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I am looking for some overnight hikes that consistently have water and fishing on the rim. As the temps in the valley heat up I want to take my son up near Payson for some cooler temps and great backpacking. Any help would be appreciated!
Kevin

West Clear Creek, Canyon Creek, Tonto Creek, Haigler Creek, hmmm East Verde, Verde might be hot or too far, Alpine is not too far - some nice areas that haven't burned there still.

http://hikearizona.com/traildex.php?SHO ... N=1&ID=34&

@kevinharper2 Cabin Loop Trail is a nice one, not sure about fishing but it's well worth a trip!
Chevelon Canyon Lake has AMAZING fishing and it's very isolated, and has great hiking areas.

Here is a good Mogollon Rim backpack choice with fishing at Knoll Lake Babe Haught Trail #143 http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=815

If fishing is an option you two can do without, then I would recommend one of the popular backpack hike/loop options of the Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=797

HippyHaley wrote:@kevinharper2 Cabin Loop Trail is a nice one, not sure about fishing but it's well worth a trip!
Chevelon Canyon Lake has AMAZING fishing and it's very isolated, and has great hiking areas.

I agree with Chevelon Lake......amazing area for rainbow and brown trout.

Thanks for all the suggestions, that will probably just about do it for the summer if I hit all of them. I keep hearing about Chevlon, I may check that out first.

Chevelon Canyon: hiking upstream to Chevelon Canyon Lake from Chevelon Crossing, is interesting. There isn't much of a trail, it comes and goes, but it's not really a difficult bushwhack if you are used to bushwhacking. However, I think it is best during monsoon season. There are a lot of swimming holes during the wet season. Chevelon Canyon is 40 miles long. Some of it is a really thick and difficult bushwhack, or so I've heard--the part upstream from the lake.

does the cabin loop have water year around? mostly looking for seclusion with a reliable water source.

kevinharper2 wrote:does the cabin loop have water year around? mostly looking for seclusion with a reliable water source.

there are definitely a few year round water sources and you'll find guaranteed seclusion in some areas if you do your research. That area can be magic if you know where to leave the trail.

azbackpackr wrote:I think it is best during monsoon season. There are a lot of swimming holes during the wet season.

Completely agree! And the fish bite like crazy during a good rain!

So where do I leave the trail? I would also be interested in a meet up! I have never hiked the rim and don't' know the area very well.

Kevin

kevinharper2 wrote:So where do I leave the trail?

If you are referring to the Chevron Lake Hike Description.. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2172 , I must admit that I have not been there, but this hike description with its clear driving directions and recent triplogs seems to clearly confirm that this entire hiking area is pretty much "off trail" for hiking, ie- you park at the closed gate at the end of FR169B and then hike the closed, steep, rocky Jeep road down to the lake for views, fishing, kayaking, inter-tubing, and hiking around the rugged, rocky bank areas. I deduct that this lake is better for day fishing, car camping above the lake and not that popular for backpacking or setting up a backpack camp near the lake (due to it mostly very rocky/cliff area banks). Here is a HAZ TrailDEX Map of the lake area with a June'11 backpack trip route posted by someone who did a 9+ mile one way (shuttle) overnight backpack trip beginning way down Chevron Cyn and backpacking to the lake then exiting via vehicle shuttle.. http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=1794 . I still recommend my previous two backpack trip suggestions

If you haven't been up there and aren't that familiar with the area, I definitely recommend beginning with the cabin loop. There are several water sources along the way making it easy to plan on appropriate backpacking stops.

Chevelon is a beautiful lake, but hiking in the canyon is treacherous, and it is noticeably warmer than the cabin loop area due to being nearly 1500 feet lower in elevation. The cabin loop doesn't offer fishing or the swimming options that the lake does, but you won't need them as much!

The Chevelon canyon hike (http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=782) becomes treacherous the further south it gets and is largely exposed and sunny.

At the lake itself, there is a dispersed campground at the top of the road to the dam, and some flatter ground at the south (upstream) end of the lake (accessed via an easy trail at the end of FR180). http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=1795
Otherwise, the camping opportunities are best explored with a boat, which is a pain to get down there as there is no motorized access.

So go stick with the Cabin Loop.

Haigler Creek , Tonto creek near the fish hatchery , Kinder Crossing.

Thanks for the info, are bears an issue and do I need to hang my food or use my canister?

@kevinharper2

I wouldn't feel the need for a canister. They are a huge extra thing to carry. Hanging your food is always a good idea in my opinion.

Tough_Boots wrote: They are a huge extra thing to carry. Hanging your food is always a good idea in my opinion.

That's why I like Ursack. It's not heavy like a canister, but it requires no skill to hang or recover. It also melts away to nothing as you eat the food.

big_load wrote:That's why I like Ursack.

ooh... I'd never heard of those before. That looks awesome. I usually carry some cheap light rope and hang my food in my sleeping bag stuff sack.

But having an Ursack and leaving it full of food near where you are sleeping is just asking for trouble in bear country, I think. I would still hang it, to keep the possible bear from messing with it. In which case, if you don't happen to have the Ursack, your stuff sack will work just fine suspended from a tree. For the most part, Arizona bears are not all that bright. In the Sierra Nevada it's a different story, which is why the canister is required in many areas.

I love my Ursack- works to keep smaller critters out of your food as well.