Water backpacking trip ideas?

[rayhiker]

I've been taking big groups of novices on trips to get them excited about backpacking. The formula has been to leave Mesa around 4 pm -- get far on the trail before dark -- return to town the next afternoon. I'm looking for a backpacking trip with the following:
* Easy to access (under 2 hours from Mesa)
* Cooler temps
* Water (creek or pools)
* Short hike in -- well marked
* Scenic camping spot

We've been to Fossil Springs and West Clear Creek already.
Other places I'm considering:
* Box Canyon
* Horton Springs
* Bell Trail -- too far?
* Chevelon Canyon -- too far?

More ideas? Appreciate your help in advance!

[haggster]

You should consider the Sierra Ancha mountains.

[joebartels]

No recommendations, just wanted to be sure you are aware you can get drive times from description pages. Look for "Mapped Driving" down by directions. Or you can click any red description marker after searching and finding hikes on the map and do the same.

Bell Trail - 2h 10m from Chandler
Reynolds Creek Trail #150 - 2h 26m from Chandler

[GrottoGirl]

I'm going to add to this topic since it is very close to the one that I was going to post...

I'm researching a backpack for 8 people (no more than 6 tents) in West Clear Creek for 3 days-2 nights over the 4th of July. I had originally planned to go to the Jerky Mountains in the Gila Wilderness but the fire restrictions don't allow stoves outside of campgrounds. This last weekend we did a bit in Wet Beaver Creek on the Bell Trail and then down in to the canyon (which is a great beginning intro to canyon hiking - swimpacking). We really enjoyed the swimming part so we got the idea of doing West Clear Creek. I personally think it's cool to hike with floatation device!

I want to do the central part of the canyon that includes the White Box and Hanging Garden. Therefore, I have come up with few options, but I am unsure of the road conditions and how long setting up a car shuttle might take. Here are the options I'm looking at:

1. West Clear Creek TH to Calloway TH. With this option, I would add an extra night at the beginning of the trip to set up the car shuttle. It looks to melike the car shuttle is around 30 miles one way of which about a third of it is on dirt roads. Setting up the shuttle would probably take ~2 hours. With this option there is 16 miles in canyon hiking with another 2.5 miles of trail/route hiking. That maybe too long of a canyon hike for a 3 day journey.
2. West Clear Creek TH to FR142J (using the TH described in the White Box & Hanging Gardens of WCC, AZ description). This would cut down on the canyon mileage by approximately 4.5 miles. The car shuttle time is approximately the same.
3. This option wouldn't require a shuttle, hike down using the TH described in the White Box & Hanging Gardens of WCC, AZ description, look for an good campsite. Then day hike west. The next day hike east. Third day return to the car.

Now onto my questions:
1. Has anyone accessed any of these Trailheads lately? Do you have a good report on the road conditions? We will have at least two high clearance vehicles with the lowest a Subaru Outback. Does my time estimates look correct?
2. From my research it does not look like any of these require technical gear for rappelling - am I right? I've looked at the Canyoneering Arizona book and many of the triplogs/descriptions on HAZ.
3. Has anyone done any of this as a backpack and/or has coordinates of good campsites? I can't be the only techie who marks campsites just in case I go back!
4. Are there any other options I should be considering?
5. Does anyone have any other advice they'd like to share?

Thanks in advance!

[nonot]

@Norby

No rappelling gear required, good campsite by bottom of Calloway and @ Hanging Gardens.

Roads that take you to Hanging Gardens TH are pretty dang terrible.

Haven't done the whole thing yet, only pieces.

[rayhiker]

@Chazz: Thanks for the idea -- Anchas almost too far away, but a possibility. Where would you recommend here for a group backpack in water?

@Joe: Thanks for the info -- that's really neat that the site shows distance to the hikes! Always amazed by everything on this site. Great job!

[hikeaz]

bknorby,
If you are @ the Hanging Gardens T/H in the AM of day 1 (say before 8am) you should be able to hike the whole thing and be out midday on day 3. I have hiked/swam this section many times. We generally keep a steady progress through the day with 3-4 snack stops/photo ops, but were in camp by 3:30/4 every time and were still out on day 3 about noon.I do not use a GPS, so I cannot help there, but campsites appear at intervals; generally not more than an hour between suitable spots. Unless storms are forecasted, I'd leave the tents at home due to weight/camping space considerations. No-see-ums may be out, but they go in after dark. Rubber Boundary bag with a leash works best - see the Tonto Creek write-up here on HAZ - most if not all of the suggestions apply.

