4-day/night backpacking trip - recommendations?

[rdahlo]

Greetings fellow hikers!

Two experienced Minnesota backpackers seeking recommendations on 4-day hike in Arizona September 20-24 (arriving in Phoenix Saturday AM, departing Wednesday PM). 30-40 miles. Been looking at Tonto, Superstition, Sycamore, and Red Rock, but open to all suggestions.

Must-have:
- Within 3-hour driving distance from Phoenix
- Accessible Trailhead (rental car - no extreme off-roading)
- Beautiful Arizona scenery

Nice-to-have:
- Loop hike
- Water sources

Don’t-want:
- Backcountry Permit lottery

Reward: will buy you a drink at establishment near trailhead

All suggestions greatly appreciated - Thank you!!

[nonot]

September will be cooking in many of the spots you list. Superstitions are straight out, unless you get a cool spell and want to do Reavis North. I would recommend the east cabin loop trail on the Mogollon Rim, with a figure 8 using Houston Bros Trail, Barbershop canyon, and Dane Canyon.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder=797

http://hikearizona.com/decoder=15762

[SuperstitionGuy]

Fly to Salt Lake City, Utah and backpack the Unitas from one of the many trail heads off of Mirror Lake Highway as Arizona is still to hot for Minnesotan's in September. I am formally from Granite Falls, Minnesota. Just sayin.....

[azbackpackr]

Fly to Salt Lake City, Utah and backpack the Unitas from one of the many trail heads off of Mirror Lake Highway as Arizona is still too hot for Minnesotans in September. I am formerly from Granite Falls, Minnesota. Just sayin'.....

Yes, or that Cabin Loop sounds good. But it may not be what they are picturing in their minds as far as what Arizona is like, miles of Ponderosa Pine forest. I'm wondering why they chose September?

[rdahlo]

Thank you all, I appreciate the suggested hikes!

Realizing summer temperatures in September may be an issues; may higher altitude provide better options? Seems like higher altitude hikes may also offer better scenery? Anything available around Kaibab National Forest? (Realize this may require a longer drive from Phoenix)

Again, thanks. I greatly appreciate the advice and suggestions.

[chumley]

But it may not be what they are picturing in their minds as far as what Arizona is like, miles of Ponderosa Pine forest.

I'm not sure if you've ever actually hiked any of the Cabin Loop?

There is soooooooo much more than what you describe. Beautiful meadows, steep rocky canyons, and natural springs feeding idyllic streams. Not to mention the Mogollon Rim itself, which offers some of the most stunning views in the state. And while you will certainly see ponderosa, there are also nice groves of maple, oak and aspen that are must-see autumn highlights.

To the OP, I would recommend the Cabin Loop over anything on the Kaibab. The problem with Arizona's higher elevations is that there aren't that many places where there are backpacking opportunities. Most are just sky islands ... day trips or single overnights to the higher elevations. And the lower elevation locations will still be quite warm in September.

Another option is eastern Arizona's White Mountains, but there was a big fire there a couple of summers ago, and I'm not sure what condition some of the best backpacking routes are in currently.

[FOTG]

@rdahlo
I would not allow warm temperatures to dissuade your trip, yes it will be warm, I mean hot..lol... but as long as you know where water is, take the precautions, come down in relatively good shape I don't think you will have too many issues..I have done an annual hike in the Supes every labor day weekend for a few years now with casual hikers and they have generally all did ok...start early, finish early near shade and water, set up a base camp somewhere and just do light day hikes etc..besides, last few times I went back to Michigan the humidity and unusually hot summers felt worse than AZ anyways, so you guys might appreciate a little "dry" heat..

remember people from AZ drive 35 on the highway when it sprinkles and hide indoors during the summer, very wimpy about their weather..lol..and intolerant to weather apparently, unless its 75 and sunny in the winter.. ;) (please don't send me hate mail native zonians just being tongue and cheek ;) )

Me I hike Superstitions all summer and with dogs and have not found it to be that bad...when the time nears, I could give you a few pointers for maybe an Eastern Supes trip, a little cooler weather, tad more running water a few cool sites for mid westerners.. Reavis Ranch, Circle Stone, Rogers Canyon, Campaign Creek...etc...but those higher elevations would be awesome as well, although, Chumley may have a point about 4 day trip options being limited, cant really comment on that personally...

[azbackpackr]

Cabin loop sounds better to me.

[Tough_Boots]

Don't do what friendofthundergod says

[chumley]

@Tough_Boots

[nonot]

There are many backpacking options higher in elevation. If you go to traildex, and punch in which trails are good for September, you can find lots of trails to give you an idea of what is popular that time of year. Simply look at the connecting ones and try to put together a loop.

