HikeArizona.COM

Any news on what kind of cell phone coverage (or lack of) I might expect at Canelo Pass northern trailhead?

Much thanks!

I can't speak from personal experience at that location but every carrier has a coverage map on their home page. I've found Verizon's map to be pretty accurate. I generally get better signal than the map shows (or some signal where it shows it doesn't have signal at all). Verizon is showing Canelo Pass to be right on the edge of a coverage area. My experience would be that you can only get service at high points there, and even then an actual phone call would be a challenge, texts would be easier. And I tend to get better results at night than during daylight.

I didn't look up the maps for other carriers, which may be better or worse.

I didn't even think of looking at my carrier's coverage map! Thanks!

I'm not really *depending* on coverage, just kinda...hoping. :-)

Thanks for the tip that texting at night might be more successful. Wouldn't have thought of that, either!

I don't know about southern AZ but Verizon has the best coverage in N. AZ. Some carriers completely fail, in fact, where Verizon will be strong. So while I don't particularly care for the company's sales tactics, contracts, high prices, etc., have to say I stick with them for that one reason.

Is Canelo Pass in Northern Arizona?

Canelo Pass is in southern Arizona, near the Mexico border. And I checked my cell coverage (Sprint) and it looks like I'll be out of luck. I had Verizon once and it was pretty good.

I really needed to be able to tell my ride if passage 2 was as far as I could make it, or if I would be pressing on to Patagonia. Guess we'll wing it! :-D I'm taking a small radio, maybe I'll be able to raise someone who could make a call for me.

Thanks!

The Eagle wrote:Is Canelo Pass in Northern Arizona?

Hell no. you know that perfectly well. The point is that Verizon works well in rural areas, which was quite clear to the OP, unlike you who just want to be snarky and mean like the rest.

Where Verizon is weak or has no signal--
Parts of Reddington Pass
Many areas in southern Utah--and not in canyons, driving on dirt roads
Most of the Naegelin Rim; parts of the Sierra Ancha
sometimes only 2 bars in my house in Sahuartia, az
A lot of the Grand Canyon Parashant area--again not in the canyons on the rim

Off topic but is why I finally bought an older used Globalstar Sat phone for under 200 bucks on Amazon. Airtime is terrible but will do a prepaid card to try it. Most of the time will sit in a drawer probably but for trips where I might be days with no reliable cell coverage it will go along.