Looking for Suggestions Please! Need Help!

[bryankjunk]

Hello everyone,

I posted another thread but I was a bit broad. So I am starting another one that is a little more refined per say. So here goes:

In short, 6 old friends gather yearly for annual outdoor gathering. Last year, Rocky Mountain National Park. This year, Olympic National Park. Next year, it's my turn to host here in Arizona.

I am looking for three or four good day hikes or backpacking hikes. If we day hike then we camp by off road vehicle at night and day hike during the day.

We CAN travel between days. All three day hikes DO NOT have to be in the same area per say...but I am thinking the WHITE MOUNTAINS area. Once again, we can travel between days if need be.

This trip will be sometime, late Aug, Sept, or Oct.

Looking for unforgettable experiences....suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Bryan Junk A.K.A Junker
crazyasalways@gmail.com

[Al_HikesAZ]

When are you doing this? Believe it or not, things change in AZ based on the season.

[BobP]

If it were me...I'd head east to the White Mtns... or south to Tucson... or North to Flag...

Grand Canyon dayhikes are fun.

Pick an area and you'll get a ton of suggestions. ;)

[writelots]

Yeah, it's a pretty big state ;) I'm always a champion for the southern portion, but that's my own bias. Chiricahua Nat. Monument is a show-stopper pretty much any time of year. Great 4-by-ing in the area and camping, too. Then you've got the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, but that's more seasonal...

hmmm...

[bryankjunk]

Thanks for all of your feedback!

First off, we usually have the trip in August or September. But we can always bump it to October if its I feel the heat will ruin the fun. As for where in the State, we can go anywhere. I have yet to explore the south, so my mind has always been up north somewhere.

Thanks!

[hikeaz]

What is the fitness level of the group and relative level of excitement you're looking for? Peaks?, Canyons?, Woods?... what's your pleasure.

[JoelHazelton]

Oh man, planning a trip like this would be heaven for most of us on this site.

Unforgettable, eh?

Pacheta Falls ($15 per person for the permits, but check the photos before you rule it out): http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=926
Black River: http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=326
Mount Baldy: http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=531
KP Creek: http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=168

Kp Creek could have a ton of deadfall, maybe call the ranger station out there to see if it's been maintained recently?

I know you said they didn't all have to be in the same area, but why waste time traveling if you don't need to? I would definitely stick to the white mountains area if I had several days to kill in the late summer.

[azbackpackr]

Kp Creek could have a ton of deadfall, maybe call the ranger station out there to see if it's been maintained recently? .

I agree, there's a lot to see.

I ran into Myron, the trail crew guy, a couple weekends ago. He asked me if I'd been out hiking any of his trails. (I haven't been that far from home in months--it's 60+ miles away.) The crew has worked on KP, KP Connector, Fish, Steeple, Foote. They have not yet worked Grant.

[bryankjunk]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

As far as fitness level...I would say we're climbing walls with pinkies if you know what I mean, but we aren't ones limited to 20 yards from the truck either. Hiking 7-10 miles with packs wouldn't be out of the question. I would say we are average joe hikers.

[hikeaz]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

As far as fitness level...I would say we're climbing walls with pinkies if you know what I mean, but we aren't ones limited to 20 yards from the truck either. Hiking 7-10 miles with packs wouldn't be out of the question. I would say we are average joe hikers.

Option A) North Kaibab, Paria/Buckskin Gulch/The Wave(permit necessary), Soap Creek.
B) Keet Seel(permit necessary), Canyon de Chelly (CdC with a personal Navajo guide - I have the #'s of several), Rainbow Bridge, Coal Mine Canyon.
C) If we could include southern Utah... Peek-a-Boo/Spooky Gulch, Escalante Canyon, Zion Narrows (permit necessary), Grand Gulch (permit necessary).
D) Myriad hikes up on the Rim.... West Clear Creek, Any/all of the Cabin Loop trails,