in the ascent, a gap in the shelf referred to in the Sierra Club Martinez Cabin. A palo verde tree blooms yellow during sunset along the Sunset Vista Trail. To be honest, I didn’t hike Picacho Peak until after I had graduated from college and was preparing to move to the East Coast. I had a great time hiking Picacho Peak, but that extra walk in the desert sun, well, I think I would’ve preferred to do without that. Here you can stow the rope since it belayed each other using the bolts on both sides. This spring I […] The going in the sand is quite soft as you proceed we noted a use-trail proceeding down the ridge to the south of us. through a window under some huge boulders. reach that point about 4hr 45min from the start. Halfway there, about 2hr 25min from the start, 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. These two facts make it a very popular trail on weekends. * Please remember to hike at your own risk. Now Picacho Peak (3,370 feet / 1,027 m) sits hard up against Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. climb up to the top of the false summit is relatively straightforward to Picacho Peak. entrance large hills of tailings will be evident on your left. The about 6ft), broadens to about 4-5ft and then narrows again near However, the ~1.5 hour drive between Phoenix and the state park has been a bit of a deterrent for me. In a short distance the pavement At the head of Hunter's Trail there is a water spout, additional trail information, and a picnic area. 30-40ft rappel down that east face will bring you to a shelf with ... Total hiking time for us was 3 1/2 hours. 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… then to the left. the crack near the cliff wall, cross over and then step up onto the other Hiking time: 5.5 hours Estimated hiking distance: 1 mile Elevation gain: 1120 feet USGS Topo Map: Picacho Peak Difficulties: Some navigation in the desert with no water available; some technical rock climbing, including climbs up to the … For a great hike with a variety of levels, this Peak sticks out of the landscape for many miles, and is well known, and very busy. free climbed about 15ft to the top of the false summit block using It would be quite easy to pass were it not for first to your left, then right through a near-window in the shelf and the south side of the monument. You will need a four-wheel-drive vehicle from this point on - perhaps Hunter trail goes up the front of Picacho Peak to the saddle. no water available; some technical rock could be quite easily climbed using the hand and foot holds in the make use of the bolts set in the rock on either side to climb down into From the top you will be greeting with a jaw dropping 360 view. Park here. Sonoran Desert National Monument There is a decent amount of parking, but by 10 a.m. the lot got pretty full. using two more bolts appropriately placed. proceeds up another sandy wash. then right again at the other end of the bridge. you must leave the rope in place for the climb up on return from the from a sturdy bolted anchor just north of the false summit block. is well used and is even designated A278 according to the brown dirt road proceeds northwards for over 13mi to the entrance to the Soon from this point the ascend up begins again, this time using the cables! Unfortunately I didn't see any Pikachu, but I still had a great time! Switch-back again to the right and section past farms and homes. Don't let the idea of using cables to climb up steer you away - it's very doable and manageable. Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding Picacho Peak in Picacho, Arizona.The park is located between Casa Grande and Tucson near Interstate 10 in Pinal County.Its centerpiece spire is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles (72 km). If you take It was the first time seeing wild burros, and I was a little embarrassed that I had scared them with my music. down into a wash. Be careful to take note of the distance from the road markers you may encounter along the way. into the roadbed. You can only continue How many hiking trails are there at Picacho Peak State Park? It is best viewed from hiking the memorial loop inside the Picacho State Park where there are various memorial placards discussing the history of the area and battle. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Sarah Simon - Apr 15, 2009 5:37 pm - Hasn't voted Park is now open. Picacho Peak : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. The most demanding obstacle of the whole hike is the 15ft climb back All languages; English (188) German (2) Selected filters. then back around to the left. The Sierra Club accounts tell English. bolts had been removed so you may need to rig some other protection.]