One of the highest points in the Sierra Estrella Wilderness, Quartz Peak offers spectacular views from atop a unique summit block made of white quartz. This challenging trail has beautiful vistas of the Rainbow Valley as it climbs a rugged ridge from the valley floor to the crest of the Sierra Estrella.

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 4,052′
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,400 ft
Dogs: Yes, but may struggle with last quarter mile
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring

From Phoenix take the I-10 to Exit 124B for AZ-303 Loop S and continue South on S Cotton Tail Ln. When you come to a traffic circle, take the first exit onto Estrella Parkway. Go 4 miles to W Willis Rd and make a right. Go 1.4 miles and make a left onto S Rainbow Valley Rd., and after 5 miles turn left onto W Riggs Rd.

Go just 2 more miles and you’ll dead-end into the trailhead parking area. There is a pit toilet, but no running water at the trailhead.

Hiking Quartz Peak

From the parking area head northeast up the trail. You’ll pass an information stand and trail register where you can sign in and out. Follow the flat trail marked by cow pies and cairns for about a quarter mile, then it will turn left towards the base of the ridge on your left.

At 0.6 mile you’ll reach the top of the first ridge, and at 1.0 mile the second ridge. As the trail climbs it alternates between following the crest of the ridge, and dropping slightly side to side, lacing from notch to notch.

At mile 1.8 the trail becomes more rugged and a little harder to follow, then hits a couple switchbacks and gains the final ridge at mile 2. From here the trail hangs on the left side of the ridge until mile 2.3 where it pops back on top.

At the 2.5 mile mark the trail diminishes, becoming more rocky and slow. You should see some cairns to guide you to the left side of the ridge, then back to the center, then to the right, then centered again where the trail becomes more prominent at mile 2.7.

The clear path does not last. Stay near the crest of the ridge for the final quarter mile to the top. When you get near the summit there are two apparent summit blocks – Quartz is on the left. Complete the final scramble and you are there!

At the top you will be greeted by the biggest chunk of white quartz you’ve ever seen and truly appreciate the name of this peak. To the north is Phoenix, to the west is Little Rainbow Valley and to the east is the Gila River Reservation.

When you are done enjoying the views, return back down the way you came.

Quartz Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Driving Directions to the Trailhead

Quartz Peak Hiking Resources

• Bureau of Land Management’s web page with trail info.
• Bring plenty of water, as none is available at the trailhead.
• Carry the 10 Essentials.
• Pack it in. Pack it out. Follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles.

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the Phoenix and Tucson area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

The winter challenge runs between November 1st and April 30th.  Be sure to check out the summer challenge, too!

Camelback Mountain is the most popular mountain to hike in the Phoenix area for good reasons. It’s a fun challenging hike from either side, with good views of the Phoenix area, and entertaining to compare its profile to a napping camel. There are two popular routes up this dromedary. This route on the Echo Canyon Trail is the shorter, but steeper route of the two.

Trail Details

Summit Elevation:  2,707′
Distance: 2.4 miles
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 1,400′
Dogs: No
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring
Trail Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Getting to the Trailhead

From Phoenix, get on highway 51 going North. Take exit 5 toward Lincoln Drive. Turn right onto E Glendale Ave, continue for about 4 miles, then turn right onto Tatum Blvd. Go half a mile on Tatum, then turn left onto E McDonald Drive. In just a few hundred feet you’ll come to a traffic circle and see the parking lot entrance on the right. Get turn-by-turn directions on Google Maps.

There is a parking attendant and gate, but parking is free. The large parking area does fill up fast, so make sure you get there early to snag a spot. Park in an available space, make sure you have plenty of water, and continue up to the top of the parking lot to find the trailhead. There are restrooms and water at the trailhead.

Hiking Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon

The trail begins from the top of the parking lot, just beyond the restrooms and benches. An easy incline at first, the path passes a smaller rock formation, then approaches the base of a larger one known as the “Praying Monk”. If you look up from the trail, you may see roped-up rock climbers scaling the face above you. And if you turn around and look the other way, you can see Piestewa Peak rising up behind you.

As you curve around the base of the rockface, the trail flattens, then goes nearly vertical! Fortunately there are railings and a fence to help, and there are steps worn in if you pick a good line.

At the top of the excitingly steep section, the trail mellows again. You’ll soon pass the half-mile marker and wonder how you’ve only gone that far.

From here it’s a steady climb in the wash with some steep steps and light boulder-hopping.

There is a small dip just before the one mile mark, then the trail rises steady and even steeper as it nears the summit. It’s easy to get a little off track in the last section – just keep looking for the path of least resistance.

The trail makes one final bend to the left as it leads you to the top! Take in the awesome 360 degree view of the valley, with Piestewa closeby to the northwest. But make sure you pay attention to which way you came up – it’s easy to mistakenly go down the wrong trail. When you are done soaking in the views, return down the way you came up.

Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Camelback Mountain Hiking Resources

• Overview of the Camelback Mountain Trails from Phoenix Parks and Recreation. Best resource for the latest information on closures, maintenance and other official notices.
• Visit Phoenix’ guide to Camelback Mountain
• Please #RecreateResponsibly and Leave No Trace

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to non-profits that help get youth outdoors.

Named after a legendary Arizona mountain man, Bill Williams Mountain offers a beautiful hike through pine and aspen trees. Spring and summer are great times to hike this peak, but it’s even more special if you wait for the leaves to start changing. No matter the season, you can enjoy spectacular Northern Arizona views from this classic summit.

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 9,259′
Distance: 7.3 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,250 ft
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Bill Williams Trailhead

From Flagstaff, head west out of town on Rte 66 and hop onto 40 West. Go about 29 miles and get off at exit 161 for Golf Course Dr., last exit for the town of Williams. At the end of the offramp take a left onto Route 66, then take your next possible right onto Frontage Road. Go half a mile then make a left onto S Clover Rd. just after the sign with a ranger station icon. Go just a quarter mile down this road and as it curves left, you’ll see the trailhead parking on the right side. There’s a pit toilet next to the paved parking area, but no running water.

Hiking to the Bill Williams Mountain

You know you are in the right place if you see a sturdy Kaibab National Forest sign with Bill Williams Trail #21 written across the top. To start this hike walk the plank of pavement south out of the parking lot and into the forest. The blacktop path quickly turns to pine needles and dirt.

Flat at first, this inviting trail brings you away from the interstate and deep into a beautiful forest of tall pines. Just about a thousand feet in you hit your first intersection. The Clover Spring Trail #46 will be on your left, but you simply continue straight on your path.

A few hundred feet further the trail passes between two fences, and you’ll know you are on the right path.

At this point you will have also noticed diamond shaped green blazes along the trail. From here these blazes continue all the way to the summit. At the half-mile mark you will come to your second intersection – again the Clover Spring Trail (it makes a loop). Again, continue straight following the sign toward Bill Williams Lookout.

If you hike this in the Fall, this is where you can start to really appreciate the leaves changing. The pine trees relent a bit while aspens and other deciduous varieties start to show. It’s also where you come to the first mile mark which is conveniently indicated on a trailside post.

Another half mile or so up there is a dirt road to cross – again go straight through this intersection.

Again at the two mile mark there is a post indicating how far you’ve come. This is also where the beautiful aspen trees become even more abundant.

Just before the 3 mile mark the trail gets steeper and starts turning switchbacks. A quarter mile further up you will see another intersection, this time with the Bixler Trail #72. Once again continue straight on the Bill Williams Mountain Trail. About a half mile after passing that last trail junction you will come to a dirt road, and the peak’s towers will be in view.

