be open almost certainly (usually open the first week of april or so). It'll likely be mid-30s overnight, though but, as mentioned above, that time in April can be really weird in both the low and high country
wonderwoman78 wrote: ↑Jan 21 2023 10:15 pm
I would love to explore Reavis Ranch but it seems it's difficult to get to now. Is that right?
I know they opened the road to the trailhead off of the Apache Trail last fall, so that option is available now. You just need to go the long way around from Roosevelt Lake. You can also get there from the Rogers Trough trailhead. Who knows what the road conditions will be like to either trailhead when you're planning to go?
@rcorfman
Good mention on the northern trailhead. Takes longer to get to but the road is pretty short so even if you can't make it the whole way due to conditions, you'd probably only add a mile or so to your hike
@Nobody01 @SuperstitionGuy @azbackpackr @nonot @xsproutx @ALMAL @xsproutx @rcorfman
hey y'all. so now I'm really confused. the group didn't want to do Reavis because it will be too hot. we were thinking of cabin loop but the temps will get to 32ish for the low with up to 25mph winds. I think that might be too cold but some of my friends think it would be fine. Can we have fires on Cabin Loop? I'm landing on Charlebois but also considering Horton Creek. It's just that we have done Horton Creek day hiking soooooo much and would like to try something new. Help We are going next Saturday to Monday.
@wonderwoman78
Unfortunately, the Forest roads to access the cabin loop trail heads will not be opened until approx mid-May 2023 due to unprecedented levels of snow and most likely also downed trees across roads.
Yeh, Cabin Loop is going to be a no go due to the roads being closed and while much of the snow has melted, it's a muddy mess right now. To answer one question, you can normally have fires there unless there's an active restriction that usually starts late spring and lasts until we get some good rain.
If your group is thinking Reavis is too hot, then Charleboi definitely will be. Forecast for next weekend calls for mid 80s in Superior; I generally expect Reavis to be at least 5 degrees cooler than Superior, which is usually a few degrees cooler than the valley. Charleboi area is usually just a couple degrees cooler than the valley. Personally, I consider mid-80s to be just fine for that sort of trip but not everyone does, obviously.
You could hit up the Picketpost circumference perhaps. It'll be warm, but it's pretty flat and easy; good camping for a large group in multiple places there, particularly on the Southeast side of the loop where Telegraph road meets the trail. More of an overnight trail. But you could have options like starting it clockwise, camping at that southeast section, hike another... 6ish miles on telegraph road to meet up with the AZT and camp there (large area) or if you're feeling it, hike to the water collector for a 10ish mile hike out the next day. There's a few options to connect and make a longer trip there. Arnett canyon is beautiful and has flowing water. Telegraph canyon likely has flowing water for at least a portion but may have to make a side trip to rock tank, which is pretty neat in it's own right, for water in that area.
But yeah, if the heat is what's bothering the group, it's a tough time right now since a lot of the stuff up north is open right now. You could do a loop or an out and back starting at Barnhardt to Chilson camp in the Mazzies; that'll be low 80s-high 70s. The mazzies are perfect for our short "in between" seasons like we're in now. You could set up base camp on day 1 in Chilson camp and then day hike north or south on the AZT from there and spend your second night there as well; it's a beautiful area and has water.
wonderwoman78 wrote:the group didn't want to do Reavis because it will be too hot.
Your group sounds like they either don't really know what the temperature is forecast to be at Reavis Ranch or they're impossible to please. Reavis is at 4500 feet and the forecast range of temps over the next week run from 45-55 at night and 65-75 during the day. If that's not in their comfort range, I have exactly zero alternate suggestions for them.
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As Chums says, the eastern Superstitions are higher elevation and about 10 degrees cooler than the Western Supes. Backpacking along the Highline trail is also an option, though with the snow levels you cannot currently make loops using trails on the rim.
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@chumley
ok help me out, I don't know how to get the correct temp, because when I search the forecast for Reavis falls the trailhead forecast says high of 84 on Friday with a low of 56 the night before. is that because the forecast is at the trailhead? and it's cooler once you get to the falls and the ranch?
@wonderwoman78
Each trailhead (Rogers trough or Reavis ranch up north) is a bit more than 1k lower in elevation, so that affects temperature, and the greenery/trees also helps lower the temperature. If you use the point forecast for the ranch on this site, it shows the temps Chums is talking. I think it's unlikely that I'll be 65 during the day, but I could see mid-70s. For that area, I usually check the forecast in Superior in a couple of weather apps and subtract 8-10 degrees. Sometimes it's colder than that, sometimes warmer, usually gets you in the ballpark.
Hike into Reavis Ranch in the early morning hours and out from the Ranch in the evening hours,
This works from September through May using a light source for the first and last two hours of the hike.
I used this method when I was coordinator for the Friends of Reavis.
Be prepared for a temperature change just before entering the valley and leaving the valley.
One day in June I did not have enough clothing to stay warm and had to start a fire in the fireplace to survive.
Of course the house and fireplace are now GONE thanks to the Forest Service.
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I am taking a group of 8 on a two night backpacking trip in towards the end of April. I was going to try to get Aravaipa permits but I forgot and all the permits are gone for the dates we need. Our group has done the Grand Canyon. 
