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My family and I are going backpacking in late may. We were thinking of going to Dane Canyon and doing the loop trail. We will be there for 3 days and 2 nights. We love backpacking and have been across the country to Olympic national park so we aren't amateurs. My parents do have concerns though. Will there be water to filter, and is this place truly a beautiful spot or does it just have scruffy pine trees?

are you talking about Dane Canyon on the U-Bar Trail? If so, they'll be water for sure in Barbershop Canyon and at Dane Spring by the old cabin above the canyon. Most likely they'll be water in Dane Canyon as well. Dane Canyon is beautiful and on my list for an overnight this spring, too. I recommend a GPS for this one cuz the route is really weird and crossing the forest roads always causes confusion. The Barbershop Trail if you're doing the full loop is also apparently a route finding mess but I haven't done that section yet.

JakeKelley wrote:is this place truly a beautiful spot..

My and our picsets tell the beautiful story.. enjoy!
Also, Dane Canyon will have treatable and/or filterable water for your late May backpack trip.. there is perennial water flow here all summer as well.

Beauty is obviously objective. There's lots of pine trees up there. I know people who post on this site about the boredom of the scenery and endless stand of Ponderosa. But when you dip into some of the canyons there's a whole lot more to experience. But it definitely depends on what you're used to and what you want to see. Check out the photosets from some of the Dane hikes, including Barbershop, and U-bar trails in the area to get a feel for it.

As stated, water will not be a problem, but depending on your camping/cooking plans, keep in mind that it's possible that there will be fire restrictions implemented by that time. I would expect them to begin before Memorial Day weekend, but there's no way to know for sure until the FS issues the order, typically 3-5 days ahead of time.

Thanks. I showed my family the picsets and they think the area looks drop dead gorgeous. They love the area. Are there any fish in the spring by the way? If so we will bring our rods and try get some trout.

I don't think you will find fish big enough to catch or eat. I thought I remembered seeings some fingerlings...could have been big tadpoles...

How is the forest road that we will be driving in on. Is it well kept or rocky and covered in bumps. Also is this hike long enough for 2 1/2 days backpacking?

JakeKelley wrote:How is the forest road that we will be driving in on. Is it well kept or rocky and covered in bumps. Also is this hike long enough for 2 1/2 days backpacking?

Re: Dane Canyon Loop http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2158

A couple of things-
..what does a 2.5 day backpack really mean?: Arrive at TH Start mid-day and spend two nights and 2 days hiking before departure or something else?
..Dane Canyon is a great choice but "off trail" with needed route finding ability and would be excellent for one overnight stay, then exit out the next day to hike on some of the other popular "Cabin Loop Trails" http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=797
..This Dane Cyn Hike Description is written up for access via the Rim Road FR300 which is accessible by "high clearance 2WD vehicle when dry"; Here is the posted driving GPS track from FR300/FR321 to the TH Park/Start location up FR321A http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=7106
..What type of navigation tools (map and compass, maps only, GPS unit with loaded tracks and/or waypoints, or ??) do you and your family know/use when hiking and backpacking? (this Cabin Loop area can sometimes be very confusing to navigate for a first time visitor and you are I think first time here? with also an interest in route finding off trail down into and then also needing to route find out of Dane Canyon).

We will find you and your family the best scenario for 2.5 days, but first just a little more info from you. ;)

Sorry I meant 4 days backpacking that trail. And we have a topo map and compass. Also my parents are wondering whether instead of backpacking the whole ways we would just hike in on the first day then set up a basecamp, and then exploring the canyon the other days. My sister says backpacking sounds more fun to her and I just love the woods so I don't care which ever one we do. What do you think?

JakeKelley wrote:Sorry I meant 4 days backpacking that trail. And we have a topo map and compass. Also my parents are wondering whether instead of backpacking the whole ways we would just hike in on the first day then set up a basecamp, and then exploring the canyon the other days.