I'm going to add to this topic since it is very close to the one that I was going to post...

I'm researching a backpack for 8 people (no more than 6 tents) in West Clear Creek for 3 days-2 nights over the 4th of July. I had originally planned to go to the Jerky Mountains in the Gila Wilderness but the fire restrictions don't allow stoves outside of campgrounds. This last weekend we did a bit in Wet Beaver Creek on the Bell Trail and then down in to the canyon (which is a great beginning intro to canyon hiking - swimpacking). We really enjoyed the swimming part so we got the idea of doing West Clear Creek. I personally think it's cool to hike with floatation device!

I want to do the central part of the canyon that includes the White Box and Hanging Garden. Therefore, I have come up with few options, but I am unsure of the road conditions and how long setting up a car shuttle might take. Here are the options I'm looking at:

1. West Clear Creek TH to Calloway TH. With this option, I would add an extra night at the beginning of the trip to set up the car shuttle. It looks to melike the car shuttle is around 30 miles one way of which about a third of it is on dirt roads. Setting up the shuttle would probably take ~2 hours. With this option there is 16 miles in canyon hiking with another 2.5 miles of trail/route hiking. That maybe too long of a canyon hike for a 3 day journey.
2. West Clear Creek TH to FR142J (using the TH described in the White Box & Hanging Gardens of WCC, AZ description). This would cut down on the canyon mileage by approximately 4.5 miles. The car shuttle time is approximately the same.
3. This option wouldn't require a shuttle, hike down using the TH described in the White Box & Hanging Gardens of WCC, AZ description, look for an good campsite. Then day hike west. The next day hike east. Third day return to the car.

Now onto my questions:
1. Has anyone accessed any of these Trailheads lately? Do you have a good report on the road conditions? We will have at least two high clearance vehicles with the lowest a Subaru Outback. Does my time estimates look correct?
2. From my research it does not look like any of these require technical gear for rappelling - am I right? I've looked at the Canyoneering Arizona book and many of the triplogs/descriptions on HAZ.
3. Has anyone done any of this as a backpack and/or has coordinates of good campsites? I can't be the only techie who marks campsites just in case I go back!
4. Are there any other options I should be considering?
5. Does anyone have any other advice they'd like to share?

Thanks in advance!

bknorby

[mtlongisland2]

haiglers creek, check my pics

[GrottoGirl]

After last year's July 4th trip to the White Box/Hanging Meadow area of West Clear Creek, I'm ready for a longer trip. Has anyone done the entire canyon? I'm curious as to how many days it took. Also, if you have done multi-day trips I'd be interested in what your access points were. I'm going to be planning a trip there over the 4th of July holiday and will open up a few spots on the trip to HAZers who are interested and have experience with backpacking and swimpacking.

[te_wa]

5 days. roughly 45 miles. ima do it this summer, after monsoon. september?

[chumley]

Tonto Creek, Hell's Gate is another multi-day adventure.
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=587

[skatchkins]

Also, if you have done multi-day trips I'd be interested in what your access points were.

@bknorby

I did Calloway to White Box: http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=12130

[hikeaz]

After last year's July 4th trip to the White Box/Hanging Meadow area of West Clear Creek, I'm ready for a longer trip. Has anyone done the entire canyon? I'm curious as to how many days it took. Also, if you have done multi-day trips I'd be interested in what your access points were. I'm going to be planning a trip there over the 4th of July holiday and will open up a few spots on the trip to HAZers who are interested and have experience with backpacking and swim-packing.

I have done the thru-trip to bullpen a few times.
Depending on your entry point, it will take a good 3, 4 or 5 days. If you go in just above the White Box, 3 days is doable, but will be arduous - 4 would be better. You could hike in from the headwaters (Willow & Clover), even above the Maxwell Trail - that would add about 2 additional days. One of the easiest entry points is at the north end of FR 142E.
No matter where you start the shuttle is kind of a bi%^h, but the trip is fantastic - you'll never forget it.
As mentioned in the Tonto Creek write-up - a boundary bag with a leash for the longer swims works best. No tents, as that opens up more areas to be suitable to camp for a group - often space is limited in this canyon. Keep a warm fleece or windbreaker at the top of your bag for the rest stops - you will likely get mildly hypothermic from time-to-time - but just do like the lizards do and hug a warm boulder when that happens. Remember plenty of high energy food - you'll need it.