Hiking Through Arizona

[cowpunch]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and to Arizona state. Actually I've never been to arizona before, but I am on my way there from oceanview California which I expect will take me a few weeks as I am walking. When I arrive I will likely be in Yuma.
From here I would like to hike through Arizona staying as warm as possible and with as much opportunity to restock on supplies (Food/water) With that in mind I would like to know if there are any good trails that I could use to go through arizona. Additionally Any routes that you have to recommend for Highway hiking starting from Yuma and staying as warm and close to supplies as possible would be appreciated. I know this probably isn't the sort of request you normally see on this forum so I appologize if I'm breaking forum guidelines in any way.
thanks in advance for your time/help,
keith

[JimmyLyding]

I don't think you're breaking any forum guidelines. Which direction are you planning on heading from Yuma? I would suggest using the TrailDex Map function found on the upper lefthand of the homepage. You can drill down using satellite images, topo (I prefer MyTopo), street, and shaded-relief terrain maps.

[azbackpackr]

I would suggest following the cyclist's route. Walk from Yuma east to Fortuna Foothills, about 14 miles. There you will find stores and restaurants. Then follow I-8, walking along the highway shoulder, which is NOT ILLEGAL there, up over Telegraph Pass and down the other side to Ligurta. There is an RV park in Ligurta where you can get water and I think food as well. Now you can get off the freeway and walk on old US80 for many miles. You can follow old US 80, passing quite a few little farm towns where you can get water and food, until you get to the Mohawk Mtns. pass. Then you have to walk in the desert or on the I-8 shoulder again, or along the RR tracks, for quite a ways. There will be no services for a long time past Mohawk pass. Actually, from Tacna to Dateland, about 25 miles, there probably will be nowhere to get water. From Dateland to the next regular town of Gila Bend is 50 miles. There are little places along there, Sentinel is one, where you can get water, but maybe no food. When you get to Gila Bend you need to decide whether to keep following the freeway or to walk along the two-lane road to Mobile and Maricopa, which is Hwy 238. It is not easy to find the entrance to it, but you first go north on 85, which is found at the eastern edge of Gila Bend, and within a very short distance you turn right onto 238, signs say Mobile and Maricopa, I think. It goes through the Sonoran Desert National Monument (which has no infrastructure and no water). Either way, if you decide to follow the interstate or 238 it is going to be quite a ways to get to any services.

Once you get to Casa Grande you'll need to decide on a route, whether through the snow (Hwy 60) or via Tucson. I'd pick Tucson. If you are prepared for snow, going via the mountains via US 60 is very beautiful but it will be COLD and snowy. If you opt for the southern route, maybe the Tucson people will pick up the thread. Keep in touch with us on this site, and we will try to be of help.

There are no trails across the western part of the state, and there is NO WATER, so you need to follow the beaten path. At least, that is my suggestion. There may be some water from these storms, but as soon as they are over with, the water will be gone from the western Arizona desert, unless you know where to look for it.

Where is Oceanview California? I never heard of it and I'm from there. I've heard of Ocean Beach and Oceanside.

[cowpunch]

Azbackpacker THANK YOU SO MUCH!
that is exactly the type of information I was tryig to get. I was google mapping it to try and sort it out but I never would have known I could walk the shoulder of 8 there!
You are awesome! I just hiked here (Huntington beach california) from Seattle, on the CCT mostly, and I am continuing to encinitas actually I thought oceanview was the town right north of it but it's probably oceanside. Anyway, I'm going to head out from encinitas instead I think as that route looks a little better.
I would definitly rather go through Tucson if anyone has any ideas on the best route please feel free to jump in on this!
thanks again you guys are awesome
oh and for james I am headed east all the way to georgia so trying to figure the best route now. Thanks for the tips I'll give the traildex a go!

[azbackpackr]

You're very welcome. Keep in touch, let us know how you're doing.

[nonot]

You may want to google Skurka's Great Western Loop. As I recall he hiked from California to the GC starting somewhere in SW arizona.

