Mazatzal Wilderness Loops

[vagabond]

Thinking of doing a loop in Mazatzals in late January. Looks like either Davenport Wash/Sheep Creek/Sears or Dutchman Grave/Willow Spring. For both of these: How's the scenery? In what condition are the approach roads likely to be? Will there be water available along the trails? Will there be good campsites? Are there decent car-camping sites at or near the trailhead? What kinds of flora are along the trails? How crowded are they likely to be? How strenuous are they for a reasonably fit, very experienced backpacker? Thanks in advance for any help given.

[Lizard]

Welcome to HAZ. First, let me recommend you check out my trail description under the title Club Cabin. It contains more info than I can give you in this short post. Also, I suggest getting your hands on the book "Southern Arizona Trails," by David Mazel and Robert Blake.

Scenery
The scenery will be ok, typical desert. Personally I like the eastern Mazatzal scenery better, as the mountains are much bigger and the topography is more dramatic(you're closer to the actual divide of the range). Also, the western part of the range has been heavily impacted by cattle grazing.

Approach roads
Ideally, you will want a four wheel drive. I believe Sheep Bridge can be done with a high-clearance vehicle only, but it might be a bit hairy. Both trailheads will require long long drives over dirt roads. If you have only a passenger car or you prefer to spend your time hiking rather than driving, it may be preferable to start from one of the trailheads off 87.

Water
This is a hard one. The only water source that I am willing to vouch for along your routes is Mountain Spring. For the rest, I suggest calling the Payson Ranger District.

Camping
There are lots of campsites in the wilderness. Mountain Spring is especially nice. In the lower parts you will have to be willing to put up with cow pies all over the place. I've got no idea about car camping, its really not my thing.

Flora
Most of your route is typical low desert, with saguaros, prickly pears, etc. Around Mountain Spring you will run into the usual pinyon pine-juniper forest.

Crowds
Nonexistent. Practically no one heads into the Western Mazatzals. 99% of the hikers stick to the more accessible eastern side.

Difficulty
The trails in the Mazatzals are very steep. They all seem to lack switchbacks. Also, the trails are poorly defined and take skill to follow, since they recieve very little use or maintenance. In many places in the lower Western Mazatzals the cow paths have wiped out the designated trails. I think that most hikers who have experience and map skills will be able to get around the Mazatzals, but you should be prepared for some pretty strenous hiking.

If you do get out there, please come back and tell us about it.

Have fun,

Lizard

[Randy]

Vag: Lizard's trail description of His Club Cabin Loop was very well done. (All his trail descriptions are good, he's obviously been up the creek and over the hill a few times.) Mazzy's and loops is a tough issue. Loops are available from Barnhardt TH using the three routes up to the divide from there. Mormon Grove is a nice jumping off point to Squaw Flats, Round Spring, Club Cabin and Chilson. You could do that route returning to Mormon Grove via the Divide Trail to Mount Peely. It would be a very tough three day, and more likely four.

Most trips there require a second vehicle point, or duration over four days. Lizard is absolutely right about the western section. Draw a line on your map from Club Cabin to a point about 1/2 mile west of Mountain Spring. Extend it south to Round Spring and southwest to the bottom of Copper Canyon (? as I recall that's what it's called)about 1 mile west of Squaw Flat. Everything west of that line is cowpie desert and 4x4 roads. hot, dry and BORING. This is the reason I get riled when I have to walk in from Sheep Bridge or Horseshoe dam, while the !@**&%**##@ welfare ranchers get to drive their 4x4s across the top of the dam and five miles east, waving as they drive past my 60 pound pack blowing dust in my face. Adds a day of crap hiking just to get in that way, but some nice areas are just beyond.

One thing my friend Lizard forgot to add....Snow. Some trailheads, like Mineral Creek and especially Mormon Grove, can be 60 and dry going in and four days later the truck is that lump under the snow over there. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. The vague trails in many locations are even more elusive after about 3 or 4 inches of snow. December thru February can go either way, especially above about 4500 ft.

This is a great good place, where I've only seen people on the Barnhardt loop or close to it. It is also the toughest hiking-mile per mile- in Arizona for my dollar. Map, compass and route finding skills here are a priority. -Randy

[vagabond]

When you guys write that the western part of the wilderness is "typical desert," what, exactly, does that mean? Is it desert grassland with occassional clumps of prickly pear, like around Sedona, or is it rocky-floored desert with saguaros, barrels, and ocotillo, like Organ Pipe or Saguaro NP?

[Sredfield]

I've been considering a few nights in the Mazat's over MLK holiday weekend. Anyone up for it? I'd like to spend one night a Club Cabin. Lizard's trip looks like a good one. Would depend on water conditions of course.

Eastern area is terribly overgrazed, not sure what is going on with the FS there. I hiked in to Club from the dam a couple years ago, and it was absolutely terrible. I was with a died in the wool cattle supporter, (pardon that mixed metaphor) and he was embarrassed by the abuse. Every saddle we crossed was a barnyard. To top it off, our planned second night camp spot was trashed, cow do-do in the water. So we hiked out, making for a 16 mile day with packs, not something I would care to do again.

[Lizard]

When you guys write that the western part of the wilderness is "typical desert," what, exactly, does that mean? Is it desert grassland with occassional clumps of prickly pear, like around Sedona, or is it rocky-floored desert with saguaros, barrels, and ocotillo, like Organ Pipe or Saguaro NP?

This is pretty typical:

http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=3069

[vagabond]

Got it. Thanks for the quick replies. By the way, nice pics.