Go to the about page to see more about me and this site, or go here to see the latest posts. It’s about more than standing on the mountain top. Picacho Peak State Park: Hours, Address, Picacho Peak State Park Reviews: 4.5/5. I was in a black-and-white phase with my photography at the time and unfortunately lost my color picture files of the trip. This oddity reminds me of Bill Williams Mountain in northern Arizona (William Williams?). The grade becomes steep within a quarter mile of the trailhead. After the saddle the route makes a short descent on the south side of the peak prior to another steep accent that leads eventually to the top of Picacho Peak. In the grand scheme of things, this was a mere skirmish that pitted 13 Union cavalrymen against 10 Confederate cavalry, resulting in about 8 casualties (3 killed, 5 injured). Camera: Canon 5D Mk IV Lens 1: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! The first and shortest route is the Hunter Trail. From the top it looks like a boring trail. If you want to do some hiking at Picacho Peak but, you're not ready to do that vertical climb up Hunter Trail, Calloway Trail is a nice and easy way to experience this beautiful park. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2020 Down The Trail - All Rights Reserved - legal statements - contact. The State Park holds a re-enactment each year in late March. The path along the park road is surprisingly pleasant, especially when wildflowers are in bloom in the spring. The Hunter Hiking Trail begins its ascent on a series of switchbacks up the northern side of the Picacho Peak. It may be only two miles (3.2 km) long, but it is two, long and twisted – for some terrifying – miles of adventurous trail. This site feeds you cookies, is peppered with affiliate links, and has dangerous recipes for going outdoors. The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. After that it gets steep and difficult especially after intersecting with the Hunter Trail. You know a trail is really fun when you’ve conquered it multiple times. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The wildflowers were in full bloom. Camping, picnic areas, and a visitor center are also located within the park. We stayed for 2 nights, and Will and I hiked a full loop up the Hunter Trail and down Sunset Vista. The main trailhead for the Hunter Trail is on the Barret Loop, but immediate parking is limited. Slightly longer approaches via the Nature Trail are possible, adding about a half or full mile to your day. Follow the signs to the park, which is on the west side of I-10. Just another trip report & photos of our 4th hike up Hunter Trail to the summit of Picacho Peak. From the start, we ascended somewhat steeply up the rocky trail. A longer and more moderate route variation is available on the south side of the peak. It’s about protecting what sustains us. 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. We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when it’s cooler. ROUTE: well maintained, signed junctions – steep trail involves the use of cables for handholds, similar to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. It helped direct early explorers such as Father Kino and Juan Bautista de Anza. It is tough on senior hikers. 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. The trail itself is well maintained, but a little rocky in places. Here’s a couple of the maps that show the trails in Picacho Peak State Park. Reportedly he was under orders not to engage any Confederate troops, but chose do so anyway. Bruce Springsteen is my hero. Hunter Trail is a 4-mile round trip hike to the top of Picacho Peak. Where: Picacho Peak State Park. 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. The hiking Difficulty calculator rates it as extreme! ... Picacho Peak - Hunters Trail - Ascending the Face Pt. That may be why after hiking it I experienced cramps! The trail has many areas of sharp, bare rock, and in places arrows are painted on the rock to signal the direction of the trail, which can be difficult to follow in certain areas. Despite the otherwise empty desert scenery, interstate noise abounds. Gloves are highly recommended. AZ HIKING TRAILS 2,664 views. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. This is a difficult trail with steep inclines and steel cables, so … 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. The trail we are interested in is the Hunter Trail. 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. Hunter Trail on the south side of the peak was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps to facilitate servicing the beacon which was dismantled in 1965. It’s a 4 mile out and back trail that takes you straight up to the Peak. All rights reserved. Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, California. From the Valley, go east on Interstate 10 to Exit 219. Starting out early in the day, before the heat added another layer … Hunter Trail is the other one and is 2 miles of steep switchbacks. This is the easier of the two peak hikes. The hike up Picacho Peak on Hunter Trail is short but rated as difficult. 4:37. The Hunter Trail begins off the Barrett Loop Road, about a quarter mile from the entrance station. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. During hotter times of year and towards the middle of the day, the heat can make the trek up pretty brutal. 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. This is a unique trail with cables and handrails placed by the Boy scouts long ago. The Hunter Trail begins at the parking lot near the Saguaro Ramada. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Trails closed from sunset to sunrise. Blue Mesa is the Best Hiking Trail at Petrified Forest National Park, How to Hike Humphreys Peak - Trail Map and Guide - Flagstaff Arizona, A Day Hike in the Superstitions around Weavers Needle - Peralta Trail, Calderwood Butte Preserve - Trail Map & Guide - Peoria, AZ. The most direct approach is via the trailhead on the Barret Loop Road. This south-facing trail has more direct sunlight and offers a lengthier meander through the desert landscape than the Hunter Trail. There is cables to assist you in some spots. Besides the decent camping facilities and yearly Civil War battle re-enactment at the site, Picacho's premier attraction is the spectacular Hunter Trail, which goes up to the precipitous summit. You may get the impression that the Sunset Vista Trail could be more gradual, but it’s just a longer approach that gets equally steep toward the end. There is a very obvious sign next to the correct trail that says “Hunter Trail To the Top of the Peak”. The Best Winter Adventures in North America. 1 - Duration: 4:37. The trail begins in an environment that is typical of Sonoran desert landscape with desert vegetation and varieties of cactus. The trailhead is accessed at the far end of the park at the Sunset Vista Trailhead. The initial accent takes you to an area know as the saddle, which is near the mid-point of the hike. I love the outdoors, and the Grand Canyon is my favorite destination. 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. Location: Arizona, United States Hike Quality (1-5): 5 Hike Difficulty (1-5): 3 Round Trip Distance: 4 km Elevation Gain: 600 m. Camera Details. Picacho Peak is one of the most well-known mountains in southern Arizona, due to its prominence along Interstate I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. I earn commission with links to other websites, like Amazon. It calls for a fair amount of scrambling and maneuvering with cables along steep ledges and gains elevation pretty quickly. From the parking area, the trail quickly switchbacks up through the desert cacti to a saddle 900 ft above where you started. a classic southern Arizona hike up the Hunter Trail and down the Sunset Vista Trail via the cables on Picacho Peak, 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) BEST SEASONS: spring, fall, and winter, but avoid crowds in March DISTANCE: varies from 3 to 7 miles (see below) ELEVATION: Hunter Trail gains 1,370ft to summit (3,374ft) ACCESS: paved roads DIRECTIONS:  Take exit 219 from interstate I-10, and travel about one mile west on Picacho Peak Rd to the park entrance. ... ” obstacle on the Sunset Vista Trail is a 50-foot cable ladder that we reached just below the junction with the Hunter Trail. In 1775 the peak was referred to as Cerro de Taca by Francisco Garcés who was a Spanish friar and, in the past, the mountain was referred to as Picacho del Tucson ‘Tucson Peak.’ Hiking the Mount Tammany Loop – Red Dot/Blue Dot Trail (2020) The total distance for this day is slightly less than 7 miles. Hunter trail to the top of Picacho Peak is the shortest route., but also the steepest. Picacho Peak is where the most western battle took place in the Civil war. The Hunter Trail, which is one of five in Picacho Peak State Park, is the route to the top. With that […] I stayed at the campground here with Haley and my friend William in the spring of 2019, after our trip on the Arizona Trail. Ve conquered it multiple times by practicing Leave No Trace on your website this post, i breakdown of. 03, 2018 7 Comments from the parking lot near the mid-point of the Peak or starting early the! Also had less shade in the morning each year in late March trip &! 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