Go right on the dirt road, then look for an almost immediate left back onto trail blazed with the green diamonds. This last section of trail will put you back on the dirt road again, which you then follow to the summit!

From the summit you can look southwest off the edge of the Colorado Plateau as it drops down, down, down to the Sonoran Desert. The views are extra special if you make it in time for sunset, which I think is the best time to hike this mountain. If you are comfortable hiking back down in the dark, those green trail markers you followed up are reflective, which makes it even easier to find your way back to the car.

The summit has a few communication antennas, but also a lookout tower. The top section is often locked, but you can still get up most of the way for an even higher vantage point.

Once you’ve enjoyed the view to your heart’s content, return back down the same way. Make sure you follow the green trail markers, and check that your following trail signs for Bill Williams Mountain Trail #21.

Bill Williams Mountain Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Bill Williams Mountain Tips & Resources

• Bill Williams Mountain Trail #21 – Kaibab National Forest
• Bring plenty of water, as none is available at the trailhead.
• Carry the 10 Essentials.
• Pack it in. Pack it out. Follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles.
• Things to do in Williams, Arizona – The Gateway to the Grand Canyon.

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the Flagstaff/Sedona area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge runs between April 1 and September 15.  Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

Originally hiked October 27, 2018.

Hiking Piestewa Peak is a famously popular Phoenix-area, StairMaster-like workout that can get really crowded. Most people take the short, direct route up Trail 300. For this year’s Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, I wanted to explore a different route that would add both mileage and net vertical gain to the hike, and hopefully avoid some of the crowds.

Trail Details

Summit: 2,546′
Distance: 6.6 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Elevation gain: 1,760 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Fall-Spring

We’ve marked this as a “no dogs” hike but that is partially true. Dogs on leash are allowed up to the point where the trail connects with Trail 300. If you’re okay with skipping the trip to the peak, you could bring Fido along and just make it a nice loop.

Getting to the Dreamy Draw Trailhead

The parking area for Dreamy Draw is easy to find. Follow N Dreamy Draw Drive eastbound. It ends at the parking area. We arrived before sunrise and had plenty of parking, but when we finished our hike the lot had filled up, so go early on weekends. Parking was free (another benefit over the other route up Piestewa). Get detailed directions on Google Maps.

There are bathroom facilities near the parking area, but no water or facilities on the trail.

Hiking from Dreamy Draw to Piestewa Peak

There’s a vast network of trails in this park, including a paved loop for bicycles, horse trails, and my favorite: single track hiking and trail running trails. There’s any number of ways to get from point A to B, so study the map at the trailhead, download the map data to an app like GaiaGPS before you leave home, and as a backup, carry a paper map. The park is not so big that you’ll get lost for days, but it could be a bummer to log several miles in the wrong direction. We have map of our route, the elevation profile (which shows why this route has more net vertical than the shorter route), and a downloadable GPX file further down in this guide.

The trail signage in the park is a mixture of old and new. The newer signs sport elevation profiles, trail data and a QR code that will (if your cell signal is strong) connect you to a webpage with even more information.

After reviewing the trail maps, we started uphill, making our way to Trail 100 and heading out.

There was a smattering of other people on the trails, but nothing like the “conga line” that often forms at the short route up Piestewa. Plus we were on the northwest side of the mountains, meaning we would have early morning shade.

We hopped on to Trail 1A which makes a loop around the peak, then peeled off at the Irregular Link Trail at about one mile in. This trail climbed about half a mile to a saddle with beautiful views of the surrounding area.

From the saddle, the trail descends around the north side of Piestewa Peak, losing about 400 feet of the elevation you’ve already climbed. At about 2.75 miles, the trail begins to climb again.

At 3.25 miles, you connect with the summit trail (and the conga line). The final stretch climbs up steeply, with a well-engineered trail that has a lot of steps.

To the left is a rounded shoulder that many people stop at. It’s close enough to the summit for them. To the right is a scramble to the true summit, where you’ll find a survey benchmark and the true highpoint of Piestewa Peak. The scramble isn’t too technical, but some might find the broad shoulder less intimidating.

From the summit, we headed back the way we came up. At 5.25 miles, we opted to turn left and take a loop back to Dreamy Draw. It meant less climbing, which was fine since the sun was higher in the sky and a stop at Cartel Coffee Lab was on our mind.

In the end, we logged 6.6 miles and explored another way to reach Piestewa Peak.

Piestewa Peak via Dreamy Draw Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Piestewa Peak via Dreamy Draw Tips & Resources

• Parking at Dreamy Draw was free at the time of writing
• Official City of Phoenix Dreamy Draw Trails website
• On this particular route, the only bathroom facility was near the Dreamy Draw parking area.
• There is no water along the trail. Bring at least two liters.
• This trail is exposed. We had shade from the sun when it was low in the sky, but as it rose, there’s no escaping it. Wear sunscreen and sun protection.

Piestewa Peak is part of the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, a great way to challenge yourself physically while helping fundraise for Big City Mountaineers.

Piestewa Peak Weather Forecast

[forecast width=”100%” location=”85020″]

Originally hiked on November 17, 2019 with Richard Oppelaar.

2019 was the first year for the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, featuring six iconic hikes based around Phoenix and Tucson. Until this past January, I had never done much hiking in Arizona. The challenge provided the perfect excuse to get acquainted with this beautiful area.

For this trip, I flew into Phoenix and rented a camper van from Escape Campervans. I had never tried traveling via a camper van before, and figured this would be a perfect opportunity. I could camp, hike, and spread the word about the latest challenge in the series.

The six hikes in this winter challenge (which runs from November 1st to April 30th) include Piestewa Peak, Camelback Mountain, Fremont Saddle, Picacho Peak, Wasson Peak, and Flatiron.

My plan was to hike one per day, with work days in between each pair of hikes; two days of hiking, one off, and repeat until complete–a total of eight days.

On the off days, I met with local hiking friends and visited local outdoor retailers to share information about the challenge. A number of people have hiked this over three days, tackling two hikes per day. Our Arizona ambassador Richard completed the entire challenge in 18 hours and 26 minutes. I wanted to take a more relaxed pace and have a chance to check out the area, especially since it was my first time hiking around Phoenix and Tucson.

Rather than complete them in order from easiest to most challenging, I grouped them by geography, then ranked from shorter to longer and harder. The first two were Piestewa and Camelback, which are both in the city of Phoenix, and very popular. My first challenge with the camping idea is that there really isn’t camping in the city. I ended up getting a campsite about an hour north of Phoenix  (which I wouldn’t recommend doing again). My plan was to hike Piestewa to catch the sunset on Saturday, then Camelback for sunrise on Sunday.

Piestewa Peak

Piestewa Peak

Distance: 2.2 miles
Elevation gain: 1,112 ft

Piestewa Peak Trail Guide

After fueling up and driving to the park, I took Trail 300 to the summit, the most direct route. The main parking lot was being expanded and was closed for construction, so I ended up parking about 1/2 mile further away. There were plenty of people on this trail, and it’s fairly obvious that a lot of people use it as part of their normal workout schedule. And it’s a great substitute for the Stairmaster, with much better views.

The sunset was beautiful. Not as beautiful as some hikers on Piestewa have captured, but much more interesting than the midday sun. My aprés hike dinner? At nearby San Tan Brewery, washed down with a well-earned IPA.

Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain

Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 1,246 ft

Camelback Mountain Trail Guide

I was surprised by some of the scrambling that’s required for the final climb to the summit. Watch for the paint spots on the rocks that mark the easiest route, and take your time.

I was back down the mountain in time for breakfast at Morning Squeeze in Scottsdale and a celebratory Bloody Mary.

