Join us on a four-day, three-night backpacking journey from Greer to Big Lake, traversing the heart of Arizona's White Mountains. This 20-mile route offers alpine meadows, dense forests, and panoramic vistas, with elevations ranging from 8,000 to over 10,000 feet. Ideal for experienced backpackers, the trail includes off-trail navigation and variable conditions, promising a challenging and rewarding adventure.
If you’ve been backpacking in Arizona for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve knocked out the Baldy Loop. It’s a classic and well-loved by horseback riders, hikers, and backpackers, especially from July through September when the high country comes alive. But this hike I’m talking about? It scratches deeper than that. It gives you a taste of the Baldy Wilderness, but it also pulls the curtain back on the bigger picture of the White Mountains.
This is a roughly twenty-mile, point-to-point route I return to every single year. No matter what else is going on, this hike makes the cut. I usually switch between two different approaches one a bit more rugged, one more forgiving, but both take me through the heart of one of the most beautiful and underappreciated regions in the Southwest.
This place means something to me. It's one of the few areas left that still offers true subalpine grasslands, something incredibly rare in this part of the country. We’re talking wide-open meadows rolling into the distance, framed by isolated islands of spruce, Douglas fir, and Arizona white pine. During the summer months expect Monsoon clouds building on the horizon, crips clean air clean, and much cooler temperatures over the 110º days in Phoenix. This area makes you slow down, not because you’re tired, but because the land deserves your attention, and makes you grateful for what we have here in Arizona.
If you're drawn to sweeping vistas, wild solitude, and the electric hum of high country summer, this route delivers. In my book, it's some of the absolute best hiking Arizona has to offer, no question.
Logistics
We’re starting at Government Springs Trailhead and ending at Rainbow Campground, so we’ll need to stage vehicles and coordinate a shuttle. Route’s still TBD I’m weighing a few options based on weather, trail conditions, monsoon timing, and group vibe. I’ll post final details as the trip gets closer.
Rainbow Campground
The campground has full bathrooms and showers, but because of a two-night minimum, we can’t reserve a site. Just part of the adventure worst case, we car camp Saturday night (the 26th).
Total distance and AEG
The trip will land somewhere between 20 and 22 miles with total AEG under 3,000.
Who is this for?
This four-day, three-night backpacking trip is intended for experienced backpackers comfortable with off-trail navigation and variable conditions. The route includes over 50% off-trail travel, mostly above 8,000 feet, peaking just over 10,000 feet. Expect monsoon thunderstorms, muddy and rocky terrain, and some challenging navigation.
Gear and Preparedness
You must answer the questions in the RSVP, if you don’t, you will be marked as ‘not going’ for this trip.
Dogs?
No dogs on this trip.
Weather
Variable and likely uncooperative, the Baldy Wilderness, as well as surrounding areas usually are consistent with thunderstorms late morning or early afternoon during peak monsoon season.
Fires and the Country Store
Apache-Sitgreaves is under Stage 2 fire restrictions - no campfires unless lifted before our trip (I don't expect this to change). Big Lake has a store with basic supplies, but it's pricey.
Meet-Up Time & Location.
The drive to Greer takes just over four hours, so we’ll leave early Thursday to hit the trail by 1–2pm after staging cars. Best meeting spot is Walmart at Signal Butte and the 60.
