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I am looking for a short (1.5'ish mile) BP suitable for a 2 year old. Meaning no sheer cliffs, rushing water or other potentially life threatening features.

Any suggestions?

This would be a late April trip.

Hieroglyphic Trail always seemed to me like a nice, easy, family-picnic type hike. You'd need to watch the kid around the pool at the spring, but there's no rushing water.

The Desert Botanical Garden has the Butterfly exibit.I
think it's still going on.The kids love it and you can enjoy all the plants while your there.Have you taken them to the Deer Farm up by Williams.The weather is nice up there and the kids love feeding and petting the Deer.(Grand Canyon Deer Farm).


Tortoise Hiker

uh, I think by BP he means backpack. I can think of several, let us know what temps and how far to drive work for you. There are some easy 1-2 milers that join with the Highline trail, some cool stuff in West Clear creek, and closer to home yet is the area around Deer Creek. Also Browns Peak trail has a nice camp spot, but will likely be dry by now.

In response to jaybird's reply:

The drive in is a bit of a bear, but you may consider the first mile or two of THIS hike > http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=290- there are numerous camping spots, beautiful scenery and abundant firewood.

In response to mikeinFHAZ's reply:

So we're a couple of weeks out and I have been unable to finalize a location.

I was looking at West Clear Creek and Payson sounds good. You mentioned some nice short hikes off the highline? I was looking at u-bar and some other hike up on the rim.

Any additional thoughts?

it's going to be cold at night above or even just below the rim (Payson to east) late april

West Clear Creek would be a much better option and it's before it gets into crowded season too

cold at night by who's standards?

Jaybird, If you think mid to upper 30's is too cold for your children then dont travel to U-Bar or above the Rim. Id just like to mention (in my defense) that there are millions of people in Chicago, Flagstaff, Detroit, Seattle and so on and a great many of them are children. :roll:
someone who never leaves the heat of the Valley might think upper 30s is cold, even with a system of layers, even with a campfire, even with a shelter and sleeping bag. The difference between 3700 ft.(wcc) and 5100 (payson) feet is only about 8 degrees. I just went to Blue Ridge Reservoir +/-6700' and the nighttime LOW was 36. I would be hard pressed to believe that it could be colder than that BELOW the Rim. Just my $.02

SO to answer your question, just off the Highline you can start at See Canyon or Washington Park or the upper Tonto campground and see immediate and lush forests. The better part of the Highline trail's scenery is the easternmost 5 miles. There is water at See canyon and its only a 3/4 mile hike to some nice camp spots. Have fun up there!

mikeinFHAZ wrote:cold at night by who's standards?

I guess everybody has to decide that for themselves, just trying to help.

My 2c worth, is this: Good for you starting the child young! We lived off the grid in the middle of nowhere until my oldest was 5, then we moved to Arizona. Before AZ they ran around barefoot on the lava in Hawaii. We started dayhiking and car camping with them in AZ. They all BP'd by age 10 and they all still like backpacking, too!

I see a lot of parents on the trail with very reluctant, sometimes overweight, kids tagging along. The reluctance is often due to the fact that they didn't start them out young enough! So again, I applaud your taking the child now! Also you seem to have the sense to know that you can only go about a mile or two.

For summer backpacking short distance I'd recommend the South Fork Trail near where I live. Off 260 between Greer and Eagar. You can hike in 1/2 mile on up to 4 miles and there are campsites near a creek (not a very deep or fast creek except in early spring) all along the trail. Beautiful pines and aspens all along the way, also. A little poison ivy/oak in the beginning of the trail--you have to hike on past that.

Joe, just giving you a hard time

somebody's gotta :twisted:

Hey no skin off my back, too many knives back there holding it in place

Thanks for the great info.

I'll check the weekends weather and make the call between WCC and the Highline trail.

Jay

Somehow I posted this as it's own thread, anyway here is my .2

West Clear Creek is a nice one.

Kinder Crossing is real nice but very easy.

Horton Creek is also nice but easy