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. You can hike all the way to the top! 5) It’s a Fairly Challenging Hike Though a classic southern Arizona hike up the Hunter Trail and down the Sunset Vista Trail via the cables on Picacho Peak. If you’re like me, you have probably passed Picacho Peak State Park several times, and thought about hiking to the top “someday.” Well congrats on finally turning “someday” to now! From the start, we ascended somewhat steeply up the rocky trail. Its centerpiece spire is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles (72 km). Hiking Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail. Summit Elevation: 3370 ft. Hiker's tip: Bring gloves. The descent was closer to 60 minutes--but you'll want to build in time to soak up the peak. Picacho Peak Sunset Vista Trail: 32.636917, -111.412611 Safety The hikes to Picacho Peak are not long, but they are strenuous, and if you allow yourself to become lightheaded due to dehydration or for other reasons, it can be dangerous in the steeper areas. Date of experience: December 2013 Ask kraayzizou about Picacho Peak State Park Address: 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ 85241. 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. However, we enjoyed the couple bonding therapy of it all… Enjoy! ... Hunter trail goes up the front of Picacho Peak to the saddle. During hotter times of year and towards the middle of the day, the heat can make the trek up pretty brutal. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from September until May. ... gatorade, and snacks. The land In the far southeastern corner of California, near the town of Yuma is one of the starkest desert landscapes in the world. Please try again later. These two facts make it a very popular trail on weekends. Whether you are coming from the Phoenix or Tucson area, there is clear signage directing to the Park's entrance making for easy navigation. It then has areas where you use cables to navigate the trail. We must have passed by it a thousand times over the years going back and forth between Tucson and Phoenix. Winter months. 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. 3) Picacho Peak Has Been Enjoyed by Europeans For a Long Time flickr User Matthew Dillon. This hike is within the boundaries of Picacho Peak State Park. For more information about Picacho Peak, check out azstateparks.com. The most popular route, the Hunter Trail, takes you to the top of the mountain. Picacho Peak is a familiar landmark to anyone who drives Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! Picacho Peak State Park / Picacho, Arizona While staying in Casa Grande, Arizona I was in search of a good hike and decided to explore Picacho Peak State Park. Casa Grande is the closest city to Picacho Peak. Despite growing up an hour away from Picacho Peak and even attending a civil war battle reenactment in the park, I never once climbed to the top. Full service campground on site, additional fee (per night) is required. 4) The Views Aren’t Limited to the I-10 Flickr User Jim Loftus. 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. It’s almost vertical in places, and cables are installed to help you hoist yourself up. Description of the trail from a web-site: The trail to the… 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. Picacho Peak features five different trails ranging in length from .2 to 3.1 miles. Click here for their weather and a web cam of the city. The hike to the summit was 80 minutes which included my breaks for photos, drinks, etc. The view from the peak seems almost other worldly. It is in Pacacho Peak State Park and costs $5.00 per vehicle to ener the park. Picacho Peak is a prominent 3,374-foot peak along I-10 in southern Arizona. Date and Time: September 22, 9 AM – 12:30 PM. However, the ~1.5 hour drive between Phoenix and the state park has been a bit of a deterrent for me. The distance to the top is 2.7 miles with an increase in elevation of 2,014. Picacho Peak State Park hard (367) Length: 5.4 mi • Est. Site design by Jennifer Mead Creative, hiked to the halfway point back shortly after Emma’s seventh birthday. View fullsize. On Friday, January 4, 2019, while staying at Picacho Peak State Park we climbed to the top of the famous Picacho Peak. The hike up Picacho Peak on Hunter Trail is short but rated as difficult. The relatively short, 6.2-mile (10 km) distance took four hours to complete. 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) What turned out to make this park entirely worth the stay was the hike to the summit of Picacho Peak. Hike up Picacho Peak near Tucson, Arizona. People made note of the peak as far back as the Anza Expedition in the 1700s. Time: 3-4 hours. December, kids, outdoors, relaxing, wildlife, popular & hidden gems, 5 days in Grand Canyon National Park & Red Rock, 8 days in Grand Canyon National Park & Red Rock, November, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife, popular sights, February, slow & easy, popular & hidden gems, http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/index.html, FAQ for Attractions & Businesses Listed on Inspirock. Picacho Peak rises 1500 feet above an otherwise flat area of the Sonoran Desert creating an extraordinary 360 degree panorama. This is one of two trails in Picacho Peak State