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I'll be in good old AZ on business next week, and am arriving 3 days early to backpack Fri-Sun. Two questions:

1. Superstitions - Does anyone know if there is any water running in the Whiskey Spring or Bluff Spring area?

2. Four Peaks - Are there any decent areas to overnight near Brown's Peak?

Thanks!

There are several small spots along Browns Trail to overnight on. There is also a spot at the parking area to camp.

There was a nice camping spot on the saddle just below Browns Peak.

As for water at the springs in the Supes; Whiskey Spring usually has a trickle that drips into the concrete catch/tub kind of thing. But I haven't been to that spring in a while and it's pretty unreliable. As for the Bluff Spring area; I've been all around Bluff Spring Mountain and the surrounding area and I've never come across water. There are no reliable springs in the Supes, except maybe Charlebois and even that is questionable this time of year. Since not too many people are hiking the Supes yet (it's still kinda hot right?), your best bet would be to call the ranger station in Mesa or the Tonto National Forest #'s. Good luck.

I don't know if there's any water there now, but Bluff Spring is actually really easy to find. Just follow the use trail up into the first draw after you pass the Bluff Spring Trail/Dutchman Trail intersection - maybe a ten minute walk from there. Last time I was there, there was a pretty good trickle flowing from the pipe, and I drank directly from it with no ill effects.

In response to cactuscat's reply:

Thanks to all for the advice. After landing Fri and calling the Mesa ranger office, and hearing that they had no information for weeks re: spring availability, I went with the Brown's Peak choice. Camped on the saddle, and the views were worth every bump in the 18.3 mile drive to the trailhead.

Spent a while trying to get up the top of Brown's Peak itself, but kept cliffing out. Maybe next time...after a Superstitions trip!

-Frank