Superstition Mts - reliable water source

[edent3]

I will be backpacking in Superstition Mts. starting March 23 2011 and am looking for recent info on reliable water sources. Has anyone been there recently or have any suggestions?

[DarthStiller]

Do you have an idea of where you'll be hiking? Reavis Creek is very reliable for water. I think LaBarge and Charlebois Springs in the western end are usually pretty reliable.

[edent3]

We have 2 tentative plans but we are not familiar with the local water sources, so we are flexible and open to suggestions:
Plan a) Rogers Canyon trail to cliff dwellings, camp by Frog tank trail, then to Reavis Ranch then back to Rogers canyon trail head
or
Plan b) Charlebois spring loop, past Weavers needle, etc.

Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks

[JoelHazelton]

Your first itinerary definitely gives more water options, especially with Reavis Creek.

[te_wa]

Rogers Canyon trail to cliff dwellings, camp by Frog tank trail, then to Reavis Ranch

water may be in rogers spring, in a pool at Roger's Canyon spring, again at the base of the ruin, there may be some in the granite at Angel Basin (roger's/fish confluence) and if not, it is just downstream a bit. water is usually held in pools in the length of fish creek (could be Hole Spring) - these are not statistical facts, but assumptions based on recent rains and knowledge of past trips during spring months.

water will be at reavis creek - all year

[SuperstitionGuy]

Plenty of water in the streams and canyons of your first choice and much much fewer contact with the crowds you would mingle with on the second choice.

[te_wa]

we are flexible and open to suggestions

that actually sounds kinda sexy. do you ever hike in the nude?

(you'll find many of us to be smartasses, its all good, stick around. [and visit the threads about nude hiking, scary nra types, and shoes vs. boots, live goldfish vs. canned tuna, hiking poles vs. falling on your face, etc,.] and of course, )

[Sredfield]

you'll find many of us to be smartasses,

The he11 you say!

[nonot]

Watch the weather, if it's still 85-90 in phoenix - do the rogers canyon/reavis loop. If phx drops to 75 you can do either, maybe Charlyboy will be better.

Reavis Creek was still flowing last weekend (and always :p)

[DarthStiller]

Plan A seems like a cooler trip. But as a disclaimer, most Phx (and AZ) residents seem to prefer that area since we usually hiked a lot in the typical sonoran desert, so that area provides some contrast as it’s a little more wooded. If you’re flying in from PA, you might prefer the western Supes if you’re looking for more of the typical scenery of saguaros and not much overgrown sections of trail.

If you have time to add a 3rd day, Circlestone and Reavis Falls are also two of the nicer spots to visit. IMO, Reavis Falls is probably one of THE best things to see in the Supes (and your water issue would be non-existent).

You’ll be passing by Reavis’ Grave on Plan A, so make sure to look for that spur trail and stop and take a picture.

[edent3]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Lizard4136]

Hi all...just curious whether anyone's been in area of Charlebois Spring or LaBarge Spring recently and might know whether there's any water right now (since this winter's been so dry). Thanks!

[joebartels]

LaBarge Spring Reports
Charlebois Spring Reports

[johnlp]

I was at LaBarge Saturday. It is doing fine, as always.

[Tough_Boots]

I'm pretty sure that Charlebois Spring is reliable all year.

[themoogmagician]

Sounds like there is probably water in la barge and charlebois springs.... But does anyone know if there is any water flowing in the creeks, specifically boulder canyon and la barge creek? I was planning a trip this weekend from the Canyon Lake trailhead down along the boulder canyon trail and hoping for a good water source all along.

Thanks!

[SuperstitionGuy]

These canyon streams often have flowing water only where the bottom of the stream crosses bedrock. Therefore as you hike the canyon bottoms pay attention to the geology if your looking to refill your water bottles from flowing water. Pools with no flow are not a good choice and require more filtering and treatment if your going to use them as a source of drinking water.

[joebartels]

@themoogmagician no

[themoogmagician]

haha all right, thanks for the responses. we'll be counting on the springs then