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

[jdcollard]

I'm chiming in a little late here, but my wife and I are planning on doing this same trip. Parking at Washington Park and heading up top. We have previously done the East loop, which included Barbershop, Houston Brothers and U-Bar. This time we want to do the Western side. (Haught)

I keep reading about Dane canyon. Is this do-able? We will have 3 nights up there and will be heading down Monday morning. Thinking that the mileage on just the Western side may not be enough. We keep a pretty decent pace and do not mind doing some exploring.

If anyone has any suggestions - I'm all ears!

Thanks!!

p.s. Glad to hear that you had a great trip! I think this loop area is a gem that many seem to overlook.

[Tough_Boots]

Dane Canyon and Barbershop Canyon are both totally doable and absolutely beautiful-- I recommend them both. There's plenty of game trails in there so its not even close to bushwacking. I would keep exploring the east side of the Cabin Loop. Its way better

[nonot]

Dane cabin is the east side, which is the other side than Babe Haught. You will likely enjoy any route up there. Dane and Barbershop aren't as easy as the trails, but are navicable. You may get your feet wet.

[Grasshopper]

Dane cabin is the east side, which is the other side than Babe Haught.

You meant Fred Haught.. ;)

[jdcollard]

Okay - so something like up to the rim and up the Haught to Pinchot - then venture over to Dane and Barbershop canyons. I'll need to get a good map. Thoughts on campsites for 2 or 3 nights? Guessing up the Haught there are some fine spots?

I'm sure there are plenty of obvious spots - but let me know if you know anything that is primo!!

[Grasshopper]

Okay - so something like up to the rim and up the Haught to Pinchot - then venture over to Dane and Barbershop canyons. I'll need to get a good map. Thoughts on campsites for 2 or 3 nights? Guessing up the Haught there are some fine spots?

[Grasshopper]

Okay - so something like up to the rim and up the Haught to Pinchot - then venture over to Dane and Barbershop canyons. I'll need to get a good map. Thoughts on campsites for 2 or 3 nights? Guessing up the Haught there are some fine spots?

I recall you guys last requesting HAZ input on the East Cabin Loop trails then backpacking and posting your enjoyable trip. A little off-trail this year might be an enjoyable option to consider. Barbershop Canyon (between the upper U-Bar TR 28 crossing and down to the lower Barbershop Cyn crossing at the Barbershop TR 91) would be a good off-trail section and should have lots of water pooling/running to filter from and a number of remote primitive campsite areas you can clear for camping. Barbershop Cyn would be easier to backpack-navigate in than would Dane Cyn (which I feel is a better choice for off trail day hiking).

I would propose for your consideration for 2nts/3days (and I don't recall the miles total):
Washington TH up to the Rim to General Springs Cabin and Fred Haught TR to Pinchot Cabin and then U-Bar TR to Barbershop Cyn entrance (noted above) then down Barbershop Cyn (try to maybe spend one night within Barbershop Cyn), then Barbershop Cyn to intersection of Barbershop TR 91, then a right turn onto TR91 and across FR139 to TR 91 end at Houston Bros TR intersection, then a left turn on Houston Bros TR to its end at FR300, then a right turn on FR300 for ~4miles on FR300 or try to locate and hike the actual General Crook TR ~4 mile segment back to your left turn back down the Rim to your TH Start. We really need a trail/status report for this General Crook TR segment, so hopefully if you guys consider this hike option, you will again reward us with your trail/water status triplog and pics

I'm hopefully heading up there next week for 6 days of vehicle camping on the Rim right above Barbershop Cyn for some R&R-day hiking and right from my campsite I might again be day hiking a section of this lower Barbershop Cyn that I have proposed for your backpack consideration.. it is a very enjoyable and scenic section in June. Have a great trip whatever routes you choose!

[jdcollard]

This sounds excellent. I'm a bit hesitant about 'off-trail', but it sounds like it would be difficult getting lost, correct?

I think I recall the area we are talking about here, where it dips down and a sign is there indicating Dane canyon. I'll have to read more thoroughly through the Dane loop descriptions and go from there.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. This forum has always been a great resource.

We will post a description and some photos next week after we have finished up.

Thanks again.

[Tough_Boots]

here is a gps track for my route through Dane and Barbershop Canyons between the U-Bar and Barbershop trails.

http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12137

[Grasshopper]

here is a gps track for my route through Dane and Barbershop Canyons between the U-Bar and Barbershop trails.

http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12137

This will work, but once again I don't personally recommend you two for this Cabin Loop area return backpack with some first time canyon "off-trail" backpacking, trying to backpack in Dane Canyon via this Tough Boots GPS Route link.. Dane Canyon is better (less difficult) for a day hike with a day pack not a backpack. This posted GPS Route section of Barbershop Cyn will be easier going for you with backpacks even though you will still have a few downed trees to navigate over-under-around and some over growth in the middle section of Barbershop Cyn and will need to cross the flowing water source a hundred times, but this GPS Route section of Dane canyon will have more of the same to deal with. You could make your trip a 3nt/4day and take the 3rd day to dayhike over on TR91 to Dane Cyn then hike down Dane Cyn for a ways to check it out and then return back to your backpack campsite in ?upper Barbershop Cyn? for your last night before hiking out on day 4.. just a thought for your further consideration..

I have taken Tough Boots posted Barbershop and Dane Cyn GPS Route above and added all the relevant Cabin Loop Trails to give you a better perspective of where the recommended hiking routes lie within Barbershop and Dane Canyons.. http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2777 You can move the red cross hair to a view location you want to view, then zoom in on the map and you can further add way point locations by having the map and cross hair where you want to obtain a way point location, then go up to the map upper right and click GO and it will put a teardrop at that location with the WP coordinates. Seems like I recall you two having a GPS that you might want to add some of these "key" intersection WP locations into for your trip?

Also, i suggest you consider viewing some of our posted triplogs and picsets. Some of these picsets with detail pic captions which will give you two a better feel for what to expect.. Here are a couple of good reference hike descriptions with pics and captions for Barbershop and Dane Cyns..
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15762
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=16136

"One Recommended Backpack Campsite" within Barbershop Cyn.. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=159763 ..Note: Campfire restrictions now in effect..
(approx a 35 minute hike to the intersection of Upper Barbershop Cyn / Trail #91..campsite at WP coordinates 34.44613 -111.17868)

[jdcollard]

We completed this trip last weekend. What a great area!!

triplog posted here : http://hikearizona.com/x.php?x=90953