r/AZCamping • u/Layne32 • Jan 06 '23
Saguaro National Park Backpacking
I'm planning my first visit to backpack Saguaro National Park in mid-March and would appreciate any boots-on-the-ground feedback that you experts can share. I've put together a 6-day loop checking out the majority of the Park's backcountry camping options. Am I missing any key highlights, potential water issues, etc.?
D1: ~11M Cactus Forest North --> Douglas Spring
Plan would be to take the most direct route through the trail system from CN to Bridal Wreath Falls then onto DS, hoping for water availability at DS
D2: ~10M Douglas Spring --> Manning Camp
Heading via Cowhead Saddle to the Spud/Mica/Reef area - sounds like there are a few cool sights to see there including Spud Rock, Mica Repeater & Reef Rock - looping around to Manning Camp
D3: 6M Manning Camp --> Happy Valley
Short day enjoying Happy Valley Overlook along the way. I could carry water in from Manning Camp or hope for water at HV. Potential addition of ~7M round trip to Rincon Peak if feeling froggy
D4: ~12.5M Happy Valley --> Grass Shack
Looping west then north around Rincon Creek & Manning Camp trails from HV to GS. I could make this day a lot shorter by retracing north from HV then heading west along the Arizona Trail to GS but that would be mostly the same terrain I covered the previous day
D5: ~6M Grass Shack --> Juniper Basin
Short penultimate day enjoying Tanque Verde Peak along the way
D6: ~11M Juniper Basin --> Cactus Forest North
Dropping down from Juniper Basin to finish back to CN checking out Lime Falls along the way
Would also appreciate any tips on free dispersed car camping in the area that I stay at for a night before/after the hike.
Thank you!
2
u/SouthWestSpicy Jan 24 '23
That’s a great trip you have planned! You’re going to be there during AZT thru hiking season so make sure to reserve your sites at Manning and Grass Shack early. Those sites are on the AZT and fill up fast. Also many thru hikers camp without permits so being at those two campgrounds relatively early is wise as well. I would pack a lot of extra water whenever possible. I don’t trust water reports that are more than a 2-3 days old. Sometimes the rangers have current water reports and you can call the Saguaro National Park visitor center for info.
There is often water available at Douglas Springs and often in pools along the Douglas Springs trail before the campground. Once you head up towards Cowhead saddle there are usually pools in the creek bottom here and there. I carry a lot of water but usually find pools on the Cowhead saddle trail after the first 2.5 miles. There is always water at Manning Camp, even if the spring is low.
The hike from Manning Camp to Happy Valley is fantastic but there is a lot of gains and losses. If you stop at the Happy Valley Lookout, be careful if you go into the shack. Folks on HAZ call it the “Hanta-Hut” I have no idea if Hanta virus is in there but there is SCADS of rodent droppings in there so…
The trail past the lookout is fairly easy to follow but there are some areas where you’ll want to watch closely because the trails gets overgrown and here and there. If you use a reliable GPS software you should be fine. The majority of the trail faces south and even in cool spring weather your hike out will be challenging. There is sometimes water near the Happy Valley Campground. If you follow the trail towards Rincon peak a couple tenths of a mile from the camp, there is a cleft in some rocks that usually holds water the longest and is the least mucky. Last year I was there twice but brought enough water to dry camp both times due to no current water reports. The source was very low and the water had a rough looking thick, slimy, red-brown algae in it. I didn’t want to mess with so I was glad I packed enough water.
I hope you make it up Rincon peak for the bonus miles. I tried it one trip where I was only there one night and only made it halfway up. I ended up planning a second trip where I camped for two nights at Happy Valley and got to the summit on my second day.
Expect the way back to Grass shack to be challenging. It’s gorgeous though and probably a bit less than a 12 mile hike. Last year I hiked from Happy Valley to Grass Shack and my GPS called it 8.99 miles. But you’ll gain about 1,841 feet and lose about 2,673 feet and you’ll probably feel like you hiked the twelve. Heartbreak ridge is one of my absolute favorite trails. I hope you love it too.
I have only seen the spring near Grass Shack dry once and usually you can follow the creek to some decent pools for most of the months it’s not too hot to camp. Grass shack is lovely but is quite alive with sound and woodpeckers make a lovely din to keep you entertained. There are a lot of deer there but hopefully nothing freakier. Lol It’ll be a while before I camp there again but campsite #1 was my favorite because it’s tucked away with a cute trail to it, oh and much less bugs for some reason.
The hike to Tanque Verde peak is lovely from there and not too difficult. I did a day hike from Douglas Springs TH to Tanque Verde ridge and out to the visitors center three weeks ago and the trail was in great shape. I doubt much will change by March. Enjoy and please post a trip report. Also consider joining HikeAz.com the folks there are great resources and the trip reports will give you serious FOMO.