Spring camping in Pinalenos

[azdesertfather]

I have finally talked my wife into her first weekend camping experience, and I'm hoping we'll get that this coming weekend in the Pinalenos. She's looking forward to water and trees. Can some of you who know the area steer me in the best direction?

I notice there's an Arcadia Campground near Wet Canyon. Lows will probably be in the low-to-mid 40s, which is a little cold but they should manage OK. But I see there are only 19 camping spots, and I'm wondering if it's going to be full by the time I get there Friday? Is there an abundance of areas just off the road where we could set up a campsite in this area? I checked at Roper Lake State Park, and it sounds like a zoo there these days...not sure if that's any indication or not of crowds in this area.

I also see there are some picnic areas like Round the Mountain and Noon Creek. The Coronado website says they are "day use only". Do people still camp there informally? Or is that a bad idea? I also see there are some other campgrounds further up the mountain, but the season starts April 15. Not sure if that's something they'll get you for either (or if they just recommend not because of the cold temps!).

Any advice/direction would be very much appreciated!

[chumley]

Noon Creek is definitely day use only. You'd have to call the Safford RD to ask about opening the Swift Highway. Its gated closed all winter, and I doubt your wife is up for a hike with a huge vertical climb only to camp in the snow. The webcam at the telescope up there still shows the mountain is covered in snow, and the wx station shows low temperatures in the upper teens and low 20s this past week--and I wouldn't recommend anything like that to anybody bringing their wife on a first weekend camping experience. If Preston is lurking he can probably give you a good report on some of the lower elevation spots that would be most appropriate.

[azdesertfather]

You'd have to call the Safford RD to ask about opening the Swift Highway. Its gated closed all winter

So is it only gated closed through Apr. 15 based on weather? Or is it just closed through Apr. 15 regardless? I figured there would be some snow up there, but that maybe we could drive in a bit further for the day, maybe have the kids play in a little snow.

[JimmyLyding]

You're probably looking at early May at the earliest. Even if the snow melts it will be very muddy up there for at least a week afterwards. I wouldn't plan on camping at a day-use only spot.

[azdesertfather]

I just talked to a ranger with the Safford ranger district, and she said even at Arcadia (which is pretty empty right now, according to her), it's much colder than NOAA's website says it is. I checked the page that lets you put into a specific location or coordinate, and typed in Arcadia Campground. It came back with the right location ...
Forecast For Lat/Lon: 32.6520/-109.8130 (Elev. 6429 ft)
7 Miles SW Swift Trail Junction AZ
But it said that the highs are in the 60s and lows are in the upper 40s this coming weekend at that location. She says expect more like 20s or 30s???

Those of you who are using NOAA know about it being really off like that at times?

[azbackpackr]

;)

[chumley]

The NOAA point forecasts tend to be fairly accurate, but sometimes local conditions prevail over the computer's modeling. Certain geographic features enhance temperatures in specific weather patterns. I don't know how Mt. Graham affects the wx there. One way to help estimate is to look at other established weather sites at approximately the same elevation. If Payson and Prescott are going to be in the mid 30s and are only 5000 feet, then I would expect it to be as cold or colder 1500 feet higher (usually 3-5 degrees), even though the location is a bit further south. That's assuming the whole state remains under dominant high pressure and there's no local fronts affecting that portion of the state. Show Low (6500ft) has been around freezing, but is forecast to be closer to 40 next weekend.

Keep in mind, it looks like its going to be about 10 degrees warmer next weekend than it was this past weekend. At this time of year, that often means daytime highs only -- the dry air cools off almost as much once the sun goes down regardless of how warm it was during the day.

[azdesertfather]

Thanks chumley. I did find it odd that the lows were basically the same at Roper Lake SP (~3100 ft) as Arcadia CG (~6700 ft), even though it showed a 10-degree or so difference in highs.

[big_load]

I've been watching the responses here, which unfortunately confirm what I've heard before. The sight of the Pinalenos has alway made me want to ditch the car and start hiking.

[chumley]

David-
I assume you've been paying some attention to the forecast, but it looks like there's some unsettled weather headed our way this weekend. Not sure if it will affect your plans ... but just keep an eye out for wind, cooler temps, and maybe some precip.

[azdesertfather]

David-
I assume you've been paying some attention to the forecast, but it looks like there's some unsettled weather headed our way this weekend. Not sure if it will affect your plans ... but just keep an eye out for wind, cooler temps, and maybe some precip.

OK, I checked it. Looks like any action is going to be after noon on Sunday, when we'll be heading back. Thanks for the heads up!

[azdesertfather]

Thanks for all the tips/advice everyone! This trip was A-W-E-S-O-M-E. The whole family loved it. We stayed at Arcadia CG, which was only 1/4 to 1/3 filled. Was a little nippy at sunrise, but not too bad, and during the day? Couldn't ask for better weather. Never had the storms (at least through Sunday afternoon). Went up to the Mt. Graham turnoff at just over 9,000 feet, and there was still plenty of snow in places for a good snowball fight!!

[azbackpackr]

Glad it worked out for you after all! That weather forecast was a dud! We were supposed to get snow up here, but all we got was wind!