Arrastra Mountain Wilderness

[brougham86]

thinking of doing a night or two in November in the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness. There is a jeep trail that runs about 6 miles from HWY 93 to Sycamore Spring. This area is remote and rarely visited by backpackers. Fantastic! Anyone interested?

PS - I know that this is my first real post on the forum, so by way of explanation: I usually backpack/hike solo or with friends outside the forum. I am quite experienced and have done many hikes/backpacks.

[azbackpackr]

Crazy place. I've been over near there, but not actually to the Arrastras. There are elk in those hills, amazingly enough, and a hunt season, too.

While you're over there you might want to also check out the Bill Williams River hike, accessed from just below the dam at Alamo Lake State Park.

[nonot]

Sounds interesting. Looks like it's either on the roads, or off trail in this area, as I can't locate any evidence of maintained hiking trails in the wilderness.

This hike: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1241
appears to be about the closest to the area. If Arrastra Wilderness is anything like Burro Creek Wilderness, it should be mighty fun.

If you get closer to picking a date, and decide you still want company, send me a PM. I have some conflicts, but several of my weekends are free.

[Hippy]

was discussing this briefly last night, somewhere in that area is a 20-25 foot waterfall tucked away into a tiny canyon, i went out there with my dad once for a hike and found frog eggs and all sorts of exciting critters near the fall, been trying to get back for years but haven't been able to find it...lack of a 4x4 vehicle me thinks. I'm in, keep me in the loop.

[Sredfield]

there is a piece of private land in the wilderness, but not too far in, that has some water and maybe a fall, it's been a long time since I was there. peeples canyon maybe?

[brougham86]

People's Canyon is fed by Sycamore Spring, and flows into the Santa Maria River. Possible waterfall location. This place takes some work to get into for sure, but the jeep trails are walkable. I will keep you all posted on a date.

[big_load]

People's Canyon

Kind of an ironic name for private land.

[Hippy]

why walk jeep roads when i have a perfectly bad arse subaru at my disposal i'm down for some off roadin'. just gotta figure out when. and if my subaru can't make it i'm sure i know a few other crazies who would enjoy the drive in with their off roadin vehicles

@brougham86 tell me the exact area you're considering and i'll pick some brains see if my suby can make it and such and we'll go from there

[chumley]

why walk jeep roads when i have a perfectly bad arse subaru at my disposal i'm down for some off roadin'.

Um. Cause it's a "wilderness area"?

[Hippy]

@chumley you hush! it's BLM there are no driving restrictions in place so

[joebartels]

the trail side bartender speaks the truth
Wilderness Act 1964 mechanical transport is banned

map for those interested in this wilderness

[brougham86]

those restrictions are super important. walking along those roads doesn't bother me a bit. in fact, if I saw an ATV-er driving on one, I might flick sandy nose mucus on them as they careen by.

i created a paper map a while back of the area by printing out the USGS quads in large format, and puzzling them together. it is a pretty good map if i might say so. the 2011 updates to the 7.5 quads seem fairly well-done.

from my GPS software and 7.5 quad fiddling, my best info says that it is a 6.5-ish mile walk from HWY 93 to Sycamore Spring. Not bad at all. If i get time i will scan the quad map i made before i leave work today and send it your way.

[Sredfield]

If I recall correctly (and that is a bigger IF every year) South Peoples Spring is a pretty little area. You can drive a couple miles off the highway to the Wilderness boundary,they walk a couple more. See the My TOPO version of the map to see the two-track trail. I'm not sure if it's still private land or not, there was a huge effort years ago to make it public.

[azbackpackr]

Be sure to stop and eat a hamburger at that little place way out there on a dirt road at an RV park. Nice folks and good burgers, too! It is not too far from Alamo Lake, as I recall.

[Hippy]

alright if joe and chumley say so ... My sources must ve incorrect and dont I feel awful for drivinh all the way out there all those those years ago... Oops! i'll still drive my suby as far as she'll go!!

Wonder if tthats why that cop was following us last time...

[brougham86]

so i think i am going to hit the trail into the Arrastra on the afternoon of November 2nd

[Hippy]

that's a friday right? that i can do. count the hippy in.

[nonot]

can't make that, enjoy!

[mazatzal]

Poachie BM on Arrastra Mtn is the high point of the Poachie Range. Access / private land was an issue a while back...
Ives Peak is another destination (maybe Sierra Club used to do trips here I think..?)

[Geoduck]

did you do this? Went there about 6 years ago, had to get "permission slip" from landowner, who has posted a billboard listng all the entities he despises: sierra club, blm, wilderness club, etc. There was a beautiful canyon with super deep falls and pools. ALso some cow poop. old roads and cross country hike to the canyon. BLM site has phone where you can call and get landowner's #. Not sure if things have changed in regards to this access or not!