[FOTG]

Hey I was just throwing that out there...I put in a vote for higher elevations..

but those higher elevations would be awesome as well

..lol..

I just don't have any knowledge to share about back packing options, so now the group from Wisconsin can go on a hike and stare at Pine Trees for four days, because you never see those in the Midwest ...

I don't hide from superficial things like hot weather, I just thought they might appreciate seeing a few cacti, and a landscape more indicative to AZ ;)

[SuperstitionGuy]

Unfortunately our friends from places like Minnesota and Wisconsin are under the impression that saguaros and barrel cactus's have water spigots at their base and that summer temperatures here only peak above 100 degrees a few hours a day. As a former member of SSAR I have carried or assisted quite a few of our dehydrated and or injured snowbird friends off the trails, mountains and deserts of Arizona.

Encourage them to come, yes, but do not recommend what may make them another summer statistic of not what to do in the heat of an Arizona summer.

If they want to see the desert plants and cactus recommend Boyce Thompson Arboretum for example. One large walking loop at 1 or 2 PM in the afternoon will teach them what they need to know about summer hiking in Arizona!

[FOTG]

@SuperstitionGuy
Maybe you underestimate them ;)

Remember they said

Two experienced Minnesota backpackers

I don't know think they qualify as the "snow birds" you rescued...nor do I think they would appreciate being grouped in the 60 and up category of Northerners who flock to AZ every winter, they are coming to backpack not play cribbage, clog up the expressways and live in a trailer park in Apache Junction... ;)

As a former member of SSAR I have carried or assisted quite a few of our dehydrated and or injured snowbird friends off the trails

[SuperstitionGuy]

@friendofThundergod
Not all were seniors and during the Christmas break the seniors often fly in their grandchildren who also go hiking with them. There is nothing worse than to see a teenager so dehydrated that they for the rest of their life have severe kidney problems.

[FOTG]

@SuperstitionGuy
Oh I agree....I just tend to encourage people to do what they think they can handle as long as they stay safe..

I personally fell in love with Supes on first hike, and I am always eager to share...but yes everyone is right to caution about the high temps, it can get intense out there...and I am sure they cant go wrong with a higher elevation loop..

[nonot]

When folks from out of state ask about hiking, it is generally better to guide them towards less strenuous hikes. Experienced Minnesota backpackers will likely be able to handle more miles, but not necessarily more heat. Arizona has two things going for it that most will not be used to: the low humidity, and the outright rockiness of the trails. Hiking in hot weather takes some time to condition and to acclimate to doing that. I still can't handle much above a high of 90 degrees, and have close calls with heat exhaustion a few times at those temperatures. The rocky nature will take time for you ankles to build up to it, even more so when backpacking because of the extra weight. Advising people you have never met, and have little idea of their experience, to hike where the highs will be 100 and the distance between water source is long is reckless. Yes, some can handle it. But not all, and perhaps not even half. If they said they had military training in Afghanistan or Iraq, I'll assume they have become more heat tolerant. Until that point, I'd recommend hikes where it stays below 85. Even then, I'll warn them that it may be more toasty than they are used to.

The Supes are indeed great to explore, but I'd recommend October-November for the higher elevations and Dec-March for the lower elevations. Even then, it has hit 90 degrees mid-November near Reavis, so nothing is guaranteed.

[nonot]

If our friends from Minnesota want to come and experience the beauty of the Sonoran desert, such as the saguaros and desert life, then perhaps they would consider shifting their trip a few months, as backpacking is quite popular in the Sonoran desert in the winter.

[outdoor_lover]

Experienced Minnesota backpackers will likely be able to handle more miles,

And it also depends on where they've been Backpacking...Compared to most of the West, including the Dakotas, most of Minnesota is pretty flat...I'll never forget the first time I saw a Downhill Ski Place there.... Where I lived and most of the Central and Southern part of the state is "rolling hills" at best...You would have to backpack 2 days just to get the AEG that a lot of people can get here in 2 hours....So to me, Backpack distance can be relative, depending on where you've been before....Also, Minnesota does not have much elevation...Saint Paul is lower than Phoenix, so they need to take that into account as well....I agree with nonot on all of his points...I would never recommend anything under 6000 feet to anyone in September that isn't "from" here....

[te_wa]

i could personally spend 3 days runnin' around at Catalina. combine some trails, loops, and take it easy with 6-8 mile days, then finish your hike at Dragoon or Borderlands brewing.