The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. Click here to download a trail map. There is a very obvious sign next to the correct trail that says âHunter Trail To the Top of the Peakâ. For those who opt to continue to the peak, this is where the fun begins! The summit rises to 3,374 feet (1,028 m) above mean sea level. (1), Images Picacho Peak State Park. Picacho Peak State Park Location Info. However to get to the peak at the far end of the ridge you must ascend and then descend a false summit which presents an even more difficult obstacle on the way back. Directions From the intersection of I-10 and I-8 (in Casa Grande), take I-10 Southeast for 20.7 miles to exit 219 / Picacho Peak Road. The average time taken to climb Picacho peak is two and a half to four hours as a round trip. Exhilaration! Relative solitude, 360-degree views from the top, at least three separate ecological zones, and the satisfaction of peak bagging are all rewards of this hike. This scramble ends at the base of the cliffs on the backside of Picacho Peak. View Picacho Peak Image Gallery - 10 Images. Florence, AZ. The poles and cables on Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak were originally set into the rocks in 1932. The Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak is a short trail, containing some of the best rock scrambles (replete with handrails and cables) in all of Arizona. However, we enjoyed the couple bonding therapy of it all⦠Enjoy! In two other places, people have left wooden ladders to allow transitions between ledges. This trail intersects the Hunter Trail at the base of the mountainâs southern cliffs (see downloadable map below). Itâs also a great place to stop for a hike â one that will test your fear of heights and make you weak in the knees. It should be adopted and updated. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Enjoyed a two hour hike up and back on the Calloway Trail. It is also an inactive volcano and some historical battles were fought here as well. It is easily four-times longer than the wide scramble on Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon Trail, in Phoenix. A challenging 3.2 mile hike where you hike up, then descend quite a distance, and ascend back up plus more. Theplugger: Initially, I thought the same thing. The trailhead for the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak is located approximately 1.5 miles further into the park, at the top of the Barrett Loop (see downloadable trail map). The land In the far southeastern corner of California, near the town of Yuma is one of the starkest desert landscapes in the world. This trail intersects the Hunter Trail at the base of the mountain’s southern cliffs (see downloadable map below). Happily, the rough texture of the rock face offers plenty of footholds for the climb. The hike up Picacho Peak on Hunter Trail is short but rated as difficult. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Read the route description and if you have questions, email me. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Picacho Peak : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. It's a 4 mile out and back trail that takes you straight up to the Peak. It is a great hike and takes approximately 45 minutes to ascend and 30 minutes to descend. Hiking Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail. From here, the trail moves along the base of these cliffs, on a mild incline, as it works its way towards a high mountain saddle. Steep scrambles, climbing cables and wooden planks are all included on this adrenaline-inducing hike. (10), Climber's Log Entries Take a well deserved break at the top and enjoy the 360 degree views. From a distance it looks like a very difficult technical climb. When in season a beautiful wildflower is witnessed at the beginning of the trail. brennen. 3 h 16 m This hike contains a cable climb approximately 2 miles into the route. If you liked Picacho's views, Atalaya is almost 600' higher and offers even more limitless views of the valley and mountains below. Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail is a 3.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Picacho, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Now I'll have to go to CA and check out this other one...sounds like so much fun! A wooden plank crosses a short drop off along the rim. Sticking up out of this flat desert are majestic rock monoliths that began as volcanic plugs and have been carved into wonderful shapes by the endless erosion of wind and water. Picacho Peak State Park, AZ * 12/07/16. I've been up the AZ Picacho peak a couple times and I didn't know the CA one existed! Picacho Peak Hike Picacho Peak is a 4959-foot high peak just northwest of Las Cruces. It is 5.4 miles round trip, with an accumulated elevation gain of 1,819'. Great confidence building tool. Take the "Winterhaven Fourth Avenue" exit from Interstate 8 about a mile west of Yuma and proceed north about 100 yards to where you make a sharp right turn onto S24 following the signs for Picacho State Park. Yeah I just did this hike and it is amazing!!!!!!! Many people choose to hike to this point on the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak, before they turn around and head back to the trailhead. Tahquitz. Picacho Peak State Park hard (367) Length: 5.4 mi ⢠Est. We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when itâs cooler. Picacho Peak is a familiar landmark to anyone who drives Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. The Picacho Peak summit climbs to 4,959 feet above sea level and provides stunning views of Southern New Mexico. It may be only two miles (3.2 km) long, but it is two, long and twisted â for some terrifying â miles of adventurous trail. This leads to the bottom of a gully leading steeply up to a notch where the climbing begins. This is a unique trail with cables and handrails placed by the Boy scouts long ago. This is a perfect spot to take a well deserved break, replenish yourself with a snack, and revel in this amazing location. Hiking and Inspiration from Arizona’s great outdoors, $7 Day use (or annual arizona state Park Pass). The saddle itself is a fantastic destination, offering expansive views, both north and south, for hundreds of miles across open desert. Its centerpiece spire is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles (72 km). In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. All roads within the park are paved. All Rights Reserved. At the end of this alcove there is another brief, but almost vertical, cable lined ascent to the top of a mountain ridge. