FR25 or FR201 to get to Thicket Spring?

[JohnDoe]

I'm going to use a big 4x4 Suburban to try and get to the Thicket Spring/Cornucopia loop. Should I use the northern Peeley trail head or go south for Mormon Grove?

[JimmyLyding]

Mormon Grove is probably better right now. FR 201 ranges from being OK for a passenger sedan to requiring a high-clearance 4x4 depending upon the year and time of year. FR 201 is probably in pretty bad shape considering all of the weather our fine state has seen over the last few weeks.

You could hike in all the way from the old 87, but a 4x4 Suburban should at least be able to make it to Mormon Grove.
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=7341
Heck, any decent 4x4 should have no problem getting to Peeley (there might be a lot of snow), but why cheat yourself?

[JimmyLyding]

BTW, how do you like your Suburban? I had one when I was in high school, and I'm loving the idea of getting another one. I want a vehicle that I can sleep in (I'm 6'4" tall), but I don't want one that will allow me to go crazy at Costco. Maybe.

[writelots]

We were up at the Mt. Peeley TH last month and there were several large downed trees on the road above the snow line. (We parked down further and walked up the road). I don't know if they've been moved, but there was a lot of snow and mud as well.

[Grasshopper]

In response to JohnDoe:
You didn't say when you plan to go, but for reasons mentioned, FR201 to the Peeley TH is probably not a good route to drive this March'10 (due to serious snow/mud/possible downed trees) even with a Suburban 4WD. If you drive to the Mormon Grove TH at the end of FR25, probably a safer drive for you, but a longer hike to the start of the Thicket Springs TR (off the Sheep Creek TR) to start your loop. If I planned to now do this loop, I would drive my Suburban to the intersection of FR25/FR25A and park it there, then start hiking on FR25A (see Jim's referenced GPS Route.. http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=7341 ). For this March it would be a more scenic hiking route that follows the wet, flowing creek bed past old mining history/adits to the end (past the old blue bus-van) where the south end of the Cornucopia Trail begins per Jim's GPS Route. If you can arrange it, best to hike this FR25A route during the week with guaranteed less off-road modified 4x4 traffic.

[JohnDoe]

Wow, thanks for all the quick responses! I'm going up there next week and will most likely take a hike up the 25A based on your recommendations. I'll make sure to report back with plenty of pictures and road conditions.

A couple of quick questions though. Is there sufficient room at the 25/25A junction to turn a Suburban around? Also If I do go up to the Mormon Grove trail-head, 2 of the maps I'm looking at conflict. The map at the bottom of this page http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=6 seems to point to there being a road that goes right up to the Sheep trail/Thicket Spring junction, however a topo I was looking at has a trail called the #88 Saddle Mountain going from Mormon Grove to the Sheep/Thicket junction. Which one is "correct"?

Thanks again for the help!

[JohnDoe]

James, the Suburban is technically my dad's truck but I've spent so much time driving it lately I feel like it's mine. For hiking it's a great truck since both me and my dad (whose close to 6 foot and over 200lbs) could both sleep in the back if we got stranded somewhere without a tent.

For reference it's a 2003 or 2004 and is incredibly comfortable both on and off-road. Personally I would pick up a '91 or older model since they are: cheap, have leaf sprung solid axles front and rear, and are even more capable off road. Overall the only drawback to any Suburban is that the utterly titanic size can get you into trouble on tight winding trails or in heavily wooded areas.

[joebartels]

The map at the bottom of this page http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=6 seems to point to there being a road that goes right up to the Sheep trail/Thicket Spring junction

I'm sure somebody here knows the correct answer.

Without having been there I'd assume with that road being on the green part (wilderness) that you can not drive it. I'm unsure what may have changed since 2001 too.

[Grasshopper]

A couple of quick questions though. Is there sufficient room at the 25/25A junction to turn a Suburban around?

Yes, their is adequate room for parking and turn around for your Suburban at/very close to the intersection of FR25/25A (right side of road).. don't try and drive your dad's rig up FR25A..

The map at the bottom of this page http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=6 seems to point to there being a road that goes right up to the Sheep trail/Thicket Spring junction, however a topo I was looking at has a trail called the #88 Saddle Mountain going from Mormon Grove to the Sheep/Thicket junction. Which one is "correct"?

At the end of FR25 at the Mormon Grove TH/Parking is a corral: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=93979 where the Mazatzal Wilderness and the Saddle Mtn Trail#91(not #88) begins. You cannot drive past this point... To hike from this Mormon Grove TH to the Thicket Springs TR#95 intersection, you have to first hike on the Saddle Mtn Tr#91 to the Sheep Creek Tr#88, then on the #88 to its intersection with the Thicket Springs Tr#95.. use this Hike Desc to get to the #95: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=814 I still suggest you drive to FR25/FR25A, park, and start hiking up FR25A to connect with Cornucopia/Thicket Spring Loop ;)

[JohnDoe]

Thanks for clearing up the map issue. Now that I look at it it's easy to see that what's labeled as a road on one of the maps is called Saddle Mountain Trail on another.

Maybe once I buy myself a jeep I'll have to take a drive down the 25a, but puncturing the Suburban's oil pan doesn't sound like much fun.

[Grasshopper]

Wow, thanks for all the quick responses! I'm going up there next week and will most likely take a hike up the 25A based on your recommendations. I'll make sure to report back with plenty of pictures and road conditions.

Sorry if I missed your triplog, pics, and latest road conditions for this one that we advised you on. I was just curious how you decided to drive in and where you decided to hike and if you enjoyed this area? :thanx:

[JohnDoe]

Unfortunately I can't comment on the road conditions.

Long story short, I was trying to use a 25 year old map that my dad had in the truck, which made navigation difficult to say the least. After some discussion my friend and I decided to park at the F - Cross trailhead and then took the Little Saddle Mountain Trail to the Saddle Mountain Trail. All in all it was a nice out and back hike with plenty of flowing water along the way.

[JimmyLyding]

Did some research. It doesn't look like the wilderness area is north of FR 201 in that area (but does exist west of the Cornucopia Mine area), so one could *technically* drive all the way up to FR 201. However, an ATV would have a very difficult time getting much beyond Cornucopia Mine.
As for maps, this area is is one of those places where old USGS topo maps (and anything based on them) could be very misleading due to the re-alignment of the Beeline Hwy/SR 87.