Car assessable THs for Cabin Loop

[Vaporman]

So I've yet to hike the cabin loop yet and I'm interested in hitting it this summer, but would preferably love to do it in my gas-efficient car. Based off of the trail descriptions it's doable in a car when the road are dry, but I was wandering if anyone had an updated observation of the FRs into any of the THs? Wash boarded or rutted or just a good solid gravel road? Which would be the best TH to start from if I was coming from the PHX area? The directions to Barbarshop seem to be the easist if FR 95 & 139 are in good shape. Any road conditions would be greatly appreciated.

[chumley]

I was up here this past weekend, and the roads are all in great shape. FR300 seems to be recently graded, with very few washboards or rough sections. You could get out there in a sedan, though obviously it's a little slower without the clearance.

There's plenty of lush green-grass meadows, some flowers, and water in many of the creeks and drainages still. (I encountered no mud on the main roads though.) There's also an occasional remnant pile of snow in the most shaded/sheltered spots!

[Crocodile Ryan]

I was up there this weekend, roads are good, even with the snow

I was wondering around exploring off trail after we set up camp, and came across some tracks in the snow, that were way too big to be a coyote, and too far away from a trail to be a dog, hopefully its your buddy Te-wa,

[te_wa]

maybe so, Ryan. I'll be up there the first chance I get to do the cabin loop as a backpack- wont be until July pro'lly

[Vaporman]

Sweet, thanks for the updates. I just wanted to verify that we're still on for this weekend... Maybe I should PM u as well.

[Grasshopper]

I just returned on 6/2 from 5nts/6days of camping at 7300' and day hiking 4 of the 5 CABIN LOOP TRAILS. You guys are going to love it! Four of us did GPSjoe's East Loop Hike on 5/31 starting from the "Pinchot Cabin TH". We did this loop clockwise which I recommend, starting on the U-Bar Tr#28 to Barbershop Tr#91 to Houston Brothers Tr#171then back up to the Pinchot Cabin TH. Without making any route finding mistakes, GPSjoe calculated this East Loop Hike to be 17.2mls. Without any route finding mistakes on 5/31, we calculated it to be 18.5 beautiful miles with 2475' AEG. I don't know why the difference in total mileage but I do know that I would still be up there IF I had not run out of needed camping water and ice on 6/2!

[Grasshopper]

Cool, sounds like a plan. Driving up the night before and camping near the TH I'm assuming would be best.

Did any of you guys make it up to the RIM this past weekend for this CABIN LOOP HIKE? Awaiting some "triplogs" from you guys as to how it went..

[Hoffmaster]

I followed your directions to Houston Draw. I thought that's where we were going to camp. I got there at 1am on Saturday night. No one was there. I assumed that everyone else had bailed, and I wasn't interested enough in the hike to do it by myself, so I left. Apparently we had a miscommunication. Vaporman said something about being camped on FR139A. I have no idea where that is. There was no mention of that road in the directions to Pinchot Cabin that I read.

Maybe I'll go back with my girlfriend. I think I'm going to need some convincing. Hiking through those pine trees so close to the forest roads seems really boring to me. Is this hike worth it? Is there anything of interest to see along the way?

[Grasshopper]

Maybe I'll go back with my girlfriend. I think I'm going to need some convincing. Hiking through those pine trees so close to the forest roads seems really boring to me. Is this hike worth it? Is there anything of interest to see along the way?

Matt- this day hike area is a solid "4" & a "5" spot IF done as a 2-3 day/nt backpack! Re: my 5/31 triplog.. You like a challenge and I know you both enjoy a scenic area to hike and a lot of area history too with a total of 6 old cabin areas to hike by if doing all 4 trails. You will need the forest roads to be active with the ATVs when you get off trail on the Barbershop and U-Bar and need to hitch-hike back home ..just kidding! Actually on 5/31, for this whole 17.2ml E. Cabin Loop Hike, we saw NO vehicles on the roads the entire Saturday we were hiking and saw only elk, squirrels, birds, and other hikers/backpackers.. TRY IT..YOU WILL LIKE IT TOO!

