Backpacking Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Arizona - Yew Thicket Henderson Loop and the Basin Trail

This was a 5 day backpacking trip in Arizona's Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, February 2020. I started at the Parsons Trailhead just north of the town of Cottonwood, AZ and headed out along the Packard Mesa Trail #66. Eventually Packard meets up with the Sycamore Basin Trail #63 which is the main trail that follows the length of the canyon. I ended up camping at the same spot for the first two nights near where the Dogie Trail #116 intersects the canyon bottom, as it was the only reliable water source. I ended up scrapping a planned loop of Casner Mountain that would have taken me further up-canyon. Instead I did most of the very scenic Dogie Trail as an out n' back on the 2nd day. Then I did an additional 3 day loop of the Yew Thicket Trail #52, Lonesome Pocket #61 and Henderson #53. This loop involves serious elevation gain. It was hot red rock desert at the bottom and snow covered, forested mesas on top.

Henderson #53 was an unexpected star of the show; who knew this red rock masterpiece was out there? Perfect trails but no people? What is this??

I returned back to the car same way I came in on the sycamore basin & parsons trails.

This was my first time backpacking in Sycamore Canyon. This place surprised me with its beauty, well maintained trail network and sparse hiker population. It's a wild and remote place that I'll be returning to soon...

Hope you enjoy this video!

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Filmed on a Panasonic Lumix G9 + Leica 12-60mm f/2.8

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