Request : Hike and Camping info for east Arizona, pine MTS

[domer88]

I am planing a trip to far east arizona up in the mountains.. I have never been there before but have seen some amazing pictures of some hikes there where it almost looks like oreagon (very green, some moss on trees, nice blue water in streems).. Being that I have never been there can anyone recomend a nice trail there? I want a trail that really defines the unique scenery up there that I just cant get around the prescott area.. Also , any stand out campgrounds? I am going to go there bymyself in a few weekends so would love any advice.. really looking for the greenest area I can find, a stream would also be nice !

[azbackpackr]

I live in the eastern White Mtns., so can easily come up with ideas for you. Get a map of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. If you can't buy one in Prescott, you can find it online. You will need that.

So if you really think you need a campground, (which I don't think you do) look at South Fork near Eagar, it's got a creek running through it and a nice long trail next to it. Go down on the Black River, there are several campgrounds, and you can hike for miles and miles along the river and also the West or East Fork of the Black River, or the area called Three Forks. If you have a map you can find all the campgrounds. You can camp at-large anywhere there is a little dirt road where it looks like someone has camped there before, also.

I don't recommend going all the way down to the Blue River at this time of year, though, as it gets over 100 degrees down there, it is much lower in elev.

The greenest area that's easily accessible is around Hannagan Meadow, where there are also several campgrounds. KP campground is nice, and KP trail is right there and goes along the creek.

Mt. Baldy also is very green, but access is limited right now (see my post under Road Conditions for directions.) You can camp around there, at-large, and I think Winn Campground might be open. They are paving 273, so you really need to get my directions to Baldy or you won't get there.

Check out the Apache-Sitgreaves (A Bar S) National Forest website. You want Springerville and Alpine Ranger Districts. The trails and campgrounds are on the website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/

Hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you need any other specific information.
Elizabeth

[Grasshopper]

Also, in addition to Elizabeth's above recommendations, I just returned two days ago from two weeks of primitive camping in the beautiful F/S- Hannagan Meadow Campground (24 miles South of Alpine off Hwy#191 at 9100' elevation). To my amazement, this beautiful campground is FREE with 8 large tent/trailer sites (the best ones are #3,4,6 & 7)..it offers beauty, privacy, well water, a vault toilet, picnic table, fire rings(presently with no fire restrictions) and endless hiking opportunities within "0 to 12" miles from your campsite! This spot is quite a find and also, along with the avaliable water source, needed ICE is available at $2.50 a bag and only .25mls away at the Hannagan Meadow Lodge Store(open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm)...and IF you get tired of cooking for yourself, try the Hannagan Meadow Lodge Restaurant for a PROFESSIONAL CHIEF cooked meal. What more could a camper/hiker hope for?! Early June night/early morning temps were in the low-mid 40's and the days were just beautiful with hiking day temps from 9k' to 6.5k' in the high 70's/low 80's. The ten days I was there we had NO RAIN with some high winds. I will definitely plan to go back as I do believe it is the best deal in that North Greenlee County and a GREAT SUMMER ESCAPE from our PHX AREA FURNACE TEMPS! Also, I can only amagine how beautiful this area must be in the Fall season with all the abundant Aspen in their full glory!
PS- The KP Campground that Elizabeth suggests, 5 mls further South on Hwy191 is ALSO a GREAT, FREE choice, with smaller tent sites, ~ less privacy, but a beautiful meadow setting in the trees and hiking everywhere as is available at Hannagan Campground. STOP in ALPINE on your drive in at the A/S-RANGER STATION and pick up your necessary camping/hiking/biking maps.. many FREE and some $9.00ea (A/S Natl Forest Map & Blue Range Wilderness & Primitive Area map). In the next few days I will be posting on our HAZ, "my hiking triplogs" for the 4 day hikes I did during my 10 day stay in the Hannagan Meadow Area... stay tuned!
!!TRY IT...YOU WILL LIKE IT!!
Regards,

[azbackpackr]

Have to warn you, though, I'm hosting a big campout at Hannagan campground June 22 to 24, for a hiking group, so it will be totally full then!

[azbackpackr]

I hiked South Fork Trail # 97 to Mexican Hay Lake yesterday, 14 miles r/t. This is the trail that goes up from the South Fork Campground, between Eagar and Greer, off Hwy 260. It was gorgeous, very green along the creek. Great views when you get up to the rim. I don't recommend it for dogs, though, because it would be very hard to keep them out of the poison oak, even if they are leashed. The poison oak grows in profusion along the creek, but not after the trail goes up on the rim.

A lot of the trails up here that follow creeks do have the poison oak. Bear Wallow, for example, is pretty bad that way. The problem with the dogs is that the oils from the leaves of the poison oak can get all over their fur. Then you pet the dog, you get some oil on yourself. And if you are allergic to the stuff, a few days later you'll get the nasty rash. I have gotten poison oak this way myself before.

One time I took my dogs to South Fork and they got into that poison oak pretty quick. So when we got home I gave them both baths. This took care of any oils rubbing off onto the family. However, my poor lab, Molly, got a poison oak rash on her nose! I'll never forget the look in her eyes, very mournful, as it was quite itchy.

[Hoffmaster]

Mt. Baldy is awesome too. I'm going up there this coming weekend to do some photography with some friends of mine. The lower stretches of trail look exactly how you described...kinda like Oregon.

[domer88]

All of your sugestions are awesome! Very helpull, I really appriciate it! I think I am going to get a map and plan it out , probably go in a couple weeks (not the 22-24th though!).. ahh, I cant wait to go explore!