Park that takes you to the peak and it is a must do in spring due to the abundance of wildflowers. This 1.5 mile hike to the peak provides spectacular views of the Mesilla Valley and the Organ Mountains. Picacho Peak State Park is approximately 30 minutes south of Casa Grande, located on the west side of I … With a unique look and massive size, its presence is hard to ignore. Picacho Peak is open for day use only and closes at sunset. The summer is way to hot. Finally, one decade after moving out of Arizona, I've summited the peak on one of the most fun hikes I've ever done. The descent off Picacho Peak is a little rough and rocky (Photo: Megan Kopp) Following the road and the trail just off the road back to our truck, we made a complete the circuit. This is the easier of the two peak hikes. Picacho Peak Trail Guide. The average time taken to climb Picacho peak is two and a half to four hours as a round trip. It’s also a great place to stop for a hike — one that will test your fear of heights and make you weak in the knees. Most people visit Picacho Peak State Park to hike one of the five available trails - or to camp overnight when the weather is nice. This was by far the most technical hike we have attempted to date and the payoff was pretty magnificent! calories burned: 680-760 rt • best time of year: oct. November through march is the best. This is a unique trail with cables and handrails placed by the Boy scouts long ago. That was perhaps not the best choice for a steep rocky climb that offers very little shade. It's right along I-10 south of Casa Grande and we've passed by it dozens of time. For the last day of January 2010, Nolan decided we should hike to the top of Picacho Peak. Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding Picacho Peak in Picacho, Arizona. Picacho Peak, halfway between Tucson and Phoenix, is one of the best short hikes in the state of Arizona, and with the weather still cool and wildflowers in bloom, now is the time to get out there. 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. It depends on the time of day or night, the season, and the amount of people at the park. Last Saturday, we took the exit off I-10 and conquered Picacho Peak. A challenging 3.2 mile hike where you hike up, then descend quite a distance, and ascend back up plus more. It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago. 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ 85141, USA, Create an itinerary including Picacho Peak State Park. More about Picacho Peak: Picacho means “Big Peak” in Spanish, which I didn’t know… and the summit rises to 3,374 feet (1,028 m) above mean sea level. It is also an inactive volcano and some historical battles were fought here as well. Unable to display map at this time. There's a small fee to enter the Picacho Peak State Park (as of April 2009, the fee was $6). The summit rises to 3,374 feet (1,028 m) above mean sea level. Participant Limit: 12 Sunset Vista Trail takes you on a pleasant and colorful 3.1 miles on the south side of Picacho to the peak. The park is located between Casa Grande and Tucson near Interstate 10 in Pinal County. Picacho Peak is a 4959-foot high peak just northwest of Las Cruces. When To Climb. This area is also the setting of the only Civil War battle fought in Arizona. Stats are to the peak, including the Sunset Trail segment. trailhead: 15520 picacho peak rd, picacho • difficulty: difficult • distance: 2 miles (4 miles rt) • approx. Fees: $7 per vehicle fee (1-4 adults). Hours: Park is open 5AM – 10PM daily. The peak and the land around it is a state park. The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. 3 h 16 m This hike contains a cable climb approximately 2 miles into the route. We began our hike at the Hunter Trailhead. 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 … Hike to Picacho Peak The first and only time I hiked Picacho Peak, that impossibly towering mountain alongside I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix, I did it with Brett on a 100-degree day . There is a very obvious sign next to the correct trail that says “Hunter Trail To the Top of the Peak”. This trail is well marked and located between the Tucson and Phoenix areas. The shortest hikes are also the easiest, but they still have plenty of redeeming qualities like overlooks and interpretive signs. And Kleenex. For a couple of Coloradans who are used to hiking trails with elevation gain and exposure, this adrenaline-pumping hike was an unexpected gem in the middle of the Arizona desert. What animals will I see at Picacho Peak State Park? Hike Meeting Location: Fairacres Post Office, 3800 W Picacho Ave. Picacho Peak is a premiere destination for anyone traveling down I-10. 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… We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when it’s cooler. Hike Summary. The mountain has been used as landmark for travelers for centuries. This spring I … time: 2.5-3.5 hours • elevation gain: 1,785 feet (128 stories) • approx. Overview Between Phoenix and Tucson lies this mysterious peak jutting out of the desert. Although most of the recreational use occurs on the peak, there are also large canyons and mesa tops to explore. 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. 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