Seeking tips: 3-day Washington TH to Cabin Loop

[EddieS]

Visiting Phoenix on business next Tuesday. Planning to arrive early (Sat a.m.) to hike the rim. Any tips, advice, guidance or recommendations on this proposed route will be greatly appreciated. I've been very impressed with this site and the people who contribute to it.

1. Sat. afternoon: Washington TH -> Col Devine to rim -> Haught trail (camp first night)
2. Sunday: full day hiking Cabin Loop (camp 2nd night somewhere along loop)
3. Monday: more Cabin Loop -> Col Devin trail back TH

I am 56, but in good shape and experienced with mountainous and multi-day backcountry hikes. I have not hiked in AZ (but looking forward to it.

Flying in, so would prefer to leave Bearvault behind. Any risks that I might not have thought of?

Thank you very much!

Eddie

[Grasshopper]

@EddieS Sounds like an excellent 2nt/3day backpack plan to me . Our upper Mogollon Rim-Cabin Loop Trails area has just recently opened up for driving access from our winter snows, so it should be beautiful up there with lots of water running and with the beginning of spring greenery. You will probably have to deal with some tree downfall on various sections of the Cabin Loop trails, but should not be a big issue. Established trails route finding at the beginning of the season may be more of an issue on some of these Cabin Loop Trail options. Having a GPS with our HAZ dowloaded default hiking tracks to follow would be a big benefit.

I have linked FYI all our HAZ default "Cabin Loop Trail Options" along with your starting Colonel Devin TR 290.. http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2725

Have fun and after your trip completion we do hope you will consider posting on site via our HAZ Home Page "triplog" and "Photos" Post options.

[EddieS]

Thank you, Grasshopper! That is very useful guidance. The trail information on this site, and the triplogs from hikers, are wonderful. What a fine group this is!

Unfortunately, I haven't joined the GPS bandwagon yet, though I should. I'll have to be observant and careful on the Cabin Loop, and study trail maps thoroughly.

A friend in Phoenix recommended the Cabin Loop. I added the Col Devin trail to start, thinking a hike up the Rim would be memorable. I take it you recommend doing so, or would I be better off beginning on a loop trailhead (I'll be strapped to a ~40 lb. pack, but I've hauled that through many miles in the Rockies, Black Hills, Wind River Range, etc).

May I trouble the group with a few more questions?
* is it safe to park at the Washington Park TH?
* will I need a 4WD vehicle to get to the TH? (I'm leasing a car at the airport)

Again, thank you very much for your guidance and kindness. I promise to post a trip report and photos when I return home.
Cheers
Eddie

[mazatzal]

@EddieS
If you do go up Col Devin from Washington Park you should check out the Railroad Tunnel. He was called Eddy (last name).
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=97

[EddieS]

Hello, Mazatazl. Well, I read about the RR tunnel trail and its history, but I missed that detail. Thank you for the interesting historical note - and I'll look for the tunnel trail on the way up.

Another name coincidence: I've read that someone named some AZ mountains after you. ;)

Cheers

Eddie

[Grasshopper]

May I trouble the group with a few more questions?
* is it safe to park at the Washington Park TH?
* will I need a 4WD vehicle to get to the TH? (I'm leasing a car at the airport)

I personally have never driven to the Washington Park TH but our TR#290 writeup http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1834 says it is access-able Road / Vehicle "FR/Jeep Road -Car possible when dry " . I believe the last .5 mile on FR32A will be the roughest section to drive before TH Parking. Regarding is it "safe to park a vehicle" at this TH for three days?.. no one can guarantee that. This is a remote TH location with no facilities, no lighting, and dirt parking by a horse corral. If you decide to park here to begin your 2nt/3day, I would strongly suggest you buy the adequate rental vehicle insurance at the airport and don't leave anything of value in view in the vehicle. Also, your choice of starting lower vs driving up to the top of the Rim to begin at one of the recommended Cabin Loop THs is probably a good choice since you will be driving a leased low clearance sedan vs a more versatile higher clearance SUV type vehicle. We generally recommend high-clearance vehicles minimum for driving around on the upper Mogollon Rim roads. Your backpack up to the Rim via TR290 will definitely be memorable with a 1.9ml one way + 1100 elevation gain to reach the Rim Road (FR300)

[CannondaleKid]

@EddieS For up-to-date road information I'd recommend calling the Mogollon Rim Ranger District at (928) 477-2255.

