Labor Day Backpack in Arizona/Utah

[nill.jen]

I am flying into Phoenix/Las Vegas (depending on what hike I choose) over labor day weekend and I am looking for a good 3-4 night backpack to do in northern Arizona or southern Utah. Any good suggestions? Also, I am from Colorado and have no experience with flash flooding, is this something that needs to be worried about in september, or is the wet season passed?

Jen

 

[powderglut]

You still may be on the edge of wet season. You'd have to pay attention to the weather scenario. A great pack trip would be the Paria down to Lee's Ferry or Buckskin Gulch down to Lee's ferry. Both very worthy trips.

 

[uintahiker]

The Paria, West Rim Trail (Zion), or Grand Gulch would all be fantastic hikes.
Not sure if the gnats are still out though- that might make you want to go with the West Rim Trail.
There are some pretty good backpacking spots around Sedona that I haven't done personally.
Wet Beaver Creek comes to mind.

 

[Nick]

West Rim would be awesome and pretty close. High elevation so if it's really hot you'd probably still be okay and if you're lucky the monsoon will still be rocking a bit. If you're willing to drive a little further east then there are endless possibilities around Escalante and Cedar Mesa.