HikeArizona.COM

Hi,
I am new to this forum...

I am looking for a spot in Arizona, where I can camp in the wood : rein : very very close to water (lake/river/spring etc...)
I am planning on going there this coming weekend, and I prefer hiking (up to 1-2 miles) so it will be away from the road, and away from other campers.
I will bring my tent and want to light a small campfire.
If you have anything in mind, please give me some options.
I have heard of Fossil Springs, but I am trying to gather more ideas :idea:
Thank you so much for the patience, and happy weekend everybody!
:thanx:

Well, Fossil Springs won't get you away from other campers, so you might want to scratch that one.

The thing I love about threads like these is that you always know what certain people are going to suggest. I know who will talk up the White Mountains area, who will mention the southern Arizona sky islands, the handful of those who will talk about the rim, and the one who might mention the East Verde/Fossil Creek area Just an observation that's kinda funny to me. Gotta rep your 'hood, I suppose!

Anyway, I would suggest the Tramway trail on West Clear creek. You need a good vehicle with some clearance (more than a car, at least) but no 4wd to get back there to the TH. The hike down is only about a mile and then there's campsites scattered upstream and downstream, very close to the creek. We went on a weekend in May and didn't see anyone from late afternoon until late the next morning.

http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=433

The trail drops 750 feet or so, so it's a bit steep, but well worth it.

Just as a note, Fossil Creek is currently closed to public access due to the deconstruction of the Child's Power Plant.
See previous discussion: http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtop ... f=2&t=3497

Camping spots near water in Arizona ... AND away from other campers, will virtually always require a hike like you mention. But there are plenty of streams below the Rim that fit. Haigler is one that comes to mind. Not sure if you're up for a hike into Hells Gate however. There's a couple in the Sierra Anchas worth visiting (Reynolds and Workman). There's an abundance of water in the Whites, and there's the popular lakes on the Rim. The lakes are not secluded, but there are hikes in the canyons up or downstream that you can find what you're looking for.

Joel -- how'd I do? ;)

Covered all our bases!

the Sierra Ancha are good mountains to hike in, with little traffic. Most drive right past them to seek fortune on the Rim, along with about 130,396 other campers.

planning a trip the Labor Day weekend and not seeing other people might be a challenge... you should definately stay away from the Rim or anything near it. Try instead, off the beaten path, a nice stroll into or through the water. See the "perennial creeks" section of the Navigation link (top right corner of your screen)
Im being something of a hypocrite here because Ive never been to the area, but I think a trip to Ash Creek Pinalenos is right up your alley.
If you have time (and 3 days sounds like enough) you can check out a seldom seen area in S. AZ called Sycamore Pajarita. Its a lovely creek in a desert environ with over 120 types of birds... and jaguars possibly.
http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=254

te-wa wrote:... you should definately stay away from the Rim or anything near it.

Why?.. How can that many people be wrong?!!

I found the perfect short backpack trip that will meet all yaniv's needs up on the Mogollon Rim this past 7/28 and again this past week on 8/22.

Yaniv, check-out "my 7/28 triplog" under our HAZ- Babe Haught Trail.. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=815

Grasshopper wrote:Why?.. How can that many people be wrong?!!

he wants to be away from other campers

and with all due respect, 99% of the population are always wrong. :-({|=

te-wa wrote:he wants to be away from other campers

Squirrelock, this southeast end of Knoll Lake IS a remote backpack spot (ie- as remote as one can be at a nice Rim Lake at 7300' elev on Labor Day weekend). The only people will be those driving around on FR300 and a few who will take their electric motor boats to fish or camp remotely along the lake..

Nobody ever mentions the Reservations. Yeah, you gotta pay for permits, but there are myriad lakes and creeks on the White Mtn Apache Res that fit the description. Just get a map and pick one. You could even try hiking along the Salt River in the Salt River Canyon Wilderness. You could get permits from the San Carlos Apaches and go to Cibecue Canyon or Sawmill Canyon or any canyon along the Salt River. There is also the Blue River in the Blue Range out east. Many trails there and far from people for the most part. Even more remote (sort of) is the San Francisco River. If you have off-road capabilities, you could check out the BLM managed Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area east of Safford.

Azpride is right; everyone recommends the same places every time this topic comes up. There's nothing wrong with that I guess, but to me it shows that people are afraid to explore.

The Res is a magical land. Clifton Morenci area has some hidden jewels away from the massive mine.

Ive wanted to hike the Safford-Morenci trail for some time now. Not on res, but in the general area you speak of (i think)
matt if youre up for something like this, hit me. Letty, you always do some great stuff, sounds like something you would like too. Skurka talked well of the area. Alex (bigload) has also flown all the way out from NH to hike part of it.

im down with the deserts.. magical lands out there indeed. one of the coolest places ive been was with matt and josh down into cathedral wash to the colorado. someday im going to take the boynhisdog approach and just start walking across the sandstone... ;)

Hoffmaster wrote:Azpride is right; everyone recommends the same places every time this topic comes up. There's nothing wrong with that I guess, but to me it shows that people are afraid to explore.

I love to explore, and personally prefer the more remote spots or relatively unknown. But, I usually assume that when a newbie asks a general question like this, they are expecting a fairly general answer.

While it's nice to put the lesser known spots in the forum for people who search the topic later on, I assume that somebody from Phoenix who asks for suggestions on the Thursday before Labor Day weekend isn't looking for info on the Blue Range Primitive Area. Perhaps I shouldn't make that assumption, but that's the logic behind my response.

..and I wonder when we take the time to offer suggestions to some, why we "sometimes" never hear back from them. It seems to me like a very small effort to just post a simple acknowledgement back via a triplog or their original forum post.

Grasshopper wrote:..and I wonder when we take the time to offer suggestions to some, why we "sometimes" never hear back from them. It seems to me like a very small effort to just post a simple acknowledgement back via a triplog or their original forum post.

Agreed.

And I wasn't implying anything by my comment, I just thought it was kinda funny is all.

Grasshopper wrote:..and I wonder when we take the time to offer suggestions to some, why we "sometimes" never hear back from them. It seems to me like a very small effort to just post a simple acknowledgement back via a triplog or their original forum post.

Please be careful fellow HAZ users in regards to what you ask for! Remember "FormerTexan" and his request of "Hiking partner for the July 4th weekend". We did not hear from him again so I posted "Does anyone know if Bill made it back?" The thread then went on and on, around and beyond belief! Please don't do that to us again!

SuperstitionGuy wrote:

Grasshopper wrote:..and I wonder when we take the time to offer suggestions to some, why we "sometimes" never hear back from them. It seems to me like a very small effort to just post a simple acknowledgement back via a triplog or their original forum post.

Please be careful fellow HAZ users in regards to what you ask for! Remember "FormerTexan" and his request of "Hiking partner for the July 4th weekend". We did not hear from him again so I posted "Does anyone know if Bill made it back?" The thread then went on and on, around and beyond belief! Please don't do that to us again!

Not that anyone should care either way...but, for the record, that outrageous BRAVO SIERRA is exactly why you'll probably never see me in the forums again...

Jeff

te-wa wrote:Ive wanted to hike the Safford-Morenci trail for some time now. Not on res, but in the general area you speak of (i think)
matt if youre up for something like this, hit me. Letty, you always do some great stuff, sounds like something you would like too. Skurka talked well of the area. Alex (bigload) has also flown all the way out from NH to hike part of it.

And it was well worth it. There's a nice baby slot canyon approaching Bonita Creek and fabulous geology on the opposite side. I did it as an out-and-back, and had trouble finding the intended route through that crossing both ways. The unintended route worked well enough, but I picked up a few scratches.