Loop hike in the Blue

[jlb]

I am looking for a two day loop hike in the Blue.25 miles or so with a evening camp. Any ideas? thanks john

[azbackpackr]

Lanphier-Largo Loop with side trip to Bear Mtn. might be good this time of year.

[Crocodile Ryan]

I always like kp cienega to grant creek or steeple creek with a some side trips to moon park and some old cabins near the blue river

[JoelHazelton]

What Ryan said. I MUST go back there this summer. That area is wild.

[azbackpackr]

I love Grant Creek, too. Best way to get in there is to go via P-Bar Lake, Trail 76, then Trail 75 (Grant Creek cutover). Nice camping down in there by Grant Creek Cabin. Moonshine Park and Paradise Park are not as nifty as they sound, though. Dry, burned over, no very close water sources, etc. Possibly go down Steeple, but I don't recommend going down Grant Creek from Steeple--it will take you forever, climbing over all those dead trees. The trail crews have not worked those trails much in the past few years. Lots and lots of deadfall.

Then there is KP--might also be covered in deadfall. I'd call the Alpine Ranger district, ask to speak to Myron Burnett. He's the trail crew person, might be able to give you some pointers. He'll be able to tell you trail crew schedule, if there is one. They didn't have a trail crew last year at all!

Lower Fish Creek to Black River, then upstream along river is my fave, but it's not strictly in the Blue, as it is west of 191. http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=327

[Crocodile Ryan]

Moonshine park burned? when did that happen?

I dont know that Id consider P-Bar a lake, more of a mud pond than anything, I think they should change the name

Steeple was just redone the year before last? I was there when they were cutting new trail, couldnt be that much deadfall there, most of it was gone anyway and filling in with alder, but you gotta expect some tree hopping in a wilderness area part of the amazing PITA that the blue is

I agree Grant creek is much much easier going up than going down, and from the top its always tricky to spot the trail in all that tall grass, but a great trail none the less

I hope they bring the blue crew back, those guys were always a hoot to run into and talk for awhile

[azbackpackr]

No, sorry, I meant that Paradise Park is partially burned over, and Moonshine is dry and not all that interesting. Many other parts of that area are more interesting, such as the canyon that Grant Creek runs through. However that loop hike that goes around to both parks, if you are camping at Grant Creek, is a nice one to do.

Yup, P-Bar Mudhole! Might be a nice place, though, for a photographer to set up a blind.

[jlb]

Wow what great information..I read of a "hot springs " up Hannah Canyon; is that worth the trot and is there a loop in that aera.
I like the west side of 191 and thank you for the reminder..

[Crocodile Ryan]

hannah hot springs is pretty much off trail, at least the way Ive been there, and there really isnt much there, a small old beaten down concrete pool and some very hot water!, the little side canyons around there are kinda cool though, I think it was ~20-25miles, although You can come from the NM side with a 4WD and high clearance and get within 7-9miles of the canyon, if your interested in that route check out the book "Touring Arizona Hot Springs" - come to think about it I might even have the hannah canyon section in a pdf format, Ill take a look and let you know

the actual spring is pretty small, and theres not much of a way to get into it, its also a pretty long hike through the lower elevations of the blue which are gonna start getting pretty warm soon

If you decide to go, get your water before entering hannah canyon, the water in there is extremely minerally and doesnt taste the best

[azbackpackr]

I have always wanted to go there, but I will second the motion, that the lower Blue gets pretty warm! If it's hot in Phoenix, it'll be hot there! We took the kids camping down there for a few days one summer a long time ago. We drove down FR 475, the road that passes Juan Miller Campground. When we got to the Blue River we drove across it and camped just downstream under a big cottonwood tree. It was pretty hot, but that was nice because we spent a lot of time swimming in the river where it pooled-up right there. In four days we saw only one vehicle come down that road. We got tired of the heat after that, and went up to Big Lake. It was FREEZING up there, comparatively!

[pickelltree]

Then there is KP--might also be covered in deadfall. I'd call the Alpine Ranger district, ask to speak to Myron Burnett. He's the trail crew person, might be able to give you some pointers. He'll be able to tell you trail crew schedule, if there is one. They didn't have a trail crew last year at all!


yes, i went there this weekend, and it felt like every 50 yards i was steping over a dead down log on the trail. at some points it was like there was not a trail.