Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail - Eloy, AZ - January 2011 A Romain. Mountain Biking Picacho Peak Recreation Area Add a review #208 of 280 mountain bike trails in New Mexico #10942 in the world. 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. Picacho Peak (3,370 feet / 1,027 m) sits hard up against Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. When viewed from the southwest the peak no longer appears as a perfect cone. It is a small park with trails, scenic views and gorgeous sunsets. Picacho Peak is a large lava flow. At just about the one mile mark the trail turns sharply right and traverses the base of a cliff until reaching a saddle between the main peak and a smaller one to the northwest. This is usually a half-day excursion excursion. Before starting on a hike, pick up a trail guide from the Ranger Visitor Center/Store. Picacho Peak is located just west of I-10 about 60 miles south of Phoenix (40 miles north of Tuscon). It's close to town, offers some good elevation and excellent views over the city, and it truly is 'Where the Rockies Begin'. This is a unique trail with cables and handrails placed by the Boy scouts long ago. Marana, AZ. There is a decent amount of parking, but by 10 a.m. the lot got pretty full. 2.7 miles. From the top it looks like a boring trail. Activities Rated difficult (and it was). Sunset Vista Trail takes you on a pleasant and colorful 3.1 miles on the south side of Picacho to the peak. Resources This trail intersects the Hunter Trail at the base of the mountain’s southern cliffs (see downloadable map below). Picacho Trail (jeep trail) as it departs the confluence of arroyos for the peak. View in Trail Finder. There are a number of different routes to the peak … The Sunset Trail with the peak in the background. Hike up Picacho Peak near Tucson, Arizona. This is the easier of the two peak hikes. Was. After a short uphill walk along asphalt, we arrived at the Hunter Trail head. Making its place in history, Picacho Peak was a major landmark on the Butterfield Trail … Embark on a culture blog and the sky's the limit, right?I discovered this the hard way when I volunteered to write about a hike.I hiked Picacho Peak. ... Full Hike: Uniquely Shaped Picacho Peak Near Tucson, Arizona - Duration: 1:42:20. 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. The steep climb to the saddle is followed immediately by a steep but short descent. Enjoy the view as you hike the trails that wind up the peak and, often in … From Phoenix drive south on I-10. Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail Description The hike begins on the floor of the Sonoran Desert as you begin ascending toward the walls of the peak. Contrary to popular belief, Picacho Peak was never an active volcano. Hunter Trail quickly steps up the elevation gain, attacking Picacho’s foothills head on. Picacho, AZ. California State Recreation Area. The hike up Picacho Peak on Hunter Trail is short but rated as difficult. 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. There are two ways to get to Picacho Peak. Distance: 4 miles Season: Year-round Water: No Trail Conditions: Excellent This is a favorite out-and-back hike for Santa Fe locals. Picacho Peak is located 7 miles from downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico, on the West Mesa adjacent to Picacho Peak Recreation Area. It’s a 4 mile out and back trail that takes you straight up to the Peak. There is a very obvious sign next to the correct trail that says “Hunter Trail To the Top of the Peak”. Picacho Peak State Park is an easy day trip off Interstate 10 from accommodations in Tucson (44 miles) and Phoenix (75 miles). The trail then turns into an arroyo and begins the climb towards Picacho Peak. The snow hasn't let go yet – and in fact the trail I chose for a walk on Sunday had some thick patches of corn snow in the shady places. Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail is a hard 3.4-mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,982 feet. Tucson, AZ. Hiking Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail. This area is also the setting of the only Civil War battle fought in Arizona. The Mountain features spectacular views of the New Mexico and Las Cruces landscape in every direction. Parents and guardians, please use your best judgment. Wild Burro Trailhead. It was formed from flow-banded rhyolite which gives many of the canyons and arroyos a distinctive blue color. When in season a beautiful wildflower is witnessed at the beginning of the trail. THE DALE BALL TRAILS: PICACHO PEAK The view into the Santa Fe Range from Picacho Peak It's finally that time of year when anybody stimulated and made restless by the first warm weather we've had all year begins to turn their thoughts to - Hiking! These two facts make it a very popular trail on