Monday was a work day, but also a chance to meetup with an online friend. Before I drove down to Picacho State Park for my next camping spot, I met up with R Scott Jones for a chance to sample local craft beer at Arizona Wilderness Brewing.

Scott is a big fan of challenges of another sort. He recently completed a long-time goal of visiting all National Park entities (includes National Monuments and other properties that aren’t specifically called National Parks). And that’s just one of his many quests. We have known each other online for a long time, but this was our first face to face encounter.

After more work (and coffee) I pointed the campervan south and headed to Picacho Peak State Park.

Picacho Peak

Picacho Peak

Distance: 2.4 miles
Elevation gain: 1,986 ft

Picacho Peak Trail Guide

The next morning I woke at sunrise and was blown away by the colors in the sky. It was going to be an epic day.

Picacho Peak isn’t particularly long, but it’s a fun and challenging hike. I knew going in that there were cables to help you up and down various sections of this mountain, but I underestimated how steep and even a little scary they would be. This was very similar to the experience of climbing Angels Landing in Zion National Park, but even steeper (if you can imagine).

The campground at Picacho Peak State Park was designed mainly for RVs, with electrical hookups at each site. And the bathroom was super clean, with hot showers. I would highly recommend camping here. I stayed for three nights, using this as a base not only for Picacho Peak but also Wasson Peak near Tucson (roughly an hour south).

Wasson Peak

Wasson Peak

Distance: 7.7 miles
Elevation gain: 1,886 ft

Wasson Peak Trail Guide

The trail itself was a breeze in contrast the the cable climb up Picacho on the previous day. The saguaros made the hills look like pin cushions. I had the summit to myself for about 10 minutes, then headed back down.

After the hike, I headed into Tucson. Got a little work done at a coffeeshop, then met up with an outdoor blogger friend from Tucson, Adam Nutting at Truland Burgers & Greens. You can find him in Instagram at hikingthetrail, which also happens to be the name of his blog. My wife and I had met Adam once before on our last trip to Tucson, so it wasn’t our first face-to-face, but it’s always great to catch up over a meal and a cold beverage.

I spent one last night at Picacho Peak State Park (which I will gladly camp at again), then I drove out to McDowell Mountain Regional Park for the next few nights.

A Look at the Campervan

When I wasn’t hiking or spreading word about the challenge, I was working, eating and sleeping in the campervan. The van has a seating area with a dining table that worked perfectly for getting a little work done on my laptop. When it was time to sleep, the table folds away and the rear bench seat folds out into a queen-size bed.

In the back of the van is the kitchen, complete with stop, pump-operated sink and a small refrigerated drawer. It worked well for this trip, and thankfully I didn’t have to cook in the rain.

It is considered “dry camping” in that while there is a small reservoir to supply water for the sink, there isn’t a toilet or shower. Each of the parks that I stayed at had flush toilets and sinks, and Picacho State Park had excellent, clean, hot showers.

You can travel with 2-4 people comfortably, although you would need to either bring a tent for a couple of them, or rent the optional rooftop tent available through Escape Campervans.

Fremont Saddle

Fremont Saddle

Distance: 4.8 miles
Elevation gain: 1,496 ft

Fremont Saddle Trail Guide

The trail itself was beautiful, climbing steadily upward to Fremont Saddle. It pays to stop every so often, turn around and look back as the views open up.

From Fremont Saddle, I had a great view of the iconic Weaver’s Needle. And the hike back down to the trailhead provided a spectacular sundown show.

I headed back to camp. The next morning would be my final hike for the trip, and I was meeting our ambassador Richard (aka @foxtrax) at the trailhead at 7am.

Flatiron

Flatiron

Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation gain: 3,157 ft

Flatiron Trail Guide

The views from the top are worth the effort, and Flatiron is one of those iconic geographic features that everyone should add to their peak-bagging resume.

We capped off the final peak with lunch and a beer at Four Peaks Brewing Co. in Tempe.

Summary

Hiking the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge over an eight days was pretty easy pace. If I weren’t also working along the trip, I would have done it in six days (or less). You could also split this into two, three-day efforts.

I was really impressed by the beauty of the trails, and I’m looking forward to returning to hike them again from different routes.

If you’re interested in taking the challenge, you can learn more here.

Originally hiked January 12-19, 2019. All photos by Jeff Hester.

The highest point in all of Arizona, Humphreys Peak towers above the surrounding region. Millions of years ago a massive stratovolcano called San Francisco Mountain stood around 16,000 feet tall, but it eventually collapsed leaving an arc of peaks which rim the Inner Basin. Hike through a beautiful forest of conifers and aspens up along the panoramic ridge that leads to the top of Arizona!

Trail Details

Summit Elev.: 12,633′
Distance: 10.5 miles
Time: 6-8 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 3,406′
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Humphreys Peak Trailhead

From Flagstaff, head north out of town on Hwy 180. After mile marker 222, turn right onto N Snow Bowl Rd. following the sign for the Arizona Snowbowl. Continue up the windy road for 6.5 miles. You will come to a sign pointing left that says “LOT 1 Base Area Parking Humphrey Trail”. Turn left into that parking area for the trailhead. There is no water at the trailhead, or along the trail, so make sure you show up with plenty. During summer, there are usually a few porta-potties in the parking lot.

Lightning Danger

In the summer season, thunderstorms are your primary concern. Check the weather forecast, start early, pack layers even if it’s hot in town, and keep an eye on the sky for developing storms. It gets windy and cold on the ridge, and sometimes you won’t see storms coming until you get to the saddle. Even if you don’t expect anything but blue skies, plan to be back down off the mountain by early afternoon. On summer afternoons, the summit area has reportedly been struck by over one hundred lightning strikes in a single hour. In July 2016, a 17 year old boy was struck by lightning and died at the summit. If there appears to be any chance of a storm while you are above tree line, turn back and get down as fast and safely as you can, and live to hike another day. The mountain is not going anywhere.

Hiking Humphreys Peak

Start your hike from the trailhead at the northeast corner of the parking lot. Cross the open meadow to the forest on the far side, and pass under one of the ski lifts along the way. In winter this meadow is the beginner’s slope.

On the other side, you’ll find a sign marking the boundary of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness, and the trail heads into the trees.

The first half of this route is a series of long switchback, followed by a few short switchbacks, all below tree line. Flanked by birch and pine trees, this lower forest feels like a sanctuary. The trail is mostly clear, but some downed trees remain across the path.

A little beyond the half mile mark is the first switchback turn, and little before the one mile mark is the trail register. Fill out the register with your information, and take a break to drink, eat and adjust if necessary. Where the register pedestal is located is also a trail junction, so make sure you turn left onto the next switchback. If you go straight, instead, you would end up at the ski lodge.

The trail continues up through the beautiful forest hitting some rocky and root-covered sections at times, but overall smooth sailing.

The switchbacks remain rather long with a right switchback turn at 1.3 miles, a left switchback turn at mile 1.7 miles, and an easily missed right switchback turn at 2.3 miles. The last one is easily missed because it coincides with an old avalanche path.

When you come to this broad boulder field that runs up and down the mountainside, do not cross it. Turn right onto the next switchback.

At this point you start to get small views opening up in windows between the trees, especially if you step out onto the boulder field. Two more turns between long switchbacks remain – left at 2.8 miles and right at 3 miles. The trail then curves left as views of the ski runs and Agassiz Peak, Arizona’s second tallest, open up.

