More Highline Trail questions...

[up2top]

We're looking to do some of the Highline TR in a couple of weeks going west to east. We're limited to three days and two nights so we're not going to try to do the entire trail. I had wanted to start at the Pine TH, but it looks like we may be better off driving into Geronimo TH to keep the mileage around 10 each day. We will be exiting Highline TR via Horton Creek and will have a vehicle parked at Horton Creek TR to shuttle us back to where we started.

I'm looking for some general suggestions about campsite possibilities. If we start at Geronimo TH it 's only about 8 miles to Washington Park. Would it be better to camp there, or continue on the trail to Dude Creek? Are there any good campsite options near Dude Creek or other locations within 5 miles of Washington Park? The second night I'm looking at Tonto Creek as a campsite option. Is that a good place to camp, or does anyone have other suggestions in that area? I've been to the end of Horton Creek where it meets up with Highline and I know there's an awesome pine forested area there to camp, but I'm not sure if everyone in our group can make the mileage if we make that our target.

Any input or suggestions are welcomed.

[nonot]

Camp near Washington Park but not at the trailhead, Dude Creek is nice, but I don't recall any established campsite in the area.

[ALMAL]

@up2top
I can't speak much about the Highline trail west of Tonto creek. I believe there is a rule not to camp within 400 yards of Tonto creek?
I might suggest doing a little fishing in Tonto creek, there are still plenty of holdover rainbows in the upper section.
Clean your trout and continue hiking east on Highline another mile to Dick Williams creek. There are some nice tent spots up in the trees on the east side of the creek, but nothing really established. Still, Dick Williams creek always has good water and should be much quieter than Tonto with it's road and traffic.

[The_N]

@up2top
There are some good campsites along the east banks of the East Verde once you get to Washington Park. Just cross the river and follow it up stream. There is a faint trail over there or just stay next to the river. If you fall short of Washington Park there is a nice stretch of Pine forest perfect for camping near the East Branch of Chase Creek.

[nonot]

Something else about Dude creek is its right smack dab in the middle of the burn area, so there's no tree cover in the area, so it isn't a very nice area to spend the night.

[mazatzal]

Dude creek is its right smack dab in the middle of the burn area

Very true. Perhaps because it's the site of the devastating and extremely sad Dude fire in 1990.

[up2top]

Thanks for the replies. My main concern with camping near Washington Park is the mileage we would need to cover the second day to get us to the Dick Williams Creek area. Are there any good locations for camping with a water source near by that may be short of Tonto Creek/Dick Williams Creek?

[rcorfman]

Bonita Creek's really nice.

[up2top]

Looks like Bonita Creek is only about 5 miles past Washington Park. How does the area around Big Canyon look for campsite prospects?