weekends. Take exit 219 and follow the brown signs to the park entrance. Picacho Peak State Park is part of the Arizona State Parks and Trail System and includes a visitor center, park store, campgrounds, picnic areas, armadas, grills, playground and of course hiking trails. Picacho Peak was the first Arizona State Park we have stayed in so far. The Hunter Trail, which is one of five in Picacho Peak State Park, is the route to the top. Access to Hunter Trail is from either Barrett Loop or the longer Sunset Vista Trail. It calls for a fair amount of scrambling and maneuvering with cables along steep ledges and gains elevation pretty quickly. Picacho Peak State Park. Florence, AZ. Help us get it on the map. The poles and cables on Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak were originally set into the rocks in 1932. Picacho Peak. We were there for five days during the week and the campground was almost empty. February through early April offers the best rewards. Hike The first section takes you up steep switchbacks to the saddle. A visitor center, monument and interpretive signage and trails are located inside the park. Geologists have no clue what volcano made it. The […] Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail Overview. King Canyon Trail. Picacho SRA. There are 7 established trails varying in length between 0.1 … Sonoran Desert National Monument ... Picacho Peak Recreation Area Trail map . It is a reasonably steady climb, rising the 1,210 feet in 2 miles; up the arroyo, over a ridge and across another arroyo, then up a ridgeline to the peak. Amazing. There are five hiking trails on the mountain with the Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak being the most challenging. Picacho Peak State Park boasts multiple trails, but the most popular is likely the Hunter's Trail. At that time the trail was used to maintain a 40-foot high, air traffic beacon on the summit. 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. Hotels, Lodging & Camping. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! The Outbound Mind 625 views. Located on the Colorado River 18 miles down a dirt road. With your first step from the trailhead, you’ll start a gradual climb up a rocky slope dotted with saguaros, creosote bushes and paloverde trees. 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. Last Saturday, we took the exit off I-10 and conquered Picacho Peak. 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). This trail is well marked and located between the Tucson and Phoenix areas. We recommend avoiding the summer months or … The Hunter Trail, a 4-mile round-trip trek, is strenuous (steel cables and planks are in place for the steepest parts), but worth the dazzling view at the summit. Dec 7, 2020 - Visitors traveling along I-10 in southern Arizona can’t miss the prominent 1,500-foot peak of Picacho Peak State Park. On the CCC Trail. It really made for a peaceful and relaxing stay. And I cried. Picacho Peak is a prominent 3,374-foot peak along I-10 in southern Arizona. The trail is in good condition throughout; only a few sections that are steeper over large rocks. Martinez Cabin. The summit rises to 3,374 feet (1,028 m) above mean sea level. We paid the $7 State Park admission and parked a short distance from the visitor center near some bathrooms, strategically so they were close-by after our 6.6-mile loop hike. Hiking Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail. Hunter Trail is … This hike provides exceptional 360-degree views of the valleys surrounding the peak as well as many other significant mountain peaks and ranges in the area. It ascends just to the left of a bouldery gully on a steep slope to a saddle just southwest of Picacho Peak. Club Sponsor-Local Bike Shop-Trail … Instead, there is a ridge descending from the summit to the north-west. This hike is within the boundaries of Picacho Peak State Park. There's a small fee to enter the Picacho Peak State Park (as of April 2009, the fee was $6). During hotter times of year and towards the middle of the day, the heat can make the trek up pretty brutal. Picacho Peak is where the most western battle took place in the Civil war. I've been wanting to do this hike since I moved to Tucson a year and a half ago. 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. We don't have a location for this trailhead yet. Picacho Peak's incredible cliffs inched closer as we continued through the wash. A bit under a mile into the hike, a social trail leaves the main wash and follows a ridge, heading generally northwest. Total Nerdery. Local Info. The Civil War in the Southwest Trail at Picacho Peak State Park interprets the 1862 skirmish at Picacho Pass as well as other events that occurred within the region during the Southwestern Campaign. 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