Around three and three quarters of a mile, the series of shorter switchbacks begins. After a couple turns you get to about 11,400’ of elevation, where there’s a sign explaining to not hike off trail or camp above this point. This is because you are entering an alpine zone. Many people are tempted to cut straight up to the saddle here, but you should continue along the switchback you are on. The terrain and ecosystem near and above tree line are very fragile. You should avoid hiking off-trail anywhere, but it can be especially harmful here.

At this point the saddle is so close, you can smell that view of the Inner Basin.The saddle sits at about 11,700’ elevation and a little beyond the 4 mile mark. With amazing views down into the backside bowl, here is a great place to take a break. It’s also a good spot to assess incoming adverse weather and decide if it looks safe to proceed.

Here you are firmly reminded of the fact that you are on the rim of an extinct volcano, looking down into its crater. You can just about see the true peak, but take note of how the ridge undulates up to the summit. When you’re on that ridge, you can be fooled into thinking you are at the top, when you still have a way to go. Also here is a trail junction, make sure you go left up the ridge.

The species of trees up here is the bristlecone pine, which in some regions grow to be thousands of years old. Continue on the path through these resolute figures, staying on the left side of the ridge. Among the final trees, and above them, there are wooden poles marking the trail at varying intervals. If in doubt, stay left and scan ahead for the next post.

As you climb, make sure to look back and to your left to appreciate the views to the south.

You will encounter a few small dips, but the trail is mostly up, up, up the rest of the way. Take small breaks to enjoy the view, try not to be discouraged by the false summits, and pay attention to your breathing.

Around five miles and a quarter from the trailhead, you will find yourself standing at the top of Arizona! Views of the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Bill Williams Mountain, Kendrick Peak, and the Inner Basin are all there for your ocular pleasure.

Take it all in, keep watching for developing storm clouds, and return down the way you came.

Humphreys Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Humphreys Peak Resources

• Forest Service page for Humphreys Trail No. 151
• To hike this in winter, a free backcountry permit is required
• As previously mentioned, lightning strikes are common, especially in the afternoon. Keep an eye on the weather and turn around immediately and head below tree-line if thunderclouds loom.
• Be sure to carry the Ten Essentials

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the Flagstaff/Sedona area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge runs between April 1 and September 15.  Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

Take a hike up Mount Elden and perch yourself atop Flagstaff. This route starts out on the Fatman’s Loop, then splits off to climb all the way to Elden Lookout standing at over 9,000 ft. From the top you are rewarded with sweeping views of O’Leary and the San Francisco Peaks.

Trail Details

Summit Elev.: 9,299′
Distance: 5.3 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,398′
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Mount Elden Trailhead

From downtown Flagstaff, head east on Route 66. About 4 miles from the center of town, continue straight onto US 89. Go just another mile and make a left into the parking lot for the Fatman’s Loop and Mt. Elden Lookout Trail. There’s no sign for the turn, but it’s your first left turn after the McDonalds and Safeway.

The trailhead has a good size parking lot, but it can get crowded. There is no running water or toilet at the trailhead, so plan accordingly.

Hiking Mount Elden with Fatman’s Loop

The trailhead is at the northwest corner of the parking lot. There is an information kiosk with a map of all the trails, some interesting history on the area, and a hiking register where it’s a good idea to sign in. The trail starts with an easy uphill grade, and after just a quarter mile you will get to your first intersection. Stay left, following the arrow for Elden Lookout. This gets you going clockwise on the Fatman’s Loop.

In another quarter mile you reach your second intersection, this time with the Pipeline Trail. Go straight through this three-way intersection, continuing to follow the arrow for Elden Lookout.

This stretch of trail is where you’re reminded you aren’t quite out of the desert. There are yucca and prickly pear mixed in with the typical pine trees of Flagstaff. The path becomes a little steeper around the 0.5 mile mark, and at the 0.8 mile mark you come to your next intersection. This is the turnoff from the Fatman’s Loop onto the trail that takes you up to the top. Turn left here, and prepare for the real climbing to begin!

The next half mile or so of trail makes six relatively long switchbacks, tightens up for a quicker back and forth, then stops messing about altogether and goes straight up the ridge. Fortunately this is also where the views begin to open up, so any huff-puff breaks are made exponentially more pleasant.

As you continue to climb the tighter switchbacks return, and around the 1.5 mile mark you encounter the steepest stretch of trail. After a quarter mile or so, the incline eases off a bit and the path traverses right until you gain a ridge around the 2 mile mark and at 8,700’ elevation. Just 600’ more to climb!

Continue following the trail as it switchbacks across the ridge, then traverses left to reach the saddle around the 2.3 mile mark. Here is where the trail intersects with the Sunset Trail, and climbs the final ridge to the peak.

Turn left at the intersection and continue following the trail up the ridge to the Elden Lookout. Through here you can really appreciate how devastating the 1977 Radio Fire was to the area. But between all the old tree carcasses, the beautiful aspens are taking over.

There is quite a bit of antenna and tower action going on at the summit, but the views are still amazing! You have Flagstaff below you to the southwest, O’Leary Peak to the northeast, and the impressive San Francisco Peaks to the north!

Once you’ve collected your spectacular photos in every direction, return down to the Fatman’s Loop intersection. Here you must decide if you’ve had enough for the day, or if you think you can handle a bonus half mile and some fresh scenery. To cut it slightly shorter, go right and follow the path you took up from the parking lot.

To make the hike a little longer, go left and continue following signs for the Fatman’s Loop until you return to where you joined the loop on your way up. Just after the trail for the KOA, you will turn left to get back to the parking lot.

Mount Elden Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Mount Elden Resources

• Forest Service page for the Elden Lookout Trail #4
• Forest Service page for Fatman’s Loop Trail #25

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the Flagstaff/Sedona area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge runs between April 1 and September 15.  Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

One of the tallest mountains in the San Francisco volcanic field, Kendrick Peak offers spectacular views stretching from Humphreys Peak to the Grand Canyon. The trail begins in a quintessential ponderosa pine forest, travels up through a decades old burn area, and passes by a century-old historic cabin. At the very top, enjoy the scenery from the fire lookout built in the 60’s, or have a picnic in the sun on the platform just below.

Trail Details

Summit Elev.: 10,418′
Distance: 9.4 miles
Time: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,851′
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Kendrick Peak Trailhead

From Flagstaff, head north out of town on Hwy 180. Continue on 180 for ten miles beyond the turn for Arizona Snowbowl. After mile marker 232, and just before mile marker 233, turn left onto FS 193 – a dirt road with a cattle guard at the start. Go about 3.2 miles until it ends at a T intersection with FS 171. Go right on FS 171, and continue about 2 miles. Turn right onto FS 190, go up about half a mile and you’ll see the trailhead parking area on the right side.

The lot is dirt and all roads from Hwy 180 are unpaved, but regular passenger cars typically have no trouble accessing this trailhead. The start of the trail is located at the northeast corner of the lot. There are garbage cans and a pit toilet, but no running water.

Hiking Kendrick Peak

Take some time looking over the trailhead signage to get your bearings, and learn some history about fires and fire prevention in the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness. Ponder where the Pumpkin name comes from, then pass through the fence to start your hike. The trail begins broad and easy in a forest of ponderosa pines.

The path wraps around the southeast slope of East Newman Hill, then turns north with four quick switchbacks. Here you see increasing evidence of the 2000 Pumpkin Fire.

Continue through the more severe burn area. Around the 1.5 mile mark the trail approaches the drainage dip one last time before switchbacking left. Without a noticeable increase in steepness, the trail climbs onto the southwest ridge of Kendrick Peak.

Once you are on the ridge, this is a nice place to take a break. It’s about the 2 mile mark, and the area is a broad flat shoulder with good spots to park it. After some noshing and sipping, continue switchbacking up the ridge. Somewhere around the eighth or ninth switchback, the trail takes a conifer respite and gives you some birch tree action.

