Advice for Backpacking trip with 2 11 year olds needed!

[detonk]

I really need a bit of advice here. Ive been looking at this website for days trying to figure out where to go with 2 11 years old boys that isn't going to make them hate Backpacking as this will be their first real adventures without mom around. My son and I live in Tucson and my buddy and his son live in Phoenix so we would like to go somewhere fairly easy for both of us to get too. I would like to find a short trip that we actually have to Backpack into to camp for the night, and Id really like the destination to be worth the trip for the kids. Now I don't know what "a short trip" is to an 11 year old which I think is the biggest part of my problem. My son has done 4 mile day hikes without much complaining but as with most kids he is a lot more dramatic when mom is around. Anyway, I'm at a loss here so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[joebartels]

Okay, when are you going?

[tkknc]

I would suggest Aravaipa.
The kids should love the water. It is also in between Phoenix and Tucson.

[detonk]

Okay, when are you going?

May 1st coming home on the 2nd

[Dirt4dinner]

I am stilll a big fan of Angel Basin from Rogers Trough. The Angel Basin ruins are stuper neat and it's very nice down in Angel Basin (allbeit uber cold in the winter!). It's about 8 or 9 miles round trip, but not to bad as far as elevation goes. Again, the ruins will be the deal closer for the kids. They can get up in the huge caves and there are still mud buildings intact in the caves (BIG CAVES!). The creek is nice down there, and you can always side trip to the Reavis Grave site if they are history buffs.

Check out the link, and check out the pictures of the ruins. You won't be disappointed.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=106

[PotomacWader]

No advice on location but, hiking with kids is different. My kids can go all day on difficult trails, but are good for about 300yards on a fire road. They get bored very quickly, if it is too easy. Difficult refers to trail conditions not elevation gain. Take frequent breaks to explore and make sure there is plenty to distract them. When my kids were a little younger breaking out a tennis ball would solve the boredom problem for an hour.

PW

[azbackpackr]

I haven't weighed in here yet, but all three of my kids (two boys and a girl) had done at least one multiday backpack in Grand Canyon by the time they were 12. And not on Corridor trails, either.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Have a scavanger hunt as you backpack in. Create a list of items commonly found in the area and allot points for each item. Horshoe, horney toad, shotgun shell, frog, tadpole, etc. The kids will love it. ;)