[EddieS]

Thank you, Grasshopper and Cannondale Kid. I'll call the ranger district tomorrow.

What a wonderful group of hikers here - I'm growing fond of Arizona already!

May I ask another question? I've reviewed the maps and reports for the five Cabin Loop trails, and most sound worth hiking. Since I'll be starting at the junction with the Col Devin north termination, are there particular trails and/or routes that you recommend? I'll camp Saturday night not far into the loop, then have Sunday and Monday morning - probably not enough to cover all of the trails.

Again, my sincere thanks to you all.

Cheers

Eddie

[Grasshopper]

Since I'll be starting at the junction with the Col Devin north termination, are there particular trails and/or routes that you recommend?

I have linked FYI all our HAZ default "Cabin Loop Trail Options" along with your starting Colonel Devin TR 290.. http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2725

Others should also have some input for you. If it were me, I would avoid the 4.5 mile loop section of the "General Crook Trail" (which pretty much parallels on/off active vehicle Rim Road FR300 and could also be dusty at times with less hiking solitude and often minimal Rim views).

Starting from the lower Colonel Devin TR/TH up to the Rim and back down is ~4 total miles added to your backpack trip. I would ideally recommend:
Fred Haught TR(6.6) to Houston Brothers TR(5.4) to Barbershop TR(3.9) to U-Bar TR(7.5) to Fred Haught TR(6.6) to Colonel Devin TR (4)

From your beginning lower Colonel Devin TH start, in my opinion these above trail choices would be the ideal backpack trip but it's a lot of miles(~34 total), a lot of elevation gain/loss, and you will most likely have a few trail route finding issues on this 2nts/3days trip.

[EddieS]

Hello, Grasshopper. I was just reading your triplogs from your loop hike - quite interesting and informative.

The Gen Crook trail does sound tedious, but I don't see an option, if after the Devin topping I strike out on the Fred Haupt trail then come back on the Houston Bro's trail. You mention that you have an better option, but I didn't see it in your message.

After reading many trip reports, I'm beginning to wonder about the wisdom of taking this loop without GPS. I'm a pretty decent trail-finder and bushwhacker (when necessary), but is this route too risky without GPS?

Sincere thanks for your help!

Eddie

[Grasshopper]

The Gen Crook trail does sound tedious, but I don't see an option, if after the Devin topping I strike out on the Fred Haupt trail then come back on the Houston Bro's trail.

This route which would include the 4.5 mile section of the "General Crook Trail" is still a valid route option to hike a shorter loop with less route finding issues for you since you could always hike the Rim Road FR300 if having trouble locating trail. This loop option would also make a recommendation for a GPS with downloaded routes to follow less necessary

[EddieS]

Hello, Grasshopper. Thank you again.

Guess I'll go with the Devin/FHaupt/Houston Bro's/Gen Crook route then, and just hope for a few nice scenes from the Crook leg.

I haven't used a GPS, but I have time to order one this morning. Routes can be downloaded from this site, I understand. Is that an easy thing to do? Perhaps it's time to join the 21st century!

Cheers

Eddie

[Grasshopper]

Guess I'll go with the Devin/FHaupt/Houston Bro's/Gen Crook route then, and just hope for a few nice scenes from the Crook leg.

You'll be fine without a GPS for this loop option and I shouldn't really be so hard on the General Crook trail anyway. Being a transplanted Texas boy like I am, you should much enjoy our AZ- Mogollon Rim area as a comparison to the way I recall my visits to Seabrook, TX ;) Also, the Fred Haught Trail and the Houston Brothers Trail are both popular Cabin Loop choices and easier to follow than the more demanding Barbershop and U-Bar Trail loop options. We wish you a safe and enjoyable trip and look forward to your trip and photo summaries with hopeful trail/water conditions for others to note for upcoming trips to our Mogollon Rim- Cabin Loop Area.