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! After this, the trail crosses back onto interior ground and makes its final, switchbacked ascent to the peak. Hiking Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail. Parking is readily available, and this is an Arizona State park with an entrance free of $7.00 for day use. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Cables, Canyon, Cliffs, Dayhike, Rock Scrambles, Short, Steep, Views. If one had to choose just one trail for a day hike near Santa Fe, perhaps the biggest return for the effort is the hike up to Picacho Peak. Resources What sets this hike apart from most trails in Arizona is the system of cables, handrails, and bridges in some sections of the hike. Sonoran Desert National Monument Fall, winter or spring is best; summer is very hot. Turn right / west on Picacho Peak road and continue for 0.28 miles to the park entrance. The next leg of the trail entails a long descent down a cable lined rock face. Not for the faint-of heart, or anyone prone to vertigo, the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak is a short, but intrepidly-steep-in-spots, climb to the apex of this mountain’s soaring rock face. The reason why this varies so much is because on a busy day you will more than likely have to wait for other hikers to climb up before you can so there might be ⦠Length 3.2 miElevation gain 2099 ftRoute type Out & back Picacho, AZ. (7 ), C.E.Brennen's account of climbing Picacho Peak, The Regular Route (the obstacle course), III, easy 5th class, Laddering on Picacho Peak by Penelope May. MAP: paper map available at the Visitor Center PERMITS: park entrance fee is $7 per vehicle, $3 on foot or bicycle HOURS OF OPERATION: park gates are open from 5am through 10pm DESIGNATION: Picacho Peak State Park (Arizona) Wild Burro Trailhead. For example, the Picacho Peak State Park is located 70 miles south of Phoenix and 40 miles north of Tucson along Interstate 10. . More about Picacho Peak: Picacho means âBig Peakâ in Spanish, which I didnât know⦠and the summit rises to 3,374 feet (1,028 m) above mean sea level. I just decided to add the route info for the Picacho Peak, when I noticed your note. in a short distance the asphalt ends and you proceed onto a embankment, turning sharp left and then right again after crossing a bridge over a water channel. Spanning hundreds of miles in every direction. These switchbacks climb to the base of the tall rock cliffs, that are clearly visible from the trailhead. I am not in good shape in fact I am fat, so this took me about 5 hours round trip. I'll have to go bag this one too. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. A 4WD vehicle is needed from here on. (14), Comments The most common route up to the summit of Picacho Peak is Hunter Trail. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for Picacho Peak, located in Chocolate Mountains BLM, California. Definitely good for confidence building – with it’s cables, ramps and narrow passes! This hike is within the boundaries of Picacho Peak State Park. For the hike back to the trailhead, you can choose to return the way you came, on the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak, or make a longer (eight mile total length) loop back to the trailhead on the Sunset Vista Trail. Your email address will not be published. If youâre like me, you have probably passed Picacho Peak State Park several times, and thought about hiking to the top âsomeday.â Well congrats on finally turning âsomedayâ to now ! It was a great scramble in the desert. February through early April offers the best rewards. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from September until May. The most common one is Hunter 's Trail. Make sure you eat a snack before you do it or your energy will burn out before you finish. If you like adventure you will love this trail. Little can grow natuarally in this arid land where the Colorado River struggles to avoid complete evaporation before entering Mexico and the Sea of Cortez. Camping, picnic areas, and a visitor center are also located within the park. The owner of this page is inactive. Starting out early in the day, before the heat added another layer ⦠NEW POST: A less-crowded hike up Piestewa Peak via Dreamy Draw. This is a 5.5 mile out-and-back hike with 1900 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 4-6 hours to complete. To be honest, I didnât hike Picacho Peak until after I had graduated from college and was preparing to move to the East Coast. You're absolutely correct....it even looks like the AZ Picacho Peak. Congratulations on sticking with the trail. The most popular route, the Hunter Trail, takes you to the top of the mountain. The views from the top of Picacho Peak are glorious! Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding Picacho Peak in Picacho, Arizona. Picacho Peak is located just west of I-10 about 60 miles south of Phoenix (40 miles north of Tuscon). Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail is a hard 3.4-mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,982 feet. Take exit 219 and follow the brown signs to the park entrance. It calls for a fair amount of scrambling and maneuvering with cables along steep ledges and gains elevation pretty quickly. It is awesome and amazing. The views are worth it, but be sure to bring pletny of water and gloves! Little can grow natuarally in this arid land where the Colorado River struggles to avoid complete evaporation before entering Mexico and the Sea of Cortez. I climbed Picacho Peak last Thanksgiving. Sticking up out of this flat desert are majestic rock monoliths that began as volcanic plugs and have been carved into wonderful shapes by the endless er⦠Follow a rough dirt road for about 3 miles to where there is a wide car camping area on the left. This hike will challenge people of all ages, especially those who do not like to get sweaty. