Looking for a romantic hike or picnic spot

[alaskangriz]

I know it's a cliche and that most places are decently "romantic". I am just looking for a day hike that has some really great views but not that busy. Most people I talk to say you want great views Piestewa peak but thats too busy.

I am looking for something short.....3 or 5 miles....something that will have a decent spot for a picnic. I was thinking Flagstaff area but with the fire I am not sure if that would be a good area. I know wildflowers are not blooming and October is the best time of the year to see the leaves turn. Chances are we might go in October. If anyone has any good ideas please let me know.

[azbackpackr]

What? No flowers? This is the main wildflower season for about 1/3 of the state! Anywhere above 7,000 has lots of flowers right now. You want flowers? I'll send you some... I had to mow half an acre of them in my yard up here in Eagar a couple days ago, because I couldn't get out to my sheds and clothesline without getting wet up to my waist in flowers. All it does is rain rain rain, and the flowers are all along the highways and trails, everywhere. Go anywhere around Pinetop, Heber, Forest Lakes, up on the rim, Big Lake, Greer, Alpine, Hannagan Meadow, Pine, Strawberry, Cabin Loop Trail, Flagstaff (that fire was just on the Peaks, there are other areas besides the Peaks to hike up there) or the Pinals, Icehouse Canyon. Look thru the photosets. This year's flowers are amazing. I was just in the Catalinas by Tucson last week, they were amazing there as well. Payson and Globe areas closest to you.

Another big rain predicted today.

[alaskangriz]

Sweet.....then I might just start heading up there. I was thinking of heading up to showlow with the GF. Thats exactly what I am looking for. Thanks for the tips. Payson might not be a bad idea either.

[paulhubbard]

I am looking for something short.....3 or 5 miles....something that will have a decent spot for a picnic

You might want to try the west end of the Rim, FR 300 just past Strawberry. Easily accessible, and once you reach the actual rim, the views are superb. Pick you picnic spot, there's lots of them. A great day hike is Horton Springs (hike from the Tonto campground below the rim), look it up here and you'll see tons of great photo sets.

[JimmyLyding]

Good picnic spot in the Dry Lake Hills just north of Flagstaff: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=148424

[nonot]

Thompson Trail #629 would be a great place to bring the wife, a bit of a drive though.

Also less busy are some of the Sierra Ancha's trails starting at the top of Aztec...just hike to a good view and turn around.

[azbackpackr]

Oh, we are back to "the wife" and what she will put up with again...

I have a husband just like all your wives, I guess...

[sirena]

@azbackpackr
I think there are a couple of women on this site that share the same fate...

[azbackpackr]

Maybe we need some re-matching around here! ;)

[fotogirl53]

Count me in with you, azbackpackr and sirena.

[Vaporman]

LoL, the outdoorsy guy to gal ratio is like 5 to 1. Imagine how tough it is for us guys to find outdoory gals to go out with us... You gals just needed to a look harder for us outdoorsy guys. We're just too busy out hiking on the trails, trekking down canyons, backpacking deep into the backcountry, and climbing up walls to be found were most single guys mingle.

[alaskangriz]

Well to be perfectly honest, this is a "new" girlfriend. I know she has done hiking in the past but I don't know her experience level. I have been in Arizona for 10 years now and have found that the Payson area provides a ton of great places, but sometimes that gets a little crowded. Before Arizona I use to live in Alaska and have done tons of hiking and backpacking along with "other" great adventures (some you have to be crazy to say they are adventures.....but hey there are only two things guaranteed in life.....death and taxes.....and if I am going to die....then I want to have it be fun to say the least!!). I haven't done much backpacking down here other than volunteering to help the runners on the Highline trail....which seems a blast to me.

Anyway's I don't want to do anything too challenging just in case she gets turned off but I do want to show her a good time, plus a bottle of wine, some crakers, cheese and summer sausage makes for a great day. I know a few places up on the Rim that are great...but some get busy. I guess thats why I want to explore more of the White Mountains area.

Thanks everyone for some great tips. I will keep everyone posted as to how things "go".

[johnr1]

I would suggest that haunted canyon, West fork oak chreek or Horton springs would all work well. Each has an imprecise destination so you can make the hike as short or long as your companon wants. They are wooded with running water and relativly close to town. Haunted canyon will have very few people, west fork will have excellent fall foliage and horton's many nooks off the traail give good picnic spots.

[JoelHazelton]

It's a bit of a drive (6-7 hours), but for the ultimate experience cruise on out to Pacheta Falls. The scenery is unmatchable in Arizona and you're sure to be alone.

[skatchkins]

LoL, the outdoorsy guy to gal ratio is like 5 to 1. Imagine how tough it is for us guys to find outdoory gals to go out with us... You gals just needed to a look harder for us outdoorsy guys. We're just too busy out hiking on the trails, trekking down canyons, backpacking deep into the backcountry, and climbing up walls to be found were most single guys mingle.

^^X2

I think I could settle down with an active older (than me) "Eager" lady

[azbackpackr]

Hmmmm....

[joebartels]

It's a bit of a drive (6-7 hours), but for the ultimate experience cruise on out to Pacheta Falls. The scenery is unmatchable in Arizona and you're sure to be alone.

Agreed yet believe I'd pass on this gem in October as it's a better summer destination. If you can squeak it in the next couple weeks this is the ultimate date destination. There's a slanted berm running along the canyon edge with nice pines to shade and lounge under, perfect for picnics. The hike in is an easy quarter mile or less. Yet you'll want to mosey around the falls and perhaps explore the forest down Rattlesnake Point. Two hours go by real quick in this enchanted setting. If you get lost on the drive in there's plenty of creeks and meadows worthy of exploration.

[Vaporman]

^^X2

I think I could settle down with an active older (than me) "Eager" lady

[RickVincent]

I'm thinking of a nice little grassy open area along the Clover Creek Trail. Maybe only a 1.5 mile hike-in. I saw one other pair of hikers on a Saturday as soon as I got started. After that it was all mine, all day. Very green. Wildflowers in bloom. Butterflies everywhere.

[desertjade]

Just be sure to wear long pants as this area is thick with poison ivy! Its a surefire way to turn a non-outdoorsy girl off from it! Best of luck! Let us know how it goes/went!