The trail gradually moves east until the 3 mile mark where it crosses the south ridge, continues moving up the southeast side of the mountain, and switchbacks up to the expansive flat just east of the peak. A little beyond the 4 mile mark you will find an old cabin. Built in 1912, this cabin was saved from the Pumpkin Fire by fire fighters who wrapped the structure in fire resistant material.

After imagining the cabin wrapped up like a giant baked potato, continue west on the path toward the peak. There’s a sign along the trail after the cabin that says “Kendrick Lookout”, and about a half mile after that you reach the top of Kendrick Peak!

To the east is Humphreys Peak, and if you look to the north on a clear day you can easily see the Grand Canyon. There’s a fire lookout at the true summit, and a nice platform on the west side of the peak perfect for a summit picnic.

When your eyeballs have had their fill of the view, return down the same way you came up.

Kendrick Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Kendrick Peak Resources

• Forest Service’s web pages with info on the Kendrick Mountain Trail.

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the Flagstaff/Sedona area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge runs between April 1 and September 15.  Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

Hiking O’Leary Peak will take you to the edge of a millennia old lava flow, and up high above to look down on the cinder cone that created it. From the lookout tower at the top of this lava dome, you’ll look into the heart of the San Francisco Peaks, marvel at the size of Humphrey’s Peak, and enjoy a birds eye view of Sunset Crater National Monument.

Trail Details

Summit Elev.: 8,916′
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,014′
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Trailhead

From Flagstaff, head North on Hwy 89. Eleven miles passed the Flagstaff KOA, turn right following the sign for Sunset Crater Volcano Wupatki National Monument. Continue straight on Fire Road 545 for 1.8 miles, then turn Left at the sign for O’Leary Group Campground onto Fire Road 545A.

The road dead-ends at the gated trailhead after about a quarter mile and there are spaces to park on the right. There is no bathroom or water at the trailhead.

Hiking O’Leary Peak

To begin the hike, pass by the gate and start walking the wide black cinder path. The first mile is a combination of flat and slight downhill, as you approach and curve left along the edge of the Bonito Lava Flow. This vast flow was created by the Sunset Crater Volcano 1,000 years ago.

As the path begins to bend northward, Darton Dome then O’Leary Peak come into view. These peaks were all created from volcanic activity, but they are different types of structures. Sunset Crater is a cinder cone, while O’Leary Peak is a lava dome.

Feel free to leave the path and explore the lava flow – the Forest Service encourages it. After investigating the inky dollops, return to the trail and continue towards the peak. The incline comes on in fits and starts during the second mile, then holds steady for the duration. Just before the two mile mark you hit the first of six switchbacks. Here the trees start to become sparse, and the view of the lava field starts to open up.

The trail approaches a saddle, but doesn’t quite reach it before hitting the second switchback. This is by far the longest of the switchbacks. As you progress along this leg, look back to see Humphrey’s Peak rise above the trees.

This long switchback eventually ends at the saddle between O’Leary Peak and Darton Dome, around the 3.5 mile mark. If you look up from here, you can see the tower standing at the top of the ridge. Go left through an open gate, starting the third switchback.

This switchback is about as long as the first. The last three are all shorter, which you’ll find start at mile 4.0, mile 4.3, and mile 4.6 At mile 4.8 you will pass by a final gate. The tower is so close, it’s visible from here!

Continue up the final steep finish to the tower! There’s a sign next to the tower listing the hours it should be open and staffed, but I was there during open hours and it was apparently unattended. If you do hike it while there’s someone on watch, just holler up to ask for permission to climb aboard. If not, the view from around the base of the tower is certainly good enough.

Take in the panoramic view spanning from Sunset Crater to the south and Humphrey’s Peak to the west. Once you’ve finished contemplating the structural differences between cinder cones and lava domes, return back down the way you came.

O’Leary Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

O’Leary Peak Resources

• Dogs are allowed, but be aware that the dark gravel trails may get too hot for Fido’s paws.
• Forest Service’s web pages with info on the O’Leary Peak Trail

Flagstaff Weather Forecast

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Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the Flagstaff/Sedona area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge opens April 1st! Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

With one of the greatest overlooks in all Sedona, Wilson Mountain is a must for any Arizona hiker. This northern approach offers a cool shady canyon start and an up-close perspective of beautifully stratified red and beige rocks, before climbing onto the broad grassy mesa. Pack some snacks, plan to stay up top for a while, and fully appreciate the panoramic view.

Trail Details

Summit Elev.: 7,065′
Distance: 7.2 miles
Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,331′
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Trailhead

From Sedona, go north on 89A. Continue 3.4 miles past Midgely Bridge. The trailhead is on the left side at the Encinoso Picnic Area. You will see a sign for the picnic area 200 ft. before the parking lot entrance.

From Flagstaff, take I-17 South to exit 337 for 89A South. At the traffic circle, take the first exit following the sign for Sedona, then at the second traffic circle take the third exit onto 89A toward Sedona. Continue 19.4 miles on 89A. The trailhead is on the right side at the Encinoso Picnic Area. You will see a sign come up for the picnic area 100 ft. before the parking lot entrance.

The parking spaces inside the gate are day-use only, since it’s for the picnic area. But, there are a few spots just outside the gate if you are hiking outside normal day-use hours. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking and can be purchased for $5 with credit/debit card from a vending machine in the parking lot. There are bathrooms at the trailhead, but no running water.

Hiking Wilson Mountain

Wilson Mountain has two main routes to the top. The North Wilson Trail is the cooler of the two, so it’s the preferred route in summer. To start the hike go to the north end of the parking lot, near the lot entrance, and you’ll find a path next to a wooden frame displaying a trail map.

A few yards beyond the map display, there’s a metal signpost that reads “TRAIL 123 NORTH WILSON”, confirming you are in the right place. The start is a little rocky, but not too steep. Around a tenth of a mile in you pass under a power line, then the views start to improve both ahead and behind.

As you reach the half mile mark, tree cover increases and you begin to enter a broad area between two ridges. You’ll start to notice evidence that this area burned back in the 2006 Brins fire. About ¾ of a mile in, the canyon becomes narrower, slightly steeper, and the trail starts to curve left toward the south end of the red rock face ahead.

There’s a dip across a narrow streambed, then in another tenth of a mile a larger dip switchbacking left to cross the streambed again. Around the one mile mark, there is a section that can be confusing – the trail makes an abrupt left for a small switchback around some trees and boulders. Don’t be tempted to go straight or right, by the worn sidepath. Less than a quarter mile further you will reach the first of three larger switchbacks, which accelerate your ascent to the next plane. You can track your upward progress using the colorful layers of the  opposing rock wall for reference.

This section is followed by many tight steeper switchbacks which bring you up onto a large flat area referred to as the “First Bench” of Wilson Mountain. After about a half mile of travel along this “bench”, you’ll come to a three-way intersection. Turn right, following the sign arrow pointing to “WILSON MTN”.

Once you make the right turn, the trail heads uphill aiming just north of the peak. Half a mile from the junction you hit the first turn of a long switchback, then a quarter mile further you finish the switchback turning right and continuing up onto the mesa. A mix of trees returns, both standing and downed, as the trail curves gently left bringing you to the final saddle with another three-way intersection.

At this juncture go left, following the arrow pointing to “SEDONA OVERLOOK”. This is a good time to check that your socks are on tight, because the view ahead may knock them off. The trail rises up and over the highest elevation of the hike, but the real view is a quarter mile further at the plateau’s southern edge.

