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40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 11:04 am
by jason1975
Hey Guys and Gals..
The deal is that the family is moving out of AZ and back to the beach in 10 months and I haven't seen everything in this state that I wanted to. The highest location we are going is 345ft.
So I have 40 weekends to see everything I can and make it rad.. (Fishing with my son yesterday at Woods Canyon, on a boat, and watching Bald Eagles was epic.)
Can you give me your top must see hikes / trails / ghost towns / etc? I have a Rhino also, so some 4wd destinations are welcomed.
I plan on blogging about it. Hopefully someone looking forward to this awesome state can use it.
my hikes and rhino rides have mostly been the Lake Pleasant area
thx. -jason
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 11:10 am
by Jim
Try Humphrey in winter, since you have 40 weekends, you should be able to make that. Go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon if you haven't been, and if doing that off the summer season, do a non-tourist trail. Maybe try the Catalina SP to Mount Lemmon Hike. Try for Havasu Falls, and maybe do this:
viewtopic.php?t=6342 the event, or the trail another time if you can't make the event. Maybe do a less visited monument in Sedona, Morning Glory or Capitol Butte. I recommend some out of state stuff, too. Maybe hike Mount Whitney and then go to Death Valley this September or October. Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ maybe worth a look, and a Zion Trip is probably up there.
345 feet? Sounds like Florida. If correct, I'm not envious of that.
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 11:32 am
by chumley
A nice 4x4 trip that offers some unique history and a very rugged and remote part of the state:
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=830
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 1:33 pm
by jason1975
Jim_H wrote:Try Humphrey in winter, since you have 40 weekends, you should be able to make that. Go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon if you haven't been, and if doing that off the summer season, do a non-tourist trail. Maybe try the Catalina SP to Mount Lemmon Hike. Try for Havasu Falls, and maybe do this:
viewtopic.php?t=6342 the event, or the trail another time if you can't make the event. Maybe do a less visited monument in Sedona, Morning Glory or Capitol Butte. I recommend some out of state stuff, too. Maybe hike Mount Whitney and then go to Death Valley this September or October. Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ maybe worth a look, and a Zion Trip is probably up there.
345 feet? Sounds like Florida. If correct, I'm not envious of that.
Thank you!, Yes Florida. Gulf Coast. Hiking and Rhino riding is replaced with Stand Up Paddling and Offshore Fishing.

Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 1:34 pm
by jason1975
You and two other I know have recommended this. This is most def going on the calender.
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 5:16 pm
by azbackpackr
Boucher-Hermit Loop in Grand Canyon (spring or fall). Hutch's Pool in Sabino Canyon. Lanphier-Largo Loop in the Blue Primitive area (late spring). Mount Baldy Loop (summer). Raft the Grand Canyon. Raft the Salt River (early spring). Kofa NWR in winter.
If not for the Wallow Fire this summer, I'd have recommended Black River Mainstem, Fish Creek #60, Thompson Trail, Bear Wallow Wilderness, and Escudilla Wilderness, all in the White Mtns. But as you can see, I have put only Mount Baldy on the list. The Wallow fire burned over a lot of the White Mtns. including those. Some of them will remain closed for a long time.
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 6:41 pm
by PaleoRob
Navajo Nation. Most non-Navajos in the state never cross the Rez boundary.
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 6:54 pm
by big_load
Rob del Desierto wrote:Navajo Nation. Most non-Navajos in the state never cross the Rez boundary.
I agree. The Rez encompasses some incredible beauty, especially when you get off the main drags.
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 8:37 pm
by jason1975
If you guys want to head up to Navajo country, i'll be game to join!
Re: 40 Epic Weekends
Posted: Aug 22 2011 9:13 pm
by JimmyLyding
North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a must-see, but it's an awfully long way from the Valley for only a weekend.
Do something in Sedona. It's been overtaken by tourists and sprawl, but the red rocks are still very much worth seeing. I think Wilson Mountain is one of the best trails in the state.
I'd also recommend hitting one of the Sky Islands, especially the Pinalenos.
Camping at Roosevelt Lake would also be cool.
The Pinals hikes are good training for anything tough.
Aravaipa is awesome.
I'm actually making a list of what I'd do in Arizona if I could!