4 day backpack on east side of Mazatzals

[eaufdembrink]

A group of us from Houston Texas were planning to do a 4 day backpack starting at the Barnhardt TH in late April. I've looked at several options - i.e. Barnhardt to Sandy Saddle to Mazatzal to Shake Tree etc. but all come up a bit short. We were looking to do 6-8 mi/day average. We would start on Monday afternoon and come out Friday noonish. Any suggestions for say a 25-30 mi route would be appreciated. We are experienced hikers and understand water sources are a limiting consideration in this area. We do not hike huge mi/day but are looking at say an average of 7 mi/day for sure not more than 8 or 9 depending of course on difficulty. One item I looked at was Monday afternoon hike to area of Big Kahuna Falls (is it accessible and is it possible to camp in the area?), then Tues take Big Sandy Saddle up to either Sandy Saddle Falls or Horse Camp Seep, then Wednesday day hike/explore up to Hopi Springs and back, Thursday south on Mazatzal Divide to Windsor Spring and then Friday morning hike the 6 mi or so out.
Any suggestions/help would be appreciated.

[FOTG]

@eaufdembrink I would out and back from Barnhardt via Mazzies Divide AKA AZT to Horse Camp, maybe camp C. Spring area, then Horse Camp, then maybe a Y Bar return, side trip maybe Bear Springs, look at those areas and find a creative way to make that work for four days. I would strongly suggest avoiding Brody and Sandy Saddle. Use search feature on HAZ and read up on those trails...

[chumley]

Others with more experience can give you more suggestions, but I definitely recommend crossing Sandy Saddle off your list of "trails". It is basically nonexistent.

One option you might also want to throw in the mix if you're starting at Barnhart is a loop that finishes by going down the Rock Creek Trail and then south to the trailhead via the Half Moon Trail. There's nice camping at the bottom of Rock Creek, though it is the end of the road to that trailhead so it is possible to encounter a vehicle there as opposed to a totally remote wilderness location. The trail from the divide up to Hopi Spring has been cleared, but the short stretch from the spring to the crest (maybe 1/2 mile?) is very overgrown. But from the crest down is nice. Steep, but nice.

[Tough_Boots]

I would strongly suggest avoiding Brody and Sandy Saddle.

Do you have to "avoid" trails that don't really exist?

[big_load]

I definitely recommend crossing Sandy Saddle off your list of "trails". It is basically nonexistent.

Ouch! Thanks for reminding me of being camped on it the night it ceased to exist. That was among my most memorable trail nights ever.

[nonot]

Barnhardt trail is the best maintained trail, and an April trip to Horse Camp Seep via Barnhardt is quite enjoyable, and I recommend a small side trip to see the Dead Man waterfalls on the start of your second day. A loop with Ybar can make it a 3 day trip or very long milage 2 day trip. A loop with Rock Creek is a little longer than the Y bar option, but Rock Creek suffers from some damage and is a harder trip requiring a little route finding and worse trails. Sandy Saddle is possible, but with the trail severely eroded and nonexistent in sections, may be a bit rough to chomp on and also not enjoyable for your first go at the Mazzies, with major route finding and distinct possibilities of getting lost.

Based on your original description, I suggest the Barnhardt to Horse Camp, day 2 explore Dead Man Falls, then take the AZT (Mazatzal Divide Trail) north until you hit the major road that leads to the ranch. It would make it a shuttle hike. Since you have a group, assuming you have two vehicles, that seems doable.

[eaufdembrink]

@friendofThundergod
thanks

[eaufdembrink]

Regarding the Barnhardt trail - Is there any accessible water from the area of Big Kahuna Falls which does not require canyoneering skills? Also, would there be any place to camp in this general vicinity?

[nonot]

Accessible water - yes. Camping - no. Nearest campsite would be another 2? miles after you reach the top/saddle area.

Regarding the Barnhardt trail - Is there any accessible water from the area of Big Kahuna Falls which does not require canyoneering skills? Also, would there be any place to camp in this general vicinity?

[eaufdembrink]

Just one more question: My plan is to go in the Barnhardt trail to the Divide trail and then northerly up to Horse Camp and maybe Hopi Springs. I gather there is camping in the area of Horse Camp correct? Is there anyplace to camp around the area of Hopi Springs?

[Tough_Boots]

@eaufdembrink
Horse Camp Seep has a premier camping site. If you're there on a spring weekend-- you might be prepared for company. Hopi Spring is generally a mud pit and I don't remember ever noticing a decent spot to camp.

[Sredfield]

We camped near the junction to Hopi, off the west side of the Divide Trail a few hundred feet in the deadfall. Not stellar by any means but it was flat, and we saw evidence of others from many years ago-old fire ring and a pick mattock.

[nonot]

Since the area near Hopi burned to the ground there are spaces you could setup a tent, but it isn't generally an established "nice" campsite, compared to Horse Seep. I didn't see the old fire ring that Sredfield mentions, my guess is you'd have to search for it in the bushes and deadfall?

[eaufdembrink]

Thanks for all the replies - looks like Horse Camp.