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Arizona
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Picacho Peak State Park
Rating Details »
Exit 219 off the I-10
Picacho, AZ 85241
(520) 466-3183
Picacho, AZ 85241
(520) 466-3183
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
6 reviews for Picacho Peak State Park
Pretty scary trek up Peak Peak
I almost thought I was going to die
Climb was extremely steep
Almost didn't think I could finish the trail
Couldn't stand the beating sun
Hands were slipping from the cable line
OMG. My body felt like J-E-L-L-O after 4 hours
Did I tell you that I rock climb, but I'm terribly afraid of heights? This hike is for serious hikers only! It's extremely steep, quite strenuous, and scary! I slipped a lot of times because the gravel is quite loose. As I watched the small pieces of rocks fall off the cliff, I just thought to myself that that could be me! O_O And the Arizona heat wasn't helping either! I tried to be careful throughout the hike, but I still managed to smack my knee against a rock and mmm blood! =\ Some parts of the steep hike required cable railings. I wish I had some gloves! My hands were sweating and I was loosing grip! After the hike, I couldn't do anything the rest of the day. I felt quite disabled.
Picacho Peak... also known as "Peak Peak". It took 2 hours to get to the top of the peak via Hunter trail up 1780 feet elevation. 1.5 hour back. If you are an inexperienced hiker, I wouldn't recommend this peak at all. The whole time I was hiking and climbing, I kept thinking to myself... Are we there yet? OMG, I'm going to die!! I was trying to hold onto dear life!
I think the site (http://www.localhikes....) needs to be updated, copyright 2003. It says the trail is moderate level of difficulty, 2.5 hours to hike the full round trip. LIES!!!!
And there was this crazy guy who had lapped us twice? What the heck!? He went up and down that peak as if it was just some normal stair master. O_O
After 24 hours, I can't move my body now... lift my leg, raising my arms, get up, sit down, walk downstairs. My whole body is aching