Be careful once you get to the rim, because it’s a precipitous drop to the bottom.

From the end of the trail you have spectacular views into Oak Creek Canyon and across Sedona. If you know where to look, you can see Midgely Bridge spanning Wilson Canyon.

Once you’ve filled your camera roll with enough pictures of the panorama, return down the way you came.

Wilson Mountain Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Wilson Mountain Resources

• A Red Rock Pass for parking is required and can be purchased at the trailhead vending
  machine – $5 for the day or $15 for the week – More info on Red Rock Pass
• Forest Service’s web pages with info on both trails used for this route:
  • North Wilson Trail #123
  • Wilson Mountain Trail #10

Sedona Weather Forecast

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Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge opens April 1st! Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

A hike up Bear Mountain is full of rewarding views not just at the top, but all along the climb. You get quintessential panoramas looking across Sedona, up close and personal encounters with red cliff faces, and the most incredible perspectives peering down into Fay Canyon. With this hike, it’s about the journey and the destination.

Trail Details

Summit Elev.: 6,476′
Distance: 4.6 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,109′
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Getting to the Trailhead

From Sedona, head south on 89A. Turn Right onto Dry Creek Road, at the sign for Sedona Public Library. After 4.5 miles you’ll reach a stop sign. Go Left at the stop, following the sign for Enchantment Resort. Continue 1.2 miles and you’ll see the parking area on the left, and trailhead on the right side of the road. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking and can be purchased for $5 with credit/debit card from a vending machine in the parking lot. There are bathrooms at the trailhead, but no running water.

Hiking Bear Mountain

The trailhead is not on the same side of the road as the parking area, so be sure to cross over before you start hiking.

The trail begins by passing through a fence on the northwest side of the road, then undulates for a bit before the first steep section. It’s easy to get off course in a few spots, but navigating the red rock is made easier by white painted blazes along the route.

About a half mile up there’s a steep scramble to reach the first vista with beautiful views.

The next half mile is a better defined trail, wrapping around the left side of the rock wall you’ve been approaching.

Near the one mile mark, there is another steep ascent to get onto the plateau. The climb lasts about a quarter mile, and once at the top you get your first view of the peak and better views of the surrounding area.

Once on the plateau, the trail continues uphill through short brush, dipping down three times before reaching the final upward push around mile 2. All the while your perspective gets better and better. There are a few great spots to see the south face of Bear Mountain, but even more impressive is the view down into Fay Canyon. As the ridge your following narrows, the trail skirts just left of the end of the red rock gorge.

The last quarter mile of the hike takes you away from the precipice, up to the southwest section of the Bear Mountain summit. The end of the trail is marked by a sign which reads “END OF TRAIL”, in case the overwhelming feeling of joy isn’t enough indication.

To get back to the trailhead, return down the way you came.

Bear Mountain Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Bear Mountain Resources

• A Red Rock Pass for parking is required and can be purchased at the trailhead vending
  machine – $5 for the day or $15 for the week – More info on Red Rock Pass
• Forest Service’s web page with trail info

Sedona Weather Forecast

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Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Summer Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Registration for the summer challenge opens April 1st! Be sure to check out the winter challenge, too!

Located in Lost Dutchman State Park of the Superstition Wilderness, Flatiron is one of the most challenging and spectacular hikes in Arizona. The Siphon Draw Trail brings you passed towering rock formations, up a basin carved smooth by water, and tops out on one of the most iconic rock formations in the Southwest. Keep an eye out for lost treasure as you scramble up this heart-pounding route, but know that the real gold is the view from the top!

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 4,861′
Distance: 6.6 miles
Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 3,147 ft
Dogs: Yes, but need to be lifted/lowered in one section
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring
Trail hours: 6am to 10pm

Pay the fee ($7 per vehicle), then continue on to the last parking area for the Siphon Draw Trailhead, about 0.7 miles from where you first turned into the park.

There is water at the trailhead, and there are restrooms at one of the other parking areas you pass on the way in.

Hiking Flatiron via Siphon Draw

In the southwest corner of the parking area there is a small but clear sign marking the Siphon Draw Trailhead. Begin hiking south along the trail, undulating from one wash to the next. Just a few hundred feet in you’ll see an intersecting trail on the left, but you should continue straight following the sign for the Siphon Draw Trail. A quarter mile from the trailhead turn left, again following the Siphon Draw Trail sign. Look up the canyon ahead and you can see your objective is now in view!

A little past this left turn, the trail passes near some buildings and crosses straight across a paved access road. Keep hiking uphill on the path, pass through a park boundary fence into Tonto National Forest, and around the 0.8 mile mark you’ll continue past the Prospector’s View Trail. The trail continues making its way to the mouth of the canyon, and about 1.4 miles in the incline increases and it begins to get rocky.

As the trail enters the canyon, it sticks to the left side until you eventually reach The Basin at the 2.0 mile mark.

This is where the trail becomes more challenging, both physically and to navigate. Climb out of this bowl feature on the right side, following a narrow chute. Continue up the slippery gravel covered slope until you find yourself in a notch with a spectacular view of the Flatiron. This is a good place to take a break, before you drop into the Siphon Draw. Descend carefully from the notch and start making your way up the very steep and rocky terrain.

Stay left in the draw when given a choice, and resist the temptation to go up the slope on the right. Soon after dropping in, you’ll come to a wall that you should simply climb up and over – it has plenty of good footing. Take your time, and look for the path of least resistance. If you find yourself struggling to find a clear route, take a moment and reassess.

The crux of this climb is a nearly vertical wall that’s about 10 feet tall, just shy of the final saddle. It’s jagged enough for decent foot and handholds, but still tricky figure out how to maneuver the first time. The best option is to go up the right side, utilizing the lower protruding rocks as steps.

Remember, coming down is always more difficult, so think twice before deciding to pass this point.

Once your over the crux, hike up a little further and look for a trail to the right that will take you out onto the plateau. It’s a relatively flat quarter mile to the edge of the Flatiron. From the vertigo-inducing edge the view of the valley is breathtaking!

Before dropping back into Siphon Draw, consider exploring the hoodoo rock formations back near the saddle. Once you’re satisfied, return carefully down the way you came.

Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Flatiron Hiking Resources

• Lost Dutchman State Park – official website
• The state park has an entrance fee of $7 per vehicle

Flatiron Peak Weather Forecast

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Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Wasson Peak is the tallest mountain in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park. This loop hike travels along ridges with grand desert vistas and through some of the thickest Saguaro forest in Arizona. The top of the mountain has nice views of Tucson, the Santa Catalina Mountains, and beyond!

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 4,687′
Distance: 7.7 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,886 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring
Trail hours: Dawn to Dusk

There is parking for about 15 cars, and the lot fills up in cooler months. The trailhead has a dirt parking lot with no toilets or water, so stop at the visitor’s center if either are needed.

Hiking Wasson Peak

From the parking area, start hiking up the broad path. There is a split almost immediately at which you should stay right and continue through a gate after about another 200 feet. The trail is rocky but wide and lined with beautiful ocotillo, prickly pear, and saguaro, of course. Around mile 0.6 there is a ledge on the left that offers a great view up the canyon, toward the peak. After another couple tenths of a mile, the trail starts to go downhill and you’ll see a picnic area out to the left. Eventually you’ll come to a sandy wash and three-way intersection. Go straight through the intersection on the King Canyon Trail, staying in the sandy wash.

At the 1.0 mile mark is a turn that is very easily missed. The wash forks, and you should stay left, but then immediately turn right up the dividing ridge. There are man-made steps, but they are hidden in the bushes.

