Humphrey’s Peak Backpack via Inner Basin Trail
Details
This trip is suitable for strong intermediate level hikers.
Join us as we escape the Phoenix heat and crowds for this challenging overnight backpack trek to Humphreys Peak! This hike is 16.4 miles with 4,000’ of elevation gain.
It's a great way to tackle Mt. Humphrey's for first timers, as the climb is broken into two parts. We will camp overnight at Fremont Saddle (11,100’) along the Weatherford Trail, providing a night's rest to adjust to the altitude before we summit. We will be hiking at an intermediate pace (35 to 40 minute-miles) uphill.
Hike faster than that? No problem, but come prepared to navigate yourself. On your way back down on Sunday, you tell us if you plan to wait at the trailhead for us or not. Hike slower than that? No problem, come prepared to navigate yourself, and we’ll grab you as we pass you on our way back down on Sunday.
Weather conditions will be re-evaluated as the hiking date gets closer.
Here's the plan...
Saturday 6/24: We’ll meet at the Inner Basin Trailhead in Lockett Meadow at 12:30pm. We’ll start hiking the Inner Basin Trail 3.7 miles to the Weatherford Trail. We’ll turn right (West) on the Weatherford Trail and hike another 1.5 miles to Fremont Saddle for a total mileage of 5.25 miles and elevation gain of 2,575’. Careful … on most maps Fremont Saddle is incorrectly named Doyle Saddle. We will be camping at Fremont Saddle which is in between Agassiz Peak and Fremont Peak.
Saturday evening 6/24: Camp at Fremont Saddle that day via the Inner Basin Trail.
Sunday morning early 6/25: We’ll pack up camp and hide our backpacks in the trees at Fremont Saddle and take day packs to hike the remaining 3 miles to Summit Humphrey's Peak. After we’ve reached the summit, we’ll turn around and hike back down to the cars, driving back to Phoenix. Total for the day: 11 miles, 1,500’ elevation gain, 4,000’ elevation loss.
Refer to HikeAZ for a full hike description and GPS tracks:
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1054
Directions To Inner Basin Trailhead in Lockett Meadow:
From Flagstaff take US 89 north 11.6 miles to Sunset Crater Rd (NPS Rd 545) which is past mile marker 430. Do not turn right on Sunset Crater Rd, rather turn left onto Forest Rd 552. Go about 3/4 mile to a T junction with a big sign. Lockett Meadow & Road 552 are to the right. Turn right (north) to stay on 552. This road will turn west. Turn north when you come to a road with a sign that points to Lockett Meadow. We will take a long winding dirt road to Lockett Meadow Campground/trailhead. It is car friendly, but much faster in a high clearance vehicle or AWD crossover. Follow this road all the way down, approx 6 miles into Locket Meadow. Once in Lockett Meadow turn right and keep driving until you see a parking place for hikers. It is by the outhouse. Parking is on the left, the trail is on the right. A gate blocks the entrance for vehicles.
Lockett Meadow Campground, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lockett+Meadow+Campground/@35.3586,-111.6208,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xfc49cec9987d33e7!8m2!3d35.3586!4d-111.6208)
At the campground, there are vault toilets and No Water.
This is a dry camp. You'll need to carry all the water you need to hike 16 miles plus water for dinner and breakfast at camp (5-6 liters).