Arizona Hiking Trails
Havasu Canyon Trail
In late October I walked the Havasu Canyon Trail (3 days, 24 miles)
I grabbed a cancelled permit for the weekend while working a travel job in Flagstaff. There were many dates available for last minute bookings.
The Havasu Campground is located between the two major waterfalls. Overnight stays are required at either the campground or lodge to visit the falls.
The Supai village near the campground has a grocery store and restaurant along with a helipad. I took the helicopter out of canyon as the hike from the parking lot to the village is not worth repeating
The Supai village near the campground has a grocery store and restaurant along with a helipad. I took the helicopter out of canyon as the hike from the parking lot to the village is not worth repeating
Overview map of Havasu Canyon
My favorite day was walking down to the Grand Canyon, where Havasu Creek meets the Colorado River
A somewhat adventurous trail with small climbs and frequent river crossings
The "Confluence" at the Grand Canyon
Mooney Falls
El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar
In December 2016 I visited Cactus country in southern Arizona and jumped across the border to El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar reserve in Mexico.
Cerro Colorado
View from the cinder cone above the Tecolote camp, looking towards Cerro Colorado and the northern section of the park.
El Pinacate is accessed by crossing the Sonoyta border station. About halfway to Puerto Penasco, there is a visitor station directly off highway 8. They accepted US dollars for the entrance fee. The reserve has a second campsite in the southern section called Rojo Cono, which has a longer 7 mile climb. A 4WD vecihle is needed to reach it
Superstition Mountains
Weavers Needle
The Peralta trail leads to Fremont Saddle with views of Weavers Needle. I completed the full loop here combining the Peralta trail with the Dutchman (20 miles, 2400ft)
There are some places labeled with names that sound like water sources on the map (Bluff spring, Whiskey spring, etc), but there was no water on the loop during my hike
Camp near Weavers Needle
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Sunrise near Red Tanks Tinaja
The western section of Organ Pipe is more remote, with a long drive around Puerto Blanco and also the longest hike in the park around Senita Basin (~11 miles from Red Tanks trailhead)
In the eastern section, I camped at Alamo Canyon and drove the Ajo Mountain loop
Kofa Wildlife Refuge
March wildflowers in the Kofa Mountains
View from the summit of Signal Peak looking east over the Kofa mountain range
I camped in one of the alcoves on the west side of mountain to avoid the wind on the summit
Saguaro National Park West
Sunset from the Hugh Norris trail
The trails in Saguaro West are basically several different ways of climbing Wasson peak. The larger and more extensive trail system for backpacking is found in Saguaro East, which I hope to visit on a return trip. The King Canyon-Hugh Norris loop includes the summit of Wasson peak (8 miles, 2000ft return)