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While I'd normally hike in the Superstition Wilderness next March, the Woodbury Fire is making me consider the Mazatzal Wilderness instead.

My 20 year old Falcon guide shows a rich trail system in the Mazatzals. I know there was a big fire there in the early 2000s that devastated the area, so much of that may be gone, but one of the Tonto NF rangers said there has been a lot of trail crews there in the past 2 years.

So other than the Arizona Trail part of the wilderness, have the old legacy trails been resurrected? Which ones? Can anyone suggest a 30-40 miles loop (or even end-to-end) in the Mazatzal Wilderness?

Thanks,
Steve

@stevebo
You should burn that Falcon guide. Someone should be jailed for continuing to print it.

This website is a great resource with recent triplogs and GPS routes for that entire area.

@stevebo
Hey Steve- I think you’ll find the Mazzies to be a great hiking destination.

Here’s a link to all the named trails in the wilderness.

[ Mazatzal Wilderness Trails :: map ]

You can click on each one for triplogs and photos that should let you know if they were lost and not rebuilt after the fire. It should be easy to put together a loop to your liking.

And if you head out that way, report back with a triplog of your own to help the next hiker out.

chumley wrote:Here’s a link to all the named trails in the wilderness.

Awesome, thanks! Looks like I have a full afternoon of planning when I find the time.

By the way, should I also burn my Mazatzal and Pine Mountain Nat Geo map?

@stevebo
Maps are great-- just don't rely on the trails being there

start at pine trailhead, and hike the wilderness north to south. end at sunflower (where it goes under the bridge at hwy 87). carry 6-8 quarts of water. springs are [ Oak Spring ] , a bit of water at whiterock mesa [ Whiterock Spring ] , and the east verde river until you get to [ Horse Camp Seep ] / [ Hopi Spring ] , then on across the mazzy divide to find water at [ Bear Spring - Fisher ] , then [ Thicket Spring ] , and not much more until you finish. that's a good 3-4 days, ive done it, would do it again. fantastic country.

MAZZIES

[ Midnight Mesa Loop - Mazatzal ]

Plan on taking three days for this loop and bring some good navigation devices. If you survive and/or enjoy this loop, you’ll be hooked. This is a gem of an adventure and gives a great sampling of how awesome (and difficult) the trails out there can get.

Oh, and if your car can’t make it to Sheep Bridge, you could modify by starting at Cut Creek TH and heading up Mazzies Divide and taking Red Hill down.

If it isn't clear from the posts, much of the Matzatzals also burned in a fire about 20 years ago, and many of the trails in the middle of the wilderness are gone. I'd recommend sticking to the divide trail or the trains that start at Barnhardt trailhead.

te_wa wrote:that's a good 3-4 days

The route is great and your water reporting is critical and very appreciated. However there's not a chance in hell that I could backpack 75 miles of that terrain in 3 days!

Maybe Mt. Peeley to the East Verde River or Red Hills to Pine is more likely, but I'd still like maybe an extra 10 miles or side-trip.

For example, is there a trail / social trail up Mazatzal Peak? It's probably snowed in during March, but might be worth a shot.
Thanks,
Steve

stevebo wrote: For example, is there a trail / social trail up Mazatzal Peak? It's probably snowed in during March, but might be worth a shot.

Mazzie Peak is great though there is no trail or social trail-- there's a few cairns but you may or may not stumble across them. Most summit via Ybar Saddle and bushwack up. It's very steep but well worth it if you enjoy pushing through manzanita.

stevebo wrote: ↑Sep 02 2019 2:45 pm

te_wa wrote:that's a good 3-4 days

For example, is there a trail / social trail up Mazatzal Peak?
Thanks,
Steve

The short answer to your question is: NO

follow Fritzski's directions. barnhard>some canyon>a ridge>peak. i think that's the most fun.
[ Mazatzal Peak Summit ]

te_wa wrote:[ Mazatzal Peak Summit ]

From the trip report:
> Definitely the most difficult hike I've done, surpassing the Superstition Ridgeline

Having hiked the Ridgeline last year, I don't want to include an even more difficult hike as part of a weeklong trek.

One more question: Is FR 201 to the Mt. Peeley Trailhead a 4x4 road or can it be done in a regular car/sedan?

@stevebo
Depends on conditions: [ photo ]
I recommend high-clearance. You wouldn't need 4wd unless the road is damaged or very muddy or snowy.
It can be done in a sedan sometimes, but I wouldn't count on it being in sedan condition at any given time.

chumley wrote: ↑Sep 03 2019 9:00 am @stevebo
Depends on conditions: [ photo ]
I recommend high-clearance. You wouldn't need 4wd unless the road is damaged or very muddy or snowy.
It can be done in a sedan sometimes, but I wouldn't count on it being in sedan condition at any given time.

This same section of FR201 (Ref: linked pic), can be/look the same in the months of March-April. I can contest to this having been stuck here one past year in March riding in an all wheel drive Honda Accord.