[EddieS]

Hello, Grasshopper. You've been to Seabrook! It is a small world, indeed. I hope you enjoyed your time in our little bay-side town. In the last few years we've built one of the best urban trail systems in the state - nothing like the rugged beauty of AZ, of course, but miles of nice nature trails.

A Garmin GPS arrives tomorrow. I've downloaded the manual, will read it tonight, then try my luck at downloading gpx files from the good folks here. With June hikes through the Bighorns, Wind River and Absaroka ranges coming up, this seems like a good time to finally join the GPS world. I'm not abandoning my topo maps and compass quite yet, though.

Thank you for all your help and guidance. I hope to meet you on a trail someday. And if you're ever in the Seabrook area again, please let me know.

Cheers

Eddie

[Grasshopper]

Guess I'll go with the Devin/FHaupt/Houston Bro's/Gen Crook route then, and just hope for a few nice scenes from the Crook leg.

We wish you a safe and enjoyable trip and look forward to your trip and photo summaries with hopeful trail/water conditions for others to note for upcoming trips to our Mogollon Rim- Cabin Loop Area.

Hello Eddie,
How was your recent backpack trip to our Mogollon Rim? (with new Garmin Oregon GPS) .. New triplog postings here: http://hikearizona.com/trip-E.php

[EddieS]

Hello, Grasshopper. The hike was wonderful, and the country as beautiful as you and other HAZ folks said it would be. My apologies for not posting sooner - after the hike I had more than a week of work at the Palo Verde plant, and I just got home.

The trails were enjoyable, the country inspiring, the GPS worked better than I ever imagined (thanks again to GPSJoe's files!). I lost half a day due to flight and other delays, but I made the Devlin, Haught and Houston Bros trails just fine. I have a few photos I'll post later this week.

The HAZ site and members were just wonderful. I wish groups like this existed for all the states!

Cheers

Eddie

[azbackpackr]

HAZ exists for the entire world! Just change your preference to another state and voila, you will see hikes for that state. We just need more HAZ members posting triplogs on those hikes!

[Grasshopper]

HAZ exists for the entire world! Just change your preference to another state and voila, you will see hikes for that state. We just need more HAZ members posting... on those hikes!

In the last few years we've built one of the best urban trail systems in the state - nothing like the rugged beauty of AZ, of course, but miles of nice nature trails.

..and Eddie- in your spare time on HAZ- Texas, you can now document (via new Hike Descriptions-triplogs-photosets-GPS Routes) some of that Seabrook, TX "best urban trail systems in the state" so we in AZ and all those other HAZ members & visitors from the great state of Texas and elsewhere can also enjoy.
We challenge you to give it a try.. ;)

[EddieS]

Hello, AZbackpacker and Grasshopper. Well, I continue to learn from the good folks here! I didn't know that similar groups existed for other states. I will certainly check that out this weekend, and become active in the Texas group, since I hike lots of TX state parks. And posting the Seabrook trails is a great idea. In June/July I've got hikes planned for CO and WY, some of which I haven't taken before, so I'll see what friends I can make out there.

Thanks again to all of you!

Eddie

[azbackpackr]

Hello, AZbackpacker and Grasshopper. Well, I continue to learn from the good folks here! I didn't know that similar groups existed for other states. I will certainly check that out this weekend, and become active in the Texas group, since I hike lots of TX state parks. And posting the Seabrook trails is a great idea. In June/July I've got hikes planned for CO and WY, some of which I haven't taken before, so I'll see what friends I can make out there.

Thanks again to all of you!

Eddie

Well, sorry if we were vague. What we meant was that all you have to do is go to the top of this page. Look and you will see a list of abbreviations for the states across the top and then it says "More." Click on that and a dropdown menu will show up and you can find Texas. Some of your trails in your area may already have been entered by something called "Hikebot." For example, here is a list of trails for Sam Houston Forest: http://hikearizona.com/traildex.php?SHO ... =149&ID=34
And here's a hike listing for Huntsville State Park Trail, which needs someone like you to make it into a REAL Hike Listing: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=6567

Have fun with it! We'd love to see more trails entered all over the country. We do have a few HAZ members who live in other states and enter hikes onto here.