Go up the steps and follow the trail through all the beautiful desert plants there to distract you from the steady climb. This stretch continues up to mile 2.2, where you reach a saddle and intersect with the Sweetwater Trail.

As the trail sign says, turn left towards the peak. The trail starts to climb the ridge, passing some prickly pear with a sign in front of it that says “Foot Trail Only: No Stock”. If you’ve brought a burro, you’ll have to stop here.

The burroless may continue up this ridge of switchbacks, which is the steepest climb of the hike. The trail levels out just under the crest of the ridge, takes two more short switchbacks, and reaches another intersection at the 3.1 mile mark. Turn right at this intersection and follow the final ridge out to the top of Wasson Peak.

From the top you can see all of the Tucson Mountains, the city of Tucson, the Santa Catalina Mountains, the Rincon Mountains, and if you’ve already hiked Picacho Peak, you should be able to pick out its distinct shape out to the northwest.

To get back to the trailhead, return to the last intersection about 0.3 mile back. From here you can go left and return the way you came, or go right and use the following directions to make it a loop. The loop is about a mile further than doing it as an out-and-back, but you get to see new things!

If you are doing the loop, go right onto the Hugh Norris Trail when you get back to that last intersection near the peak. According to the sign at that intersection, it is the trail in the direction of the Sendero Esperanza Trail. There are some steeper switchbacks at first, then mellows out and passes just south of Amole Peak. Continue following the relatively direct trail, making an occasional short switchback until you reach the intersection with the Sendero Esperanza Trail. Go left at this intersection, following the sign for the Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area.

The trail descends about one mile to the junction with the Gould Mine Trail. Just before the intersection, you’ll pass by a covered up mine area and the foundation of an old building. Turn right at the intersection, following the sign towards the King Canyon Trailhead. After a little more than a mile, you’ll be back at the trailhead.

Wasson Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Wasson Peak Hiking Resources

• Plan Your Visit to Saguaro National Park
• Overview of the trails in the Tuscon Mountain District (PDF)
• Kings Canyon Trailhead information
• Saguaro National Park has a $15 entrance fee per vehicle, which you can pay at the visitor center or online.

Wasson Peak Weather Forecast

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Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Picacho is one of those peaks that you look at and can’t tell how there’s possibly a trail to the top, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the most exciting two and a half mile hikes out there. Once you make it beyond the halfway saddle, it’s a rollercoaster of a mountain and emotion. You’ll be thankful for the system of steel cables there for you to cling to along all the steep, bare rock sections. Don’t forget to pack a pair of gloves!

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 3,374′
Distance: 2.4 miles
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 1,986 ft
Dogs: Only to the half-way saddle
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring
Trail hours: Sunrise to Sunset

The trailhead has no toilets or water, so stop at the visitor’s center if either are needed.

Hiking Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail

There are two trails out of the parking area, so make sure you start on the one that goes right and up towards the peak. There is a very obvious sign next to the correct trail that says “Hunter Trail To the Top of the Peak”.

Out of the parking lot, the trail starts with a gentle uphill grade and a few slight turns. There are a lot of man-made wooden steps, some obvious trail signs to guide you, and a few sections of cable that you’ll later laugh at on your way back down from the summit.

After a half mile of this easier terrain, you get up to a rock face and the trail makes a left turn. You’ll drop away from the wall briefly, then climb back up towards the next larger rock face. Around mile 0.65 you’ll come to the base of the wall where there’s an overhang carved out making a shallow cave, and the trail will make a sharp switchback to the right. Continue up for about another tenth of a mile where you’ll reach a saddle.

The view south opens up nicely here, and there’s even a bench for you to rest a moment before the real challenge begins.

As the sign next to the bench points out, the trail turns left here. Walk towards the towering rock face on your left, and you’ll see a cable railing system begin and curve down, down, down along the base of the wall.

The trail drops about 300 vertical feet here. As you drop you’ll have a single cable, two cables, wooden steps, or all three at the same time. At the bottom of this drop, the trail turns left and traverses relatively flat for a moment then begins to curve uphill again. There are a few mellow cabled parts in this stretch, trail signs and small white arrows painted on the rock to guide you through some switchbacks, then around the 1.0 mile mark there’s a junction with the Sunset Trail.

Keep left at this junction, following an obvious “TO PEAK” sign. From here to the peak the cables get serious.

They look a little scary at first, but once you’re in them you feel quite secure. Take your time through each, and use them to help you navigate. Once you clear one set, look up ahead for the next.

After about 150 vertical feet of cables and rock, you come to a large amphitheater dotted with saguaros.

Follow the trail clockwise and up around the inside of the bowl. On the far side you’ll come to the steepest cabled section on the mountain. The cables feel nearly vertical here, but there is decent footing up and through the metal doorframe. At the top of this section, go left to traverse through the final cables. Ahead you’ll find a straight drop to the parking lot side of the peak. Turn right, switchbacking through the final stretch to the summit. Take in the 360 degree view from the top of this dramatic peak!

Once you’ve mentally prepared to go back down through the gauntlet, return the way you came.

Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Picacho Peak Hiking Resources

• Official Picacho State Park website
• Don’t forget to pack some light gloves to help protect your hands on the cables
• The state park has an entrance fee of $7 per car
• Get turn-by-turn driving directions to the trailhead via Google Maps

Picacho Peak Weather Forecast

[forecast width=”100%” location=”85131″]

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Camelback Mountain is the most popular mountain to hike in the Phoenix area for good reasons. It’s a fun challenging hike from either side, it has good views of the Phoenix area, and it’s entertaining to compare its profile to a napping camel. There are two popular routes up this dromedary. The Cholla Trail is the more gradual, but longer route of the two.

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 2,707′
Distance: 2.8 miles
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,246 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring
Trail hours: Sunrise to Sunset

One alternative is to take a rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) If you live too far for that you can park in a shopping center nearby and use a rideshare service to get you to East Cholla Lane from there. If you do take a rideshare service, they are not allowed to drop you off on East Cholla Lane – you must get dropped off on North 64th Street. There are often rangers at the trailhead enforcing the no drop-off rule, the no dog rule, and checking that hikers are prepared.

Hiking Camelback Mountain via the Cholla Trail

Once you’ve finished reading all the rules at the trailhead, start up the gradual steps that lead beyond the signs. The trail is very mellow at first, but by mile 0.2 the incline is already turning up.

As it becomes steeper, it also makes a few switchbacks and gains the center of the ridge. At mile 0.6, the trail flattens out some as it begins to drop to the right of the ridge’s apex. The trail stays relatively flat on the north side of the ridge, steepens around mile 0.75, then regains the top of the ridge at mile 1.0. This is where the views get even better, and you now start to see the real climb ahead of you.

Beyond here the trail is significantly more difficult. You will want to use your hands in certain spots, and the route ahead can be unclear. Fortunately, there are some blue marks on the rock along the way, and in some really confusing places there are signs with arrows pointing you in the right direction. There are a few places where you will drop left of the crest, but in general you want to stay on top or close to the top of the ridge.

At mile 1.2 the trail drops down a little. If you look up from here, you may clearly see people standing on the summit – you’re almost there! Continue straight for about another tenth of a mile, then the route curves right and up to the very top of the mountain.

This peak is notoriously disorienting once you get to the top, so pay close attention to which way you came up. Many hikers begin descending the opposite trail by mistake.

Once you’ve taken all the selfies you desire, return down the way you came up. There are a few bottlenecks near the top, so watch for people coming up. Remember uphill hikers have the right-of-way, and give them space to safely pass.