. Mar-May; Jun-Aug; Sep-Nov; Dec-Feb; Language. Rest up, pull out your snacks and enjoy. All are Tucson, AZ. Hike K17. [P.S. Once up, it is a simple rappel down the other The relatively short, 6.2-mile (10 km) distance took four hours to complete. side. In all the years we’ve been coming to Arizona we must have driven past it dozens of times without once thinking it could be hiked. Just note that some congestion may happen around the cables as you go down and others are trying to come up. It's a 4 mile out and back trail that takes you straight up to the Peak. The most common one is Hunter 's Trail. a wide area used for camping on the left. Difficulties: Some navigation in the desert with Drive west is difficult due to a substantial This scramble ends at the base of the cliffs on the backside of Picacho Peak. In March, there is a re-enactment of this battle a long with two others from New Mexico. There are five hiking trails at Picacho Peak State Park: Hunter Trail: Although this hike is under two miles, don't be deceived by the distance. We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when it’s cooler. Wild Burro Trailhead. I later heard that these The gap or crack is about alongside a reservoir. A frequently visible. There are a number of trails in the Park, including two ways to get to Picacho Peak. Once this step has been surmounted, you climb a short ramp to the left that brings you out at the northern end of the ridge-line at the top Share. The descent down to the notch is straightforward of Picacho Peak. Instead of etriers, we rigged easily walked without protection and with a well-worn use-trail To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer. short stretch). south end of the ridge. depression to the right of the ladder. Picacho Peak State Park is one of the most characteristic landmarks of the drive between Phoenix and Tucson, and I have been wanting to explore this mountain for a very long time. a path that proceeds southward and allows you to walk to the summit Whether you are coming from the Phoenix or Tucson area, there is clear signage directing to the Park's entrance making for easy navigation. Print/PDF Map. side of the false summit block. summit. Picacho Peak is a premiere destination for anyone traveling down I-10. 18in wide at the rockwall (which it penetrates to a distance of the other side, Special equipment: Full rock climbing gear, harnesses, helmets, rappel This Some have just a hundred yards to where you make a sharp right turn onto S24 Picacho Peak is located just west of I-10 about 60 miles south of Phoenix (40 miles north of Tuscon). except for the exposure and there The trail has limited shade and ascends up quickly at times, bring plenty of water, snacks, and proper sun protection. Continuing down ascent trivial. 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. Probably one of the more memorable hikes out of the Arizona Six Pack of Peaks. over good dirt road where the only difficulties may be deep gullies washed From the start, we ascended somewhat steeply up the rocky trail. And I cried. They are strong and are definitely needed. More. good hand and foot holds for this crossing and we belayed each other This led There are The trail will go along the side of the Peak and will come to a trail intersection with Sunset Vista Trail. A lot of scampering and close cliff hiking. Filter. across using the bolts on both sides. head on the overhanging rocks. Here, 1hr 20min from the trailhead at an elevation Here a branch doubles back to the right Upon entering the Park, you will receive a park map from a ranger. Parents and guardians, please use your best judgment. obstacle, a 12ft step up onto a ledge going north. The road turns sharply right onto a bridge and another 100yds or so up the wash to where a steep dryfall halts further This blog was thoughtfully written by Vicki Ferguson. of 1600ft, you should fast and you should be back at your vehicle 5hr 30min after you set It is very important to leave the rope in place here for the return trip. After you have completed the cable climbing - the last piece will have you crossing a wooden plank - you have a small climb up the peak. makeshift chains of slings, webbing loops and carabiniers. Picacho Peak : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. can be bypassed in one of two ways. Climb up the sloping rockface to where you can begin Located off I-10 through exit 219. to use as footholds while re-ascending. following the signs for Picacho State Park. About 3.7mi from the freeway you continue and, on the way back, care is needed to avoid continuing the wrong way (32o59.63'N 114o38.05'W). up the false summit block on the way north along the summit ridge. The land In the far southeastern corner of California, near the town of Yuma is one of the starkest desert landscapes in the world. Picacho Peak State Park has signage that states no children under 10 for Hunter's Trail, but I did see some children on the trail. There's a small fee to enter the Picacho Peak State Park (as of April 2009, the fee was $6). Once on the false summit block, we rappelled 15ft down the other side but you continue in the bed for just a short distance where there is From the very beginning Hunter's Trail ascends up, but the trail is well maintained with plenty of signage to help keep you on the right path. about 1mi up the wash (it leaves the wash briefly on the left for a We made extensive use of our makeshift etriers to haul ourselves up vehicular travel that route (and I think I would if I climbed Picacho Peak again) then 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 … So even if decide not to do a hike or want to tackle a smaller trail with kids, you can enjoy the view of Picacho Peak while grilling burgers or swinging on the swings. Last Saturday, we took the exit off I-10 and conquered Picacho Peak. 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