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. Picacho Peak Trail Guide. Itâs quite a ride from the truck stop across the street over rolling hills up to the trail head, but the view is worth all the hard work⦠Deserves a good “Whoo Hoo” at the top. 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. FYI if the temperature is above 80 degrees you may want to consider doing this when it is cool. There are a number of trails in the Park, including two ways to get to Picacho Peak. The vertical cliffs of this ancient mountain are noticeable from miles away, and make for a must-do hiking destination! Picacho Peak Recreation Area Picacho Peak is a 4959-foot high peak just northwest of Las Cruces. to theplugger: You are thinking of the Picacho Peak in Arizona which is a much easier climb. The most spectacular of these monoliths the 1000ft tall Picacho Peak, visible from Yuma, 30 miles away. King Canyon Trail. It avoids most of the crowds of the more popular Summit Trailhead, and it makes it more challenging with an additional 400 vertical feet and 4.4 additional miles. Martinez Cabin. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Basic HTML is allowed. This 4 mile out and back trail that takes you to the summit of Picacho Peak will not disappoint, especially if you're looking to get that adrenaline pumping. "Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know." If you like cable TV this may not be for you. Nice park, but the picnic tables are all roped ⦠Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail Overview. --Ernest Hemingway, Routes The land In the far southeastern corner of California, near the town of Yuma is one of the starkest desert landscapes in the world. About 13 miles from the bridge you pass the entrance to the Picacho Gold Mine. At that time the trail was used to maintain a 40-foot high, air traffic beacon on the summit. In one place there is a gap in the ledge which requires a belayed traverse. The Hunter Trail on Picacho Peak is a classic Arizona hike. Hike The first section takes you up steep switchbacks to the saddle. Park here. There are a number of steep drop offs, and a second short cabled ascent, before the trail enters a small alcove between cliffs. The hike continues up the wash for about 0.5 mile where you should be able to follow a use-trail that proceeds up a low ridge and moderately steep scree slope toward the monolith. a classic southern Arizona hike up the Hunter Trail and down the Sunset Vista Trail via the cables on Picacho Peak. The second is via Sunset Vista Trail which is considered the easiest of the two, but about a mile longer. Marana, AZ. The park is located between Casa Grande and Tucson near Interstate 10 in Pinal County. Itâs almost vertical in places, and cables are installed to help you hoist yourself up. Earlier today, we exchanged notes re. Yet the ledges worn into its sides allow ascent with only a few technical manoevers. You then follow a complex ledge system, switchbacking back and forth as you climb the otherwise vertical side of Picacho Peak. About 3.7 miles from I8 continue straight where S24 turns right. I brought 2 bottles of water and 2 bottles of vitamin water and I drank them all. Alois. Once around the backside of the mountain, the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak again ascends along the base of the cliffs. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Wear good hiking shoes and a stick is helpful with the climb and loose gravel watch your step. The 360 degree views from the top, and well-deserved satisfaction in getting there, make this hike supremely worthwhile. The Hunter Hiking Trail begins its ascent on a series of switchbacks up the northern side of the Picacho Peak. From there, hike back down to stop #34 then take the trail for about a mile to Atalaya Peak by hiking to spot #36 then to the peak. Hunter Trail is a 4-mile round trip hike to the top of Picacho Peak. Steven, You may wish to update the park closure notice at the beginning of your Overview section. (7), Additions & Corrections The peak is over 9 million years old, even older than the Organ Mountains that tower to the east. Two miles from the entrance, the wash you are in broadens and you turn left to head up a wash going west. It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago.The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago. During hotter times of year and towards the middle of the day, the heat can make the trek up pretty brutal. The remainder of the trail is fairly steep. Tucson, AZ. From Phoenix drive south on I-10. People car camp at the trailhead described; there is also camping at the nearby Picacho State Park. Peak Summited: 2020 Picacho Peak: Type of Hike: Day hike: Trailhead: Picacho: Hiking Companions: Hiked with a group: Road Conditions: Road suitable for all vehicles: Bug Status: No bugs: Snow Conditions: Snow free: Trail Conditions: Trail in good condition Anyone who has made the drive from Phoenix to Tucson has surely been entranced by the soaring rock-face of Picacho Peak. The Brennen: Nice page! Come along with me as I get out of the truck in Picacho, AZ and hike up Picacho Peak. Above the higher ladder you emerge onto the summit ridge. Sarah Simon - Apr 15, 2009 5:37 pm - Hasn't voted Park is now open. This page is about the Picacho Peak in California. For the hike back to the trailhead, you can choose to return the way you came, on the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak, or make a longer (eight mile total length) loop back to the trailhead on the Sunset Vista Trail. 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