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Can anyone recommend some good trails I can use for training during the upcoming hot months? The Superstitions have been great with so many trails to explore, but it's getting a bit too hot for me to want to do any multi-day trips out there(This weekend was a nice surprise). I've been planning a 200 mile hike for next year, but I want to stay in shape over the summer.

I realize living in the Phoenix area (Gilbert) I'll have some driving ahead of me to beat the heat, but I don't mind a few hours drive for a good trail.

I'd like to do a few AZT Passages, but I don't really have many friends or family that enjoy backpacking so most of my trips are solo. I'd hate to ask someone to help me shuttle when it's a ~2 hour drive up and back for them on some trails.

If any HAZers are looking for people to hike with in those areas I'm more than willing to use my vehicle to shuttle on backpacking trips. It'd be nice to get to know some other backpackers

Thanks in advance.

If you're making the drive to Flag, Elden and Humphrey are good. You could do laps on Elden.

Humphrey the long way (via Weatherford) is fun. Via Inner Basin is fun, too.

The Cabin Loop trails up on the Mogollon Rim have a lot of options-- especially if you explore some of the off-trail canyons.

A second on the Cabin Loop. You can easily do a multiday loop backpack trip solo without the need for shuttles. Gorgeous area as well. Lots of water, both creeks and springs, along the way.

There are some nice backpack loops you can string together in the Greer area. The cabin loops, as mentioned above, can be used, as well as the canyons (off trail) in the area to bring extra variety. The highline trail makes some good loop options until we get a bit hotter. West Clear Creek has backpacking opportunities, but loops are not easy to come by unless you are willing to go off trail. Sycamore Canyon has many loop options but gets to hot mid-summer. I need to make it out to east AZ more, but the Blue Ridge seems to offer plenty of options. Don't forget about the Sierra Anchas either.

Greer in the White Mountains: West Fork Trail #94 to West Baldy Trail #94 to East Baldy Trail #95 to East Fork Trail #95 back to Greer and walk back through town to your car, picking up ice cream cone on the way, or lunch. It is likely WAY too cold and snowy to do this just yet. Wait until late June at least. There are other possibilities in the area, but too hard to explain. You can hike all over the White Mountains off-trail.

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Cabin Loop and Highline come to mind first. Depending on how wet you're willing to get you can do West Clear Creek, Fossil, Wet Beaver or even an East Clear Creek loop involving Horse Crossing, Kinder Crossing, Victorine Crossing ect. Barbershop Cyn on the rim is a good off-trail backpack option. Knoll Lake is also good for backpacking.

There are numerous single and multiday hikes on the rim, live within minutes of them, always looking to go backpacking drop me a line if you don't mind 4 legged hikers tagging along as well.