Best Arizona (Or Close) Backpacking in March

Arizona has unlimited good options in March. Toward the end of the month, there are also some good ch.oices in Southern Utah, but there could still be snow. My first choice would be some combination of hikes in the Superstition Wilderness in AZ. The best place to find more detailed route information is hikearizona.com

I would traverse the entire Superstition Wilderness East to West. You could start at Haunted Canyon, go up Bull Basin, over to Reavis Ranch and up to Plow Saddle. Maybe a day hike from there to Reavis Falls (definitely worthwhile if there's water falling). Then head to Angel Basin, LaBarge Box, over to the Weaver's Needle. Then up Superstition Mountain and end at First Water Trailhead.

You probably won't be able to avoid freezing temps on some nights but it will warm up really nicely (maybe too nicely) during the day.

I will second the recommendation of the Chiricahua Mountains as a great place to plan a spring break trip. A girlfriend and I met a friend out there in mid-March 2011 and had a fantastic 4-night trip in the Chiricahuas. Could easily have spent a few more nights there. Conditions were ideal, but you will need to make sure you plan your days/camps around water sources. Paint Rock was especially memorable and there were several side trails from the Crest Trail that I wish we could have hiked. Tucson is the closest major town/airport to the Chiricahuas.

Here's a picture of a friend and I checking the map on the Crest Trail:



Also, a pretty bad fire went through that area in May 2011 so I'm not sure what trail conditions are like now. Definitely something to call ahead about. It is also worth calling to see if rangers have any updates about the water sources/springs, as well as any updates about smuggling/unauthorized immigration through the area, as it is a corridor for unauthorized immigration.

Those leaves are as bad as cactus spines.  I got on those points lodged in my back that didn't resurface for a couple sporadically itchy years.

Thanks, I was on Amtrak today, only going from BWI to Metropark (Iselin, NJ).  That was the second accident of its kind at Hoboken in the last couple years.

I was thinking about how much I wished I were hiking in CO or AZ today.  I haven't been back to the Chiricahuas since before the fire, but there has been more visitation in the last couple years.  I don't know what the Crest Trail is like now, though.    Other ranges to consider in March are the Galiuros and the Rincons.  The Galiuros are one of my favorites, although they've had some high-impact burns recently, too.  The Rincons would require reservations and camping at designated sites, but there aren't many places you can get as much elevation so early in the year.

Thank you all for some awesome and appreciated information; and of course sensational sense of place.