Arizona Hiking/Photo Recommendations
Question:
Sedona i have heard is beautiful….. can’t speak from experience though. – Greg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a quick business trip to Phoenix in the cards and plan to spend the weekend beforehand doing light backpacking/outdoor photography in the area. I’ve never been to Arizona before, but have heard many wonderful things and seen many wonderful photographs. (I’m an experienced mountain and desert backpacker and conscientous camper.) I’d appreciate some suggestions on where to go hiking for a weekend. I would like to get back into true wilderness; either desert, mountains, or canyonlands. I don’t mind driving a few hours out from Phoenix, but want to achieve some balance between quality time in the wild with time on the road. I’ve heard good things about Superstition Wilderness and White Mountains. Grand Canyon seems kind of far.(?) What about Petrified Forest? How spectacular is the Meteor Crater? What about the various slot canyons? I’m collecting books and maps, but your on-the-spot recommendations would be most welcome. Sincerely, Carl Gusler Austin, Texas
Response:
I spent a week in Mesa and just got back. The Superstitions were incredible. The flowers were out and every canyon (and canyonette) had water flowing. If you have a morning or afternoon you can do a loop out of either Peralta or First Water trailheads. Not much climbing. Very fast walking. But if you want isolation and loneliness, try the Barnhardt Trailhead in the Mazatzal Wilderness, north of Phoenix about 75 miles on state highway 87(?). The trailhead is at 4220′ and the high point on the Mazatzal Divide Trail about 7100′. There is a loop trip I didn’t take that is about 16.7 miles, the Barnhardt trail to the divide trail and then down the Shake Tree Trail. From the looks of it it is mostly in canyon until you reach the top. The hike I did was on a trail heading north and then west, straight up the wall in steep and strenuous switchbacks with huge views to the north and east. Catch the light around four pm on the east pillars and needles for some astounding contrasts of depth and color. Rock Creek at the last false ridge top before the divide trail itself has a falls that is wonderous. This could be part of a loop too. Head south on the divide trail and down the Barnhardt Trail to the trailhead. Another hike I heard was lonely and wild was in the Hellsgate Wilderness. Didn’t get a chance to hike it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a quick business trip to Phoenix in the cards and plan to spend the weekend beforehand doing light backpacking/outdoor photography in the area. I’ve never been to Arizona before, but have heard many wonderful things and seen many wonderful photographs. (I’m an experienced mountain and desert backpacker and conscientous camper.) I’d appreciate some suggestions on where to go hiking for a weekend. I would like to get back into true wilderness; either desert, mountains, or canyonlands. I don’t mind driving a few hours out from Phoenix, but want to achieve some balance between quality time in the wild with time on the road. I’ve heard good things about Superstition Wilderness and White Mountains. Grand Canyon seems kind of far.(?) What about Petrified Forest? How spectacular is the Meteor Crater? What about the various slot canyons? I’m collecting books and maps, but your on-the-spot recommendations would be most welcome. Sincerely, Carl Gusler Austin, Texas
Response:
I’ve got a quick business trip to Phoenix in the cards and plan to spend the weekend beforehand doing light backpacking/outdoor photography in the area.
I’ve never been to Arizona before, but have heard many wonderful things and seen many wonderful photographs. (I’m an experienced mountain and desert backpacker and conscientous camper.) I’d appreciate some suggestions on where to go hiking for a weekend. I would like to get back into true wilderness; either desert, mountains, or canyonlands. I don’t mind driving a few hours out from Phoenix, but want to achieve some balance between quality time in the wild with time on the road.
I’ve heard good things about Superstition Wilderness and White Mountains.
Grand Canyon seems kind of far.(?) What about Petrified Forest? How spectacular is the Meteor Crater? What about the various slot canyons? I’m collecting books and maps, but your on-the-spot recommendations would be most welcome. Sincerely, Carl Gusler Austin, Texas
Response:
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