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We're aiming for August time frame.

I'm looking for a multi-day for my dog and I. We'd need some water sources along the way, running creeks, streams, rivers would be the best but we're open. I'd really like some trees to keep us cool (also I live in Phoenix and I tend to get bored of the desert.

I'm really only limited by what water I can carry. My dog is a german shepherd and this'll be his first time out. He's fairly trained and will heel well. I've got booties for the rough spots for him. He'll be carrying his own food and water.

Any ideas would be appreciated! I was originally going to look in Prescott NF, around Flagstaff, or over by Big Lakes.

By multi-day do you mean a backpacking trip, or car camping where you can do multiple hikes from your campsite?

The cabin loop area might be to your liking either way. For backpacking there are several water sources, and I'd recommend the east loop to start off with since there are more water and camping options. The dayhikes are a bit long to do an entire loop in one day and if you meant that type of trip you may want to start off with doing out and backs, as well as checking out Dane Canyon and Barbershop canyon.

Please be aware that the trails are confusing and a GPS will be helpful to staying on track.

Thank you! This seems perfect. I don't know why it skipped my mind. We'll be on foot. Is there a safe-ish place to park a car for a few days or is it better to be dropped off?

I have not had trouble parking anywhere in this area on any of my trips.

I agree with nonot. Cabin Loop is perfect. I've taken my dog on a number of variations up there. Just keep in mind that the Gen. Crook trail isn't really there so if you do the west side, you'll be walking over 4 miles on FR300. Also, you're not limited to the official trailheads as parking spots. Forest roads intersect the trails in a number of places and you can park at any of the crossings.

Tough_Boots wrote: Also, you're not limited to the official trailheads as parking spots. Forest roads intersect the trails in a number of places and you can park at any of the crossings.

Yes very true but don't forget that the Coconino NF has an actively maintained and yearly updated "Vehicle Travel Map" which forbids driving on some signed Forest Roads that are not labeled as such (one needs the free map for reference available on line & from the Ranger Stations), so until one is more familiar with this Cabin Loop Trails http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=797 area, I would highly recommend parking at the popular known TH options detailed in the Driving Directions section of the various trail hike descriptions and available via the numerous posted GPS Routes starting locations.

A new visitor to this Mogollon Rim- Cabin Loop Trails area, if not using downloaded GPS Routes to follow, will have enough route finding excitement and challenge without risking roaming on the many less traveled and possible "off limits" forest service roads.. ;)

st. catalina has many trails going up, around, through the mt. lemmon area. i could personally spend "multi days" there. check into it.

te-wa wrote:st. catalina has many trails going up, around, through the mt. lemmon area. i could personally spend "multi days" there. check into it.

I'm marking that down for a future trip. Thank you for the tip!

There is significant windshield time involved to access, but my new favorite area to explore is the White Mountain Apache forest - west and south of Reservation Lake. There are not many 'trails' to speak of but to me that is a benefit.
Years ago I started clicking off the trail-less canyons on the Rim and enjoyed that immensely. The WMA canyons have some additional attractions such as FISH, clear, cool running streams and you will see no one. It is much more arduous to attempt to connect various canyons to form loops than most of the areas on the Rim, but the payoff is huge. The WM Apache are taking exemplary care of their forests - with a ton of investment in thinning, etc. Car-camping is abundant and beautiful as well.

hikeaz wrote:There is significant windshield time involved to access, but my new favorite area to explore is the White Mountain Apache forest - west and south of Reservation Lake. There are not many 'trails' to speak of but to me that is a benefit.

That does look interesting and I do like the Mt Baldy area. I haven't accessed reservation land for backpacking/car camping before.

It looks like permits are in order http://www.wmatoutdoors.org/buy_permits_

mikebenton wrote:

hikeaz wrote:There is significant windshield time involved to access, but my new favorite area to explore is the White Mountain Apache forest - west and south of Reservation Lake. There are not many 'trails' to speak of but to me that is a benefit.

That does look interesting and I do like the Mt Baldy area. I haven't accessed reservation land for backpacking/car camping before.

It looks like permits are in order http://www.wmatoutdoors.org/buy_permits_

One shortcoming (or benefit, as I look at it - keeps out the gps-totin riff-raff - no offense to anyone) is that there are no forest road maps available for other than the few large roads Y-55, Y-70, Y-40, etc.. I am making mine piece-by-piece as I travel over each of the roads - I taped together about 16 pages in Topo!,so it is some map. Some of the roads have small signs with road numbers but many have none a-tall.
When I spoke with the gal at the Sunrise gas station/market she suggested that when I am done (if that is even POSSIBLE) that I could, in her words, 'make a killing selling Apache Rez Forest Road maps' - she says she gets 3 or 4 inquiries a day for them.
Now if I can just get a grant......................................

@hikeaz

It's not a problem for those of us that make our own GPS maps. However, the high permit fees have generally kept me out of this area. 5 bucks a day and another 5 bucks at night is pretty much national park level fees. But some of these areas look quite interesting.

nonot wrote:@hikeaz

It's not a problem for those of us that make our own GPS maps. However, the high permit fees have generally kept me out of this area. 5 bucks a day and another 5 bucks at night is pretty much national park level fees. But some of these areas look quite interesting.

I read their permit system to be that I would owe $8 for each night of camping, which would include up to 8 persons in one vehicle. I never use their campgrounds, but that would be the price for either campground camping or non-campground camping. In 50+ nights up there I've never seen a WMA enforcement person - I would think that they (if there even ARE a 'they') would tend to gather near the Black River area where a higher-priced special permit is required in addition to their 'regular' permit and/or around the lakes and campgrounds.
As you know, Steve I am not a big fan of fees/permits on open land, but at least, instead of spending their $$ on boondoggle rest rooms, $60,000.00 pickup trucks and 60 amp/Wi-Fi RV 'camping' (aka 'parking') sites like our NFS does, the WMA spend it on improving forest health.

"One Camping Per Vehicle Permit covers up to a maximum of 8 people or 1 vehicle, in a campsite. RV’s towing an unoccupied vehicle is also covered under this permit. Individuals who bike, hike, get bused in, or come as a single person (without vehicle) must purchase a Camping Daily Per Vehicle Permit. Reservation camping permits are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE. Primitive camping requires the same permit as camping in designed areas. We also offer a monthly (30-day) camping permit for the outdoor lovers. All designated campsites are first-come first-serve basis. Campers are limited to 1 table per daily permit or 2 tables per monthly permit.
•Camping: Daily Per Vehicle: $8.00"