Camelback Mountain via the Cholla Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Camelback Mountain Hiking Resources

• Camelback Mountain Overview via VisitPhoenix.com
• Official City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation page for Camelback Mountain
• Get turn-by-turn driving directions to the Cholla trailhead via Google Maps

[forecast width=”100%” location=”85253″]

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

The second tallest in the Phoenix Mountains, Piestewa Peak has a lot to offer considering its location and length. It has great views into the rest of the Phoenix Mountain Range and into the city of Phoenix. It has easier flat sections, challenging steep sections, and a short scramble to the true summit. Previously known as Squaw Peak, this mountain was renamed in 2003 to honor Lori Ann Piestewa, the first known Native American woman to die in combat in the U.S. military.

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Summit Elevation: 2,608′
Distance: 2.2 miles
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,112 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring
Trail hours: 5am to 11pm

If there are no spaces, there is more parking across the street. There is also parking along part of East Squaw Peak Drive, and around the corner on North 24th Place. The trailhead has porta-potties, but no running water.

Hiking Piestewa Peak

From the trailhead begin making your way up Trail 300 – Summit Trail. The path starts out wide with periodic man-made steps and cement curbs on either side, and at a gradual climb. Depending on the time of day and year, there is little to no shade along the route.

The trail has long steadily climbing switchbacks, then around mile 0.5 there is a flat stretch that leads to the small saddle. This saddle is the only trail intersection you need to watch out for. Stay right, following the sign post that says “300 Summit”.

You’re halfway to the top! At mile 0.65 you reach another saddle, but this time the Summit Trail crosses over to the left side of the ridge, and climbs along the Northwest face of the ridge. Short steep switchbacks begin around mile 0.8 and climb until mile 0.9 where a longer switchback brings you around again to the right side of the ridge.

This longer straight stretch leads you to another set of tight switchbacks with a few railings, then puts you up and over to the other side of the ridge one last time at mile 1.0. Drop down a large step, cross North to the bottom of the final section of steep steps to the summit, and finish the climb.

The true summit is a short scramble up the right side, but there is more area to sit and enjoy the view on the left. Once you’re done enjoying the views of Phoenix and the other surrounding mountains, return down the way you came.

Piestewa Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Piestewa Peak Resources

• Official City of Phoenix website for Piestewa Peak
• Overview of Piestewa Peak via Visit PhoenixWeather Forecast
• Get turn-by-turn driving directions via Google Maps

[forecast width=”100%” location=”85016″]

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

The Superstition Mountains are a beautiful sight, looking in from any of the surrounding areas. But if you want to see what beauty lies within, you need to take a trip up one of its many  canyons.

Peralta Canyon gives access to one of the most breathtaking views in Arizona. At Fremont Saddle, you’ll have a spectacular vantage point of a massive and surprising monolith. Often playing a role in stories of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, Weavers Needle is a 1,000 foot column of rock that protrudes impressively from the surrounding desert landscape.

Getting to the Trailhead

Trail Details

Max. Elevation: 3,766′
Distance: 4.8 miles
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,496 ft
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Fall, Winter, Spring

The parking lot fits fifty to sixty cars, but does fill up at times. There’s more parking about 0.2 mile back down the road if the closer lot is full. The trailhead has a pit toilet bathroom, but no running water.

Hiking Fremont Saddle via Peralta Canyon

From the parking lot, head North on the Peralta Canyon Trail #102. Be sure to stay left at the very start – another trail splits off to the right direction from the same trailhead.

Around the quarter mile in the trail crosses right over the center wash of the canyon. This is probably the most confusing point along the entire hike. It’s not very obvious where the trail goes – just continue across and up the uneven rock.

The trail is quite obvious from here. It crosses back to the left side of the wash again around the 1.3 mile mark, and then again back to the right side around the 1.8 mile mark. The trail then switchbacks a handful of times before turning West for the final quarter mile to the saddle. You’ll know you’re there when you see Weaver’s Needle standing tall about a mile away.

When you’ve finished taking it all in, return the way you came.

Fremont Saddle Trail Map & Elevation Profile

Fremont Saddle Resources

• Tonto National Forest, official Superstition Wilderness website
• Group size limited to 15 people
• Get turn-by-turn directions to the Peralta Trailhead on Google Maps

Weather Forecast

[forecast width=”100%” location=”85118″]

Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition

This hike is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – Winter Edition. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes all easily reached from the great Phoenix metropolitan area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

Antelope Canyon is one of the most surreal places I’ve explored. The Navajo sandstone slot canyon was formed over years of flash floods, wind and weather leaving behind the softly flowing curves in the stone canyon. The result is a photogenic wonder, ever-changing as the sun passes over head. The surreal shapes and colors make Antelope Canyon a bucket list destination.

I visited Antelope Canyon as part of a solo road trip. It’s located just outside Page, Arizona on a Navajo Tribal Park.

The only way to gain access to the canyons is through guided tour. I used Ken’s Tours (www.lowerantelope.com, $28) and had a wonderful experience on the hour and a half tour. My guide was incredibly knowledgeable and even played a Navajo flute at one point with the canyon walls echoing it’s sound.

There are actually two separate canyons: Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. Upper Antelope Canyon is more easily accessible and is best seen around noon to see the streaming light coming through the canyon.  Lower Antelope Canyon is best early in the morning and is accessed through a series on narrow metal stairs that go down into the canyon.

Once you reach the sand ground, you find yourself surrounded by smooth curves and passageways of red rock ever changing by the light streaming in through above.

While Antelope Canyon isn’t really much of a hike, it’s a beautiful place to visit and should definitely be on your bucket list.

Have you been to Antelope Canyon? What are your bucket list destinations? Leave a comment below and let me know!

Driving through the badlands of Arizona

One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you can have is taking a solo road trip.  It’s a time for reflection and introspection. It’s a time with no distractions and only the road ahead of you.  Just put on an epic playlist and watch the terrain change as you head on to your next destination.

The author, reflecting on life in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

This past spring I took my first solo road trip through the southwest — Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

I had reservations (figuratively, not literally) and I was incredibly excited to see all the beauty that the southwest has to offer.  I planned to drive 4-6 hours a day and very loosely made a list of places I wanted to see.  That was pretty much it. I didn’t book any hotels or reserve campsites.  I figured I would see how things went and make plans on the fly.

As it turned out, it was one of the best decisions I could have made.  There is so much freedom in waking up, setting a destination and finding a place to camp or stay along the way.

So here’s what I learned that might help make your own solo road trip a success.

Here are my six tips to make your first (or next) solo road trip a success:

1. Drive early in the morning and know your limits with driving.

Driving is safe when you’re more alert, and if you plan for around 4 hours of driving per day it still leaves plenty of daylight to go hiking and explore. Remember that a road trip is about the journey; not the destination. Enjoy it.

2. Find and set up your lodging before dark, if possible.

It’s just common sense. You sleep better and more securely.

3. Be mindful of your gas tank.

I never went below half a tank, there were many roads where the nearest gas station was hundreds of miles away and I didn’t want to be stuck on the side of the road with an empty tank.

4. Keep plenty of snacks and water on hand.

Granola bars, oranges and water were my jam while driving to my next destination.

5. Keep in touch and let others know where you are on a daily basis.

It’s not only good practice, but others love to share in your adventure! Stay in touch by phone, text, email, Facebook, Instagram or heck, even carrier pigeon. For me, my iPhone kept me connected, but use whatever works for you.

6. Take time to soak it all in and take lots of pictures or journal your experience.

Enjoy each moment, but capture your memories. Looking back at my photos and journal entries let me take a virtual road trip whenever I need it.

Walking through the Garden of the Gods in Colorado

Buffalo outside Zion National Park in Utah

Exploring Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

What are your favorite road trip tips?