[fairweather8588]

Took the grand enchantment trail to the AZT and headed back up to the grand canyon from there (skipping the mazzys of course)

[te_wa]

dude, if you're originally from Seattle, you must hike to Tucson if not for the Mexican Food alone. The Summit Hut stores are well stocked with all the best gear. They sell high-end, like WM. (but not FF, which you're quite aware of im sure)
From Tucson, I would consider taking the AZT north to Roger's Trough in the Superstitions, hanging a right to access the GET and taking that trail all the way to Albequerque (again, more great mexican food). From there, GA is just around the corner. (a 1,577 mile corner)

are you going to try and continue to MA on the AT?

[cowpunch]

You guys are great! Thanks for all the advice swo far, and yes I am going to pick up the AT from Georgia. I'm only taking it as far as Pennsylvania though. XD

[sirena]

Actually, if you take the AZT to the GET from Tucson, the GET takes off to the east about 70 miles before Roger's Trough, north of Oracle. The GET will get you to Albuquerque- the only issue would be snowpack in higher elevations. I think if you go to the GET website (highly recommended- almost everything you need is on there except detailed maps) they have a guide to which areas might require a detour http://simblissity.net/get/planner-snow.shtml

Sounds like a wonderful adventure!

[cowpunch]

finally in az, in yuma about to head east to casa grande using the roujte outlined above.
any suggestions on getting frm CG to tuscon or further are welcome! i'm going to pass on the GET though it looks amazingly fun, not doing it alone without snow gear. awesome suggestion though!

[sirena]

Happy Travels! Check back and let us know how it went!

[azbackpackr]

You should network with these cyclists, who are also on twitter and facebook, but you can also contact them via their website:
http://pathlesspedaled.com/

They are in New Mexico now, but have followed a similar route, and may be able to make suggestions. I am thinking that from Casa Grande there ought to be several ways to get to Tucson besides walking along the freeway, but am not sure.

Looking at my Arizona Atlas, it occurs to me there is a frontage road you can walk along. And after you pass Picacho State Park, the big canal follows the freeway for awhile, along with the RR tracks.

From Toltec in I-10 you could instead drop south and follow the Santa Cruz River, which probably does have a little water flowing in it, which literally stinks because it is reclaimed water. I am not sure I would recommend this route, although it is more "natural," for various human-related reasons.

You really are not seeing the best part of our fair state, crossing it in this way, but this is the snowiest winter in years, so taking a northerly route is going to be cold. Picacho Peak State Park is nice, and has a campground. It is right on I-10. Everyone is going to tell you "Oh, it's going to be closed," but I just looked at the state park website and the closing date is not until June. So you are probably going to want to go there. Showers, etc. And make sure you do climb the peak! It'll be a piece of cake for a hiker such as yourself. It has a trail, plus cables and ladders, to get to the top. There is a Dairy Queen nearby, too!

[imike]

there is a young guy moving right ahead of you, running to Georgia... Patrick. He took the more southern route. You might want to check out his blog. He intersected Russ and Laura (Pathlesspedaled folk).... check out his blog: http://patricksrunblog.blogspot.com/ ...still cold and snowing over here in New Mexico, but looks to be clearing soon.

[dysfunction]

If you're looking to stay near a road I'd follow the frontage road from CG to Tucson, personally I'd go across Tangerine to Catalina State Park then up Romero trail to West Fork, then down through Sabino/Phoneline trail.. which would get you over to the east side, with MUCH better views than anything else. Course, I might also continue from there to the east fork (the AZT route) and exit at Reddington which will get you east of 90% of the town. Unless, that is, you're looking for some good beer while in town..then I'd alter my route

[azbackpackr]

I like your route, dysfunction!

[sirena]

Dysfunction- great choice! And it would avoid snow as well. If you continued on to Reddington and wanted to hitch into Tucson, there's plenty of traffic to do so.