Hells Hole #284 or Reynolds Creek #150

[KingCopa]

Looking for opinions, I am taking a friend out as well as my daughter for their first overnight backpacking trip. Both are in good shape and excited to get out and see why I love back packing so much. I am considering these 2 trail as they want water sources and to make it some what comfortable for them as well as some kind of "feature". Originally I was thinking of Reavis Trough to Angel Basin so they could see the ruins but seems like there is no water in this area. Has anyone been on either of these trail recently and which would you choose. Thank you in advance!!

[ALMAL]

For Hells Hole, I was last there in October 2016, and have been there 2 or 3 times each year for the last several years. The trail is in good shape and it is easy to get to without any special type of vehicle. The trail is easy to follow and there are only a few climbs, the biggest of course begins your hike out when you return. You cross Workman creek once and then end at the creek so water is no problem. Your problem may be in camping at the trail terminus. There are really only 2 or 3 potential spots and they can fill up quickly on Friday afternoons. https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=530952
Monday through Thursdays you should be fine. The creek is fun to explore up and downstream and there may still be some flow in this waterfall just downstream from the camping area. https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=486614
There are also some ruins on the hilltop just before you begin the big descent to the creek that you can check out. https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=535861 These are literally 100 yards off of the main trail...

[te_wa]

that reminds me, yours truly wrote the hike description for Hell's Hole trail. i can only hope it has served its purpose and guided those into that area with clear directions. however, hiking along the Reynold's Creek trail is easier, more scenic towards the end, (go in late summer, there are wild berries along the way) and then onto the Cold Spring and Pueblo drainages (the mesa above, actually) where you can camp at Edward Spring. please see maps and combine a couple other trails to reach Edward spring. it's something around a 6 mile, each way hike. the view from here into the Cherry Creek drainage and beyond are fabulous. that's my vote, given these options.
i'm actually planning to camp with my young warrior backpackers this weekend at that very spot.

[Grasshopper]

I personally would not introduce 1st time Backpackers on the Hells Hole Trail #284. It's all ALMAL say it is and more.. here is my April'08 memory of it as a day hike with my always heavy daypack, but with a backpack for a first time.. no way:
"This hike starts high at ~5400' TH elevation, is UPHILL both ways with two UPHILLS both ways!!..How did they do that!!?? I don't know, but I do now know after completing it, that I'm not good at 13ml R/T hikes with a heavy daypack and two UPHILLS like this one going OUT(1st was +1175' for 2mls & the 2nd was +500' for 2mls)"

..and if the choice campsite(s) are taken?

Reynolds Creek #150 is a very scenic choice & most likely now with a lot of overgrowth but in my opinion better suited as a day hike trail and not many camp locations with H2O along its length to end at the private & historic https://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=1632358 area.

When are you planning this backpack trip and what type of vehicle will you be driving?

Like te_wa mentions, a great option is the Reynolds Trail #150 to connect with the Murphy Ranch Trail #141 to Edward Spring (usually a perennial seep not really a flowing spring, but ok for drinking after treating and/or filtering with a MSR Waterworks type "hose" filter system https://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=601256 ). This would be a longer mileage first time out and back backpack.

A shorter out and back backpack to the Edward Spring area to camp would be this section of trail that te_wa is referring to--> https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15363 but you should not consider driving a vehicle without high clearance to this upper Murphy Ranch Park/TH Start. Note: IF Edward Spring-Seep is dry, then backtrack on the Rim Trail #139 to fill-up here--> https://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=1666476

[ALMAL]

Sounds like Reynolds should be on my to do list.
Probably going to skip Hells Hole this year anyway since the trout have disappeared.
Isn't there a spot along or past Reynolds that has apples in the fall?

[Grasshopper]

Isn't there a spot along or past Reynolds that has apples in the fall?

Yes, legal apples to pick at the historic Peterson Ranch area https://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=40354 but this area is along the Abbey Way Trail #151 https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=17157 with Park/TH Start off Workman Creek Road, not along the Reynolds Creek Trail #150..

[The_Eagle]

@KingCopa
You wrote off Rogers Canyon Trail to Angel Basin because of no water.
Can't guarantee it now, but 25 days ago, there was plenty of running water.
You also did not mention when you were planing this trip for.
If its this weekend, temps. at Angel Basin look about perfect...
https://hikearizona.com/forecast.php?e= ... kwTXpNeA==

[ALMAL]

And having been twice recently, I would think West Clear Creek would make a fine first backpacking trip, easy trail with plenty of water and plenty of "features" along the way.

[KingCopa]

Thank you for all the input. I have been downt to Hells hole before and that is why I was concidering it. My concern was the camp spots at the end and with them being so limited getting downt there and having to hike back up to the top to locate a place to camp. We are in a 4wd Tacoma so getting to TH has never been much of an issue. I was using the Reynolds creek as a plan B if we got to the HH trail head and there was more the 1 or 2 cars there. We will be heading out this weekend so. Im going to look in to the Pueblo Canyon/Murphys Ranch trail with camping in the Edwards Springs area.
Thank you guys a ton for the input and advise!

[te_wa]

i just posted an event for the reynold's creek/murphy/rim trail to edwards spring area.
it would be cool to see some hazzer's there. if not, the views are good enough alone. ;)

[big_load]

however, hiking along the Reynold's Creek trail is easier, more scenic towards the end, (go in late summer, there are wild berries along the way) and then onto the Cold Spring and Pueblo drainages (the mesa above, actually) where you can camp at Edward Spring.

I like that trail, and I'm still pretty sure I could find a way down into at least one of those drainages from above. (Some quite knowledgeable people disagree with me about that, but I'm not ready to concede defeat).