I've been thinking about your 4 day outing and desire to spend some time in the very pleasant "off trail" Dane Canyon area on a first time visit to our Mogollon Rim- Cabin Loop Area . Here are my thoughts for a plan that should work for you and your family (others should contribute their thoughts as well)-

Day 1- Arrive at the Dane Canyon Loop Hike Description TH Parking on or before mid-day; Backpack down from TH Parking to connect with the U-Bar TR28 at perennial Dane Spring and hike #28 north to the easy to miss cairned off-trail location (see pic set 6/27/09 captions.. http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=8385 and ref this 6/20/10 GPS track with info notes.. http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=9193 ). Take the defined Elk "use trail" down to the bottom of Dane Canyon/Creek. Backpack south-UP Dane Canyon between ~1 and ~2 miles and set-up your 1st night camp at a primitive site you guys like.
Day 2- Plan to day hike/explore upper Dane Canyon by hiking south to the canyon intersection with Barbershop TR91 (per this 6/20/10 GPS Track.. http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=9193 and 6/20/10 pic set.. http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=11648 ). After reaching the Barbershop TR intersection (at a wooden sign stating "Dane Canyon"), I suggest you reverse your route and return back to your campsite by hiking north-back down Dane Canyon.
Day 3- Backpack north-down Dane Canyon to exit canyon where you came in on Day 1 and continue south on U-Bar TR28 past Dane Spring to the south end of the U-Bar TR28 at its intersection with Barbershop TR91 (ref this GPS track.. http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=1201 ). At this 28/91 intersection, continue on #91 for ~1 mile to end at historic Buck Spring Cabin area and perennial Buck Spring per this GPS reference track.. http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=1197 . Set up your campsite somewhere in this area at Buck Spring Cabin with time to day hike and explore this area.
Day 4- Exit Buck Spring Cabin area by reversing your backpack route for Day 3..back to your TH Parking and to home.

Sounds great! We will definitely do that! Thanks Grasshopper. Finally we will be taking our dogs up there, are we allowed to take them off their leash?

JakeKelley wrote:we will be taking our dogs up there, are we allowed to take them off their leash?

Technically you are not ever allowed to take your dogs off leash on Forest Service lands ... however, if you have control of your dogs, my opinion is that this is not an area where you have to be concerned. Just remember that if you encounter other people (and/or their dogs) along your hike, it's good to have a leash handy. Be a responsible dog-owner and be considerate of other people you may encounter!

(I have a yellow lab and he has spent days in that area without ever having a leash on.)

@JakeKelley
Excellent Jake! Also, here are some of the reasons we want you and family to spend your 3rd backpack afternoon and night at the "Buck Spring Cabin and Lower Buck Spring Canyon" area. Check out some of these pic sets of this area--> http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15445 ;)

We much look forward to your pic set and triplog upon your return.

Also the responsible Ranger District Office for this Mogollon Rim- Cabin Loop Area:
Mogollon Rim Ranger District
8738 Ranger Rd.
Happy Jack, AZ 86024
(928) 477-2255

Let us know if you need any further clarifications.

Thanks I will definetly post lots of picsets. Cant wait to go!

Well last Thursday at 8 p.m. my sister and mom were reviewing our Dane Canyon backpacking trip and they said it would be to hard since you follow an elk trail down into the canyon. And since my dad (a huge wilderness expert) wasn't coming they said we would probably get lost. So they decided we would go to sycamore canyon wilderness. When we got there first day we hiked 2 miles in. Next day we hiked 5 more miles to try and reach the creek. But when we get to the riverbed it was bone dry! :bdh: That's what I wanted to do to my sister who chose that spot! So we needed to leave a day early but since there was no creek we barely had any water left. The sun blazed overhead at 90 degrees and we almost didn't make it back to the car! From now on I will sick to backpacking and camping with my dad.

@JakeKelley
Not to worry.. It is still going to be there when the time is right for you and your family. The elk trail down to the bottom is not difficult and only about 225ft downhill. The difficulty could be finding the U-Bar off trail route down. The take off point has been cairned, but sometime people knock down the cairns. I will be going up to this area with a few friends to car camp and dayhike this Dane Cyn and Barbershop Cyn area for a full week, probably this coming monsoon period in July, so I will contact you via PM after I have the dates set. Maybe you and your family would like to join us for a long day trip up to day hike and/or backpack some of this Dane Cyn area which I will surely have as part of my day hike plans. Thanks for your update!

Thanks Grasshopper! Hopefully I can go to Dane Canyon this summer! Pm me about those dates!