The land In the far southeastern corner of California, near the town of Yuma is one of the starkest desert landscapes in the world. If parking there is full, Hunter Trail can also be accessed from Harrington Loop by taking Calloway Trail towards Barrett Loop. Geologists have no clue what volcano made it. 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. Picacho Peak is open for day use only and closes at sunset. Season: Year-round. Beverly Canyon Trailhead Loop (South Mountain), Templeton trail and Cathedral Rock (Sedona), Box Canyon (Christopher Creek- *Technical), San Tan Regional Park - San Tan trail loops, Petrified Forest National Part and North Eastern AZ, Petrified Forest National Park and North Eastern AZ. Cables are again provided for the hiker and this stretch of the trail turns out to be a great deal of fun. This is … This is where the fun really began! Gloves: On hot days, the metal cables along the trail can become very hot. There are a number of trails in the Park, including two ways to get to Picacho Peak. Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail is a hard 3.4-mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,982 feet. This area is also the setting of the only Civil War battle fought in Arizona. This trail is 2.6 miles one way. From the parking area, the trail quickly switchbacks up through the desert cacti to a saddle 900 ft above where you started. Cancel reply. We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when it’s cooler. Categories: 2020 Arizona Winter. We could see the flowers. Sunset Vista Trail: A Beautiful Walk. The trail is very well maintained and follows several switchbacks which will turn rocky as you get close to the peak. If you are still restless, you might want to explore the other adjacent peak across the saddle at the top. Wildlife: As many desert trails in the Phoenix area, rattlesnakes, snakes, and scorpions are present. As we neared the base of the peak, the switchbacks became steeper. King Canyon Trail. It then has areas where you use cables to navigate the trail. The hike up Picacho Peak on Hunter Trail is short but rated as difficult. 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. The trail we are interested in is the Hunter Trail. michaeljdax November 7, 2020 November 7, 2020 Trip Report. Make a day of your visit! Sunset in the “saguaro forest” at Picacho Peak State Park. The park's highlight is the 1,500 foot peak of Picacho Peak. It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago. Get our detailed trail guide. This is a favorite out-and-back hike for Santa Fe locals. The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. When driving eastbound on I-10, the entrance to the park will be off to the right. We had heards that the flowers had been opened. We always like to start with a bird’s eye view of our surroundings whenever possible. There weren’t many biking options in the park, so I checked out the Santa Cruz River Trail in nearby Marana. Be Aware of: Cables, Crowds, small fee to enter the park, Cables, Crowds, small fee to enter the park. Save. Today’s trail – built in 1968 when Picacho Peak became a state park – starts on the north side of the peak, ascends to the saddle, slides down and around a secondary peak to connect with the original CCC trail on the south. Sie fahren aber die Hauptroad weiter, die nach 0,9 Meilen in einer großzügigen Rechtsumfahrung einer Wash nach Osten führt. The other trail, Sunset Vista trail is not recommended. Description of the trail from a web-site: The trail to the summit is well marked and maintained. You will climb a little over 1,100' in elevation on the 2.5 mile hike to Picacho Peak. Picacho Peak is where the most western battle took place in the Civil war. You can’t miss seeing this prominent outcrop when driving I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix. Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding Picacho Peak in Picacho, Arizona. Take exit 219 and follow the brown signs to the park entrance. The new trailhead will place you directly south of Picacho Peak and closer to the mountain than the west trailhead (described above). Sunset Vista Trail takes you on a pleasant and colorful 3.1 miles on the south side of Picacho to the peak. This trail is well marked and located between the Tucson and Phoenix areas. The trail to the right leads to the peak. Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding Picacho Peak in Picacho, Arizona. A short ways down the road, you’ll come to the park entrance where the visitor’s center and pay station are located. Sonoran Desert National Monument It is a small park with trails, scenic views and gorgeous sunsets. Ready to hike Picacho Peak? After this last climb you will reach another saddle. From the Cerro Gordo Trailhead, the trail immediately crosses the road and heads up a moderate slope through juniper scrub, … Tucson, AZ. See … / Hike to Picacho Peak. The Picacho Peak summit climbs to 4,959 feet above sea level and provides stunning views of Southern New Mexico. On the CCC Trail. As we neared the base of … Beautiful! Views pop up everywhere. To view more results zoom in to a specific location. Amazing. You might want to consider carrying a few things with you in a backpack: Hydration system (eg. 