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| Canyon Lake to Second Water Canyon Backpack, AZ | |
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| | Canyon Lake to Second Water Canyon Backpack, AZ | | | |
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Canyon Lake to Second Water Canyon Backpack, AZ
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| Backpack | 7.30 Miles |
1,500 AEG |
| | Backpack | 7.30 Miles | | | |
| 1,500 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | A few of us did an overnight backpack trip in the Supes in early February 2018. Our route took us from the Canyon Lake Trailhead, south on Boulder Canyon Trail to Second Water Trail (about 4 miles). We then headed west of Second Water Trail, camping near the spot where the pools of water cross the Second Water Trail.
Since the Arizona winter had been quite dry up until this point, we weren't certain of water sources. A brief Water Report review on Hike AZ just before the hike noted that Second Water Canyon had just a trickle of algae-laden slime, so we decided to carry all water needed. That made for an arduous task on day 1, coming up the incline from Canyon Lake and back down again into La Barge Canyon. We settled into camp along Second Water Canyon. In actual fact, the water source there could have been used to pump (although it was admittedly pretty gross), but we found a better source by scrambling (without packs) up Second Water Canyon to the true Second Water Spring. The water at the headwaters of Second Water Spring was actually pretty clear. See my photos for pics.
Overall, a nice overnighter in the Supes. Hiking out was a joy with only a few liters of water to carry. |
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Second Water Canyon |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | There are several pools where Second Water Trail crosses Second Water Canyon (1/4 mile west of Boulder Canyon Trail junction). There is about a 100 yard stretch of pools starting at the Second Water Trail crossing and heading down stream from there. Some are pretty sketchy with thick layers of algae on top. Some are fairly deep. None of them looked particularly pristine, but we were surprised with the amount of water there, even after this long period with no rain.
This report is for the unnamed spring located where Second Water Canyon crosses the Second Water Trail. There is a cleaner water source up Second Water Canyon if you are willing to hike off-trail 1/3 mile to Second Water Spring (see Second Water Spring Water Report). |
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Second Water Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | Plenty of water to filter from. Not much flow, so I'd have to rate it as "dripping" but there is about 100 yard stretch that has many pools of water, some fairly deep. Some are yellowish and covered in algae, but others are clear and OK for filtering. We hiked all the way up the canyon to the spot of the actual spring. Water was very clear at that spot with a small pool about 4 inches deep (33° 29.6482' N, 111° 24.6130' W)
Note that this Water Report is for the actual Second Water Spring up canyon about 1/3 mile from Second Water Trail. It takes some off trail work to get there. There is a second unnamed spring where Second Water Trail crosses Second Water Canyon. See the "Second Water Canyon" Water Report for an update on that one. | | _____________________
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