HikeArizona.COM

Hi all,

I am brand new to Arizona (coming from Idaho) and was wondering if there are any overnight/2-3 day backpacking trips that are nestled against peaks with alpine lakes (not lakes that are accessed by road). This might be a bit vague/or too specific but I can't seem to find anything through my own research that doesn't seem to involve established campgrounds/road access. Seasonal ponds/tarns in an alpine setting would be great as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Missing the solitude/beauty of Idaho but hoping to find amazing spots in AZ during the heat... ;)

Arizona has very limited alpine environment, and only three natural lakes! So that makes things a little challenging.

The White Mountains offer the highest elevations with most water. The best choices for you will be to look for mountain streams and creeks to backpack along or near.

In the White Mountains, I'd look at something along the West and East Fork trails.
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=801

merlpearl1 wrote:..but hoping to find amazing spots in AZ during the heat...

and to our amAZing state. In time on HAZ you will find many such places.. but probably few alpine lakes nestled against peaks.. think the Eastern Sierras in CA to fill this need.

It's hard to beat ID for alpine lakes. (I just got home from the Sawtooths). I've enjoyed plenty of high, cool spots in AZ, but hauled water to most of them. The National Forest campgrounds around Flagstaff are cool and convenient, with plenty of great hikes into the alpine.

As chumley explained, pretty much all the lakes and ponds in AZ are dammed, and it takes roads to build dams. If streams and rivers through subalpine environments are a reasonable substitute, or if you can ignore the roads near the high elevation lakes and ponds, there are some spots around the state. None would be considered tarns, though.

There are only a few places above treeline in AZ, (above 11400 ft, give or take), and none of these have water at those elevations. Streams tend to top out at about 10800, and some dammed ponds at about 10000 ft and below. AZ is a beautiful state, but it has geology unlike Colorado, California, Utah and the rest of the Pacific northwest.

Welcome to AZ and the HAZ! There are many backpacking loops you should find enjoyable, even during summer, they will just be a bit different than Idaho.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Lots of places to begin exploring!

Welcome to AZ. Spent 6 years living in Boise and got hooked on hiking while I lived up there. Learn to appreciate desert hiking and know that Idaho is only a long day drive away.

merlpearl1 wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions! Lots of places to begin exploring!

I sense that you will but you will likely learn that while Arizona is different, and there are things that you just won't find here, there is a lot that you will and there are some unique environments. There's also a wide range of things that you can do. From some pretty legit tundra, to hardcore true desert...

As with most places in the world, its about what you make of it.