Mogollon Rim backpacking loops

[mr_squishy]

I've backpacked the Cabin Loop in November, 2022, and I'm interested in other loops 20-40 miles that others have put together in the area. I was looking at one that starts near Pine - the Highline Trail, but it looks like the return is a lot of road hiking on the Rim Road.
So if anyone has other loops suggestions, I'd appreciate it learning about them.
Thanks

[chumley]

You could try this invention. I don't think anybody has ever done it. Your triplog could provide valuable feedback.
[ West Clear Creek Wilderness Arizona Trail Loop ]

[The_Eagle]

@mr_squishy what you were looking at is currently closed.

The closure includes the Pine Trailhead, Red Rock Trailhead, and Geronimo Trailhead, as well as 21.5 miles of the Arizona Trail (AZT) from Pine Trailhead to Washington Park Trailhead

[toddak]

@chumley
Dang I wish I'd noticed that WCC-AZT loop earlier, looks super cool, I might have to come back to AZ to do it some day!

[nonot]

Most loops involving the Highline trail will involve using the General Crook trail as part of the return loop. Much of the General Crook trail is along, or is, the rim road itself. However if you consider starting from the 260 TH then on the loop back you will be able to make use of a chunk of the General Crook trail, between Military Sinkhole TH and Promontory Point TH, that is not a road walk.

As @The_Eagle states, the western section of the Highline, Pine TH, and the vicinity is currently closed due to the lingering "West" fire, which unlike the recent fire in the Superstitions, has been generally ignored in the HAZ forum.

In general, outside of a few wilderness areas and Grand Canyon NP, it is actually quite difficult to put together a substantial loop above the rim for backpacking that doesn't involve some chunks either off trail travel, road walking, or both. I'd recommend to simply accept that some road walking will be part of a multiday trip above the rim, and just pick a loop that minimizes this if you dislike it. The cabin loop is perhaps standing alone as an exception in this regard.

[nonot]

As far as other options go, for the hotter months of the year, around Flagstaff there are backpacking loops possible when you combine the two AZT trails, the Flagstaff loop trail, the trails on Mt Elden and some other connector trails. But even with these, portions of these trails or loops are roadwalks, but it is roadwalking "on a trail" which may take the sting off. However, this area is difficult to form plans for due to poor water sources and lack of recent/reliable water reports where temporary water sources may exist.

In other seasons, backpacking loops are already described on HAZ in the Mazatzals, Superstitions, Catalinas, and even Pinal Peak (if you link the trails together yourself) that will keep you 100% on trail the whole loop. With the Grand Canyon, to technically complete the loop yourself it would involve road walking but for loops that are not "true" you can start and end at different trailheads. There is also an option near Pine and Strawberry for a long loop that makes use of Pine, Bearfoot, Pine-Strawberry, and the AZT...however you may need to cache your own water for this one.

[nonot]

Also adding mention of the Pine Mountain Wilderness and Apache creek wilderness, as well as the massive Prescott Forest Service trail system to the south and west (and northwest) of Prescott. Albeit, some of these trails are really old roads.

Blue Range in the east of the state has some good loop options as well, though technically you may road walk between the trailheads down in the bottom of the canyon. However not all these trails are well maintained.

Edited to also add Chiricahua wilderness as providing some good looping options, but many of these trails have yet to have trip reports on HAZ outside of one or two major loops.

[mr_squishy]

@nonot
Thank you for confirming my conclusions about loops in the Rim. I was hoping that I was somehow missing some trail connections.
I am driving back from my WFR recert in Flag in November and had hoped to do something in the western section from the Pine TH. I was unaware of the fire until your post. (I live in Alaska, snowbird in AJ). I did the Cabin Loop after my recert in 2022.