Ellevated Hike - Smith Ravine & Spruce Mtn Backpacking Loop

Smith Ravine to Spruce Mtn Loop
Backpacking -1 night, 2 days

Trip total: 18.3 miles, 2700 ft gain

This trip is cross-posted on Arizona backpacking club Meetup group and currently has 10 peoplr signed up.

We'll meet at noon at Smith Ravine TH. Day 1 will be 8.7 miles 2000 AEG, Smith Ravine is mostly uphill and has great views just off the trail. We'll then walk along a fire service road to get to the top of Spruce Mtn. We can stop for a snack & take in the views at the top of the fire tower. There is a pit toilet up there. We'll head down the gradual side of Spruce.

Camping will be at a dispersed site, just off the trail, near senator Hwy. I will cache water at the dispersed site because there isn't any along the way. We have fire restrictions now; I will see if this changes.

Day 2: 9.6 miles, 1700 AEG, we'll start around 8:30am and complete the loop. There is a pit toilet at the #307 trailhead. Spruce has many steep sections along this side. Everyone can take the last switchbacks at their own pace & we'll meet back up at the picnic tables at the top, where we stopped the day before. We'll head back down the fire service road and back on Smith Ravine. It does have some uphills this direction.

These trails are well maintained.

Friendly dogs are welcome.

You are responsible for your safety, so please honor your body. That being said, we won't leave anyone in the woods. I am not a backpacking expert; I am simply volunteering to show you the way.

Alltrails map of the route:
Day 1:
up Smith Ravine & down gradual Spruce on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/custom-route-f449d27-6?p=-1&sh=0qx6wj&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

Day 2:
disp camp up Spruce & down Smith on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/custom-route-f0b7626-10?p=-1&sh=0qx6wj&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

Weather:
Average temps daytime high of 75, nighttime lows of 38.
7-Day Forecast 34.53N 112.46W