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Due to an unfortunate hot tub accident I am temporarily one-handed. I gravitate toward more scrambly peaks and canyons, off-trail hikes, and multi-day trips, but determined yesterday that e.g. the west ridge of Cat Mountain is not appropriate for my current conditions. And camping at Catalina SP last night was a struggle.

I've done a lot of the well-known hikes in the western Supes, Catalinas, Tucson mountains, Saguaro NP both sides, Madera Canyon/Wrightson area, Kofa, Organ Pipe, and Sedona. I'm having trouble using Traildex to find new hikes that are 1) interesting 2) not scrambly 3) not snowy and 4) accessible with my car. I was hoping to get to the eastern Supes and/or Sierra Anchas but not sure my car is up for it.

Could anyone suggest dayhikes or locations that I would be able to access with a CR-V (moderate clearance, AWD, good but not offroad tires)?
I'm in Tucson area now but willing to drive a few hours in any direction.
TIA!

Driver skill plays a good deal into this assessment, which make internet level diagnosis difficult. Many trailheads are borderline for your vehicle (require at least moderate off road driving skills).

In general most of the Eastern Supes trailheads require a more rugged vehicle than a sedan. Woodbury TH and Tule TH are likely within the capabilities of your vehicle. Rogers Trough and Reavis North are borderline. Most others are likely not.

In the Sierra Anchas some of the trailheads are right off highway 288 (Young highway) and are accessible by any vehicle. I would suggest those at first. I would think that anything along Cherry Creek road would be out due to high water crossing in springtime, anything requiring driving up to Aztec Peak for THs would be out due to road closure. Reynolds TH and Cienega Springs TH seems borderline. Billy Lawrence outside vehicle capabilities. If you park below workman falls, you can hike up the rest of the road to Aztec Peak trailheads which adds a few miles.

At the bottom of hike descriptions is a driving section, you probably want to note that the "FR/Gravel...-Car OK" should be fine whereas the "high clearance possible when dry" requires the driver of a non-4x4 moderate clearance vehicle such as yours to exercise driving skills and judgment as to whether you can make it. The driver, not the vehicle is generally what determines whether a CRV can make it to those trailheads or not. There is no shame in turning around rather than getting stuck and requiring an expensive tow. Or consider parking when you get close to the trailhead and hike the last few miles (assuming there is a reasonable place to pull off to the side). Anything rougher rated like "Strictly 4x4" stay away with your vehicle.

As far as hikes go, if you stick to the numbered trails, rather than off trail, I would think that is what you are looking for?

nonot wrote:n general most of the Eastern Supes trailheads require a more rugged vehicle than a sedan. Woodbury TH and Tule TH are likely within the capabilities of your vehicle. Rogers Trough and Reavis North are borderline. Most others are likely not.

Has anything changed in the last couple years to make Miles TH access worse? I've never used anything but a rental vehicle to start from there.

@big_load

Don't know. I haven't been to that TH specifically since maybe 4-5 years ago? My recollection is that most of the road is is a bit rough but not too rocky, though it is a bit butt-clenchy in the exposed sections along the canyon rim. However the mud in the last 1-2 miles was horrible and I would not advise it in a wet spring to anyone without 4WD.

nonot wrote: ↑Feb 23 2024 1:59 pm @big_load

Don't know. I haven't been to that TH specifically since maybe 4-5 years ago? My recollection is that most of the road is is a bit rough but not too rocky, though it is a bit butt-clenchy in the exposed sections along the canyon rim. However the mud in the last 1-2 miles was horrible and I would not advise it in a wet spring to anyone without 4WD.

Yeah, I don't mind the exposed parts, but sections can be muddy in unfavorable conditions.

I was out at Miles TH late in the fall and it's actually not too bad; it was completely dry at that time, though. Fairly rocky but more like rounded rocks vs pokey ones if that makes sense. I don't see a CR-V having an issue there (again, under dry conditions which isn't the case right now probably?)

Tule TH would be the easiest (4 miles in). The road through Pinto Valley Mine was dry last week but no need to go all the way to Miles Ranch when you can hike from the Haunted Canyon TH before the iron bridge (7 miles in). Woodbury TH might be okay but is 11 miles in.

Barnhardt and Deer Creek trailheads are easy to drive to and provide access to a good chunk of the Mazatzals. At the moment there is still some snow in the favored spots at higher elevations, but how that goes in the weeks ahead is debatable. Other sky islands east of Tucson have reasonable access points and snow will depend on elevation. Ash Creek/Bassett Peak and Deer Creek come to mind in the Galiuros. I don't remember the road conditions to the Dragoons, but the lower trailheads in the Huachucas are generally in good condition (I think the road up the hill to Reef and Townsite is closed in winter). And of course getting into the Chiricahuas via Cave Creek is paved and easy. Again, encountering snow will depend on elevation.

Thank you so much everybody for these suggestions. I really appreciate it. I did try using the road type filter but wasn't sure of the difference between "Car ok" and "Dry ok". I've gotten pretty good at maneuvering the CR-V on rough roads but I cracked the rear diff on a rock hidden in tall grass last year and I guess I'm feeling a little gunshy after that repair bill. I will look into hikes from those closer in eastern supes THs. Chumley, i am really interested in spending more time in the high country east and SE of Tucson and was just looking at Ash Creek/Bassett Peak so thanks for mentioning that one. I haven't found any recent reports and I presume there is snow up high now so I'll put those spots on my list for when I can hold two trekking poles again.

The Galiuros are very much worth exploring.

@rubywrangler
The Chiricahua National Monument has a lot of good trails and is not far from Tucson. Ft Bowie is nearby also if you like historical sites although the hike is fairly short.

BTW, a CRV with AWD is fairly capable. I’ve used one to access Reavis both North and South and it makes short work of the northern approach to Quartz Peak. Quartz peak from the South is another matter.