That is a bummer you drove all the way up there and were not able to hook-up with the others.. wonder if any others did go? Just FYI..FR139 is 3mls further down FR300 from where you turned left onto FR95; There is access to FR139A(a right turn off of FR95 just about .25 to .5 mls before you reach the Houston Draw parking area on FR95).. Just about 1/4ml down FR139A is the "Fred Haught Tr" parking area and quick access to Pinchot cabin TH area via the Fred Haught Trail.

[hikeaz]

I followed your directions to Houston Draw. I thought that's where we were going to camp. I got there at 1am on Saturday night. No one was there. I assumed that everyone else had bailed, and I wasn't interested enough in the hike to do it by myself, so I left. Apparently we had a miscommunication. Vaporman said something about being camped on FR139A. I have no idea where that is. There was no mention of that road in the directions to Pinchot Cabin that I read.

Maybe I'll go back with my girlfriend. I think I'm going to need some convincing. Hiking through those pine trees so close to the forest roads seems really boring to me. Is this hike worth it? Is there anything of interest to see along the way?

Matt,
139A takes off to the north as FR139 bends northeast, about 3 miles+/- north of the 300 road. (check the top/center section of the north half of your Tonto National Forest map -look near 111.109 & T-13)
I've hiked the loop quite a few times and some sections are better than others. My favorite sections are from Dane Cabin/Springs to Pinchot and then down past Aspen Cabin/Spring. Yes, there are a few road crossings (think BEER STASH OPPORTUNITIES) but the creekside sections are worth it IMO. There are abundant camping opportunities, too - both car-camping and backpacking.

[te_wa]

Matt I think something like Leonard Canyon might be tempting to you- If I know your style. The cabin loops are ok if you like ponderosas. Too many roads and quads and gunshots for me to enjoy. Im thinking of going into WCC by way of the Clover creek entrance just off the 87 a little south of Clints Well. It looks like something you might like better than the cabin loop. That is, if I know you.

[Hoffmaster]

te-wa, it is frightening how well you know me. Stop stalking me. Please.

Thank you Grasshopper and hikeaz for the replies. I'll have to go back and check it out.


After I left the rim on Saturday night, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I ended up sleeping at Pine Trailhead cause it was now 2am. I was tempted to go home on Sunday morning, but since I was already up that way, I decided to go fishing instead. The fishing was SLOW at Woods Canyon Lake on Sunday morning, and I was quickly getting bored and pondering a solo trip through Christopher Creek Gorge. I decided against it, and then went to Willow Springs Lake where I proceeded to catch a few smallmouth bass and some bluegills.

Before anyone mentions it, I know, I should have gone to Bear Canyon Lake, Knoll Lake, Chevelon Lake, Black Canyon Lake, Blue Ridge Reservoir or anywhere other than the lakes I did go to. I drove about one billion miles on dirt roads on Saturday (Cherry Creek Rd, FR38*, A+ Cross Rd, SR288, FR200, FR291, FR512, the entire FR300, and FR95) and I just didn't feel like driving anymore once Sunday rolled around.

* By the way, FR38 is 4WD. This is probably one of the craziest roads I've ever taken a 2WD vehicle on. I had no trouble. I did this in a Ford Escape; I wouldn't try it in a car, because the higher clearance is necessary. This should solidify my reputation for coaxing inappropriate vehicles into inappropriate places.

[Vaporman]

The cabin loop was sweet. I wasn't expecting too much out of a simple forest hike, but I really enjoyed all the wildlife, bubbling creeks, many various types of trees blowing in the cool breeze, the cabins of course and the occasional spring. It wasn't too challenging, but I've two weeks off from hiking so I didn't want to torture myself too badly. Afterwards I drove back down and did another section of East Clear Creek linking it with a section I did Saturday afternoon.