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Okay, my wife, our friend, and myself, are looking for a two-to-four day backpacking trip, total distance between 10-25 miles, somewhere warm-ish. My wife is thinking either the Petrified Forest, or perhaps the Supes. I'm already planning a March or April trip to the PeFo, and while I'm not opposed to visiting there twice close together, I'm also looking at other options. So, good folks of this site, if you guys had 3-4 days to go backpacking someplace below The Rim, where would it be, and why?

just do a walk-up permit for GC. anything they have open is good in March. Plus, its close to Page.

I'd rather not sit around for two days hoping to get a permit and then only have a couple days to hike and then drive back. Ely's cousin is flying out to do some backpacking with us, and we'd like to have some firm plans.

Trans Supes hike is scheduled for April, dunno if you're interested. It may not be "Trans" this time though.

Other areas that should be warmer by then would probably be somewhere below 4000 feet, hmm. How about Paria Canyon, that's close to you, but not "Below the rim", it's more like 35 miles though but easy hiking. Anywhere in the Supes should be nice Mar-April and you could adjust how far east you go depending on the weather forecast to get higher if its hotter or lower if its colder. A Verde River loop near Fossil Creek might be difficult, but should be the right elevation.

If you went further, I'm sure that there would be some good loops near Tucson, I've been eyeing Chiricahua and the Sabino Canyon areas, but I don't know much about them.

I think due to time limits we won't be able to do a serious backpack near Tucson. It takes between 5-6 hours to get down there, just to the edge of town. What are some good options in the Supes; I've never set a foot in them before.

A quick note as I am heading off to work. Consider the eastern end of the Sups. Read all the previous posts and triplogs about Reavis, Circlestone, Mound Mtn, Rogers Canyon, Rough Canyon, Fish Creek etc. I will pm you tomorrow morning about ranching and indian ruins in the area as well.

EASTERN: A trip from Rogers Trough to Reavis Ranch, Reavis Ranch to Roger's Canyon Ruins and back out the 3rd day might make for a nice easy trip, probably a total of 8+8+4=20 miles.

WESTERN: From Peralta Trailhead: Dutchman to Labarge spring, from there to Aylor's Camp and out Peralta would be another nice and easy loop. That's maybe 5+6+6=17 miles

EASTERN: Maybe a loop involving Reavis Gap, Reavis 109, Fireline, and the Campaign?

EASTERN: Haunted Canyon would be nice with Tony's Cabin and shouldn't be too difficult.

There are more difficult loops too and lots of them, but since you'll have your wives along, I don't know how well they'd take to them.

Here's one example: Peter's Canyon "Trail" to Squaw Canyon "Trail", down through Labarge Canyon and out over "Labarge View" off Boulder Canyon to Geronimo Ravine "Trail"