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. Hunter Trail is the other one and is 2 miles of steep switchbacks. We were there for five days during the week and the campground was almost empty. Reaching the Summit: The proximity to the cliff’s edge and the scrambling required to reach the summit deter some hikers. Was. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun. 2008-03-07: Wolfgang Stefan: 6.02 mi 1,891 ft: Sunset Vista Trail - Picacho Peak. Cancel reply. This time, I vowed to do it in the ideal season, which is about now, when we are … Picacho Peak is now a part of BLM’s Picacho Peak Recreation Area. United States ; Arizona (AZ) Picacho ; Picacho - Things to Do ; Picacho Peak State Park; Search. It's close to town, offers some good elevation and excellent views over the city, and it truly is 'Where the Rockies Begin'. 188 Reviews #2 of 7 things to do in Picacho. The trail itself starts at the southwest end of … That was perhaps not the best choice for a steep rocky climb that offers very little shade. We decided to hike to the top of beautiful views. Trail Conditions: Excellent. We went early at Picacho Peak State Park. The Picacho Peak summit climbs to 4,959 feet above sea level and provides stunning views of Southern New Mexico. 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. The 1.5 mile trail to the peak provides spectacular views of the Mesilla Valley and the Organ Mountains. I've been wanting to do this hike since I moved to Tucson a year and a half ago. The views were beautiful and there was a little bench perfect for a water break. Distance: 4 miles. This was built by the Civilian … 2008-03-01: Randal_Schulhauser: 4.95 mi 967 ft: 18 unofficial routes | load nearby guides. Our site at Picacho Peak State Park Our four-hour hike begins. a … Santa Fe offers an extensive network of trails very close to the city. Marana, AZ. This trail is well marked and located between the Tucson and Phoenix areas. There's a small fee to enter the Picacho Peak State Park (as of April 2009, the fee was $6). The peak is over 9 million years old, even older than the Organ Mountains that tower to the east. If you arrive before or after that time, there is a station where you can self-pay and fill out your pass. They were so beautiful! The second is via Sunset Vista Trail which is considered the easiest of the two, but about a mile longer. Click on a hike log to see all the details, more photos and leave comments for the challengers. Zahlen Sie am Eingang den Eintritt und fahren Sie auf der Park Road zirka eine Meile, dann nach links zum Barrett Loop Trailhead (GPS-Koordinaten siehe oben). Picacho, AZ. Martinez Cabin. Picacho Peak is a 4959-foot high peak just northwest of Las Cruces. The distance to the top is 2.7 miles with an increase in elevation of 2,014. And I cried. These two facts make it a very popular trail on weekends. Kitt peak, Santa Catalina, and Rincon mountains are all within view. Previous. When you are finished snapping pictures and eating lunch, return the way you came. 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. 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 ero… This 3-mile hike up Hunter Trail to the summit is so much fun that this will mark our 5th adventure there! Expect to meet 40-70 other hikers. Description of the trail from a web-site: The trail to the… A few nice hikes in a desert setting to the top of an ancient lava flow. It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago. There's a small fee to enter the Picacho Peak State Park (as of April 2009, the fee was $6). Picacho Peak By rebeccakissell Apr 18 2020. Picacho Peak State Park. Try to hike this one when it’s not too hot, and make sure you have plenty of water and energy replenishment. Though appearing to be the remnant of a volcanic neck, it is now believed to be … Florence, AZ. After all the work to get up there, the trail from the saddle descends steeply down the southern side of the peak. Relative solitude, 360-degree views from the top, at least three separate ecological They have introduced a new trailhead. After taking in the views of the valley, we made our way back down the way we came. The trail is on the edge many times. The trail is very well maintained, but good footwear will make the uneven terrain more enjoyable especially at the day's end. Continue on by following the map to Picacho Peak. It is 3.1 miles and circles around the backside of the mountain then comes up and connects to the Hunter trail avoiding a lot of the difficulties. This is one of two trails in Picacho Peak State … The new trailhead will place you directly south of Picacho Peak and closer to the mountain than the west trailhead (described above). Sonoran Desert National Monument After 30-ish minutes, we reached the saddle of the peak. There are places to fill your water, but this desert landscape is frequently prone to water shortages, so filling is not always available. After paying the entrance fee, we continued down the road into the park, turning left towards Barrett Loop and Saguaro Ramada. Hunter Trail, typically rated as difficult, begins on the north side (from Barrett Loop) and will take you to the top of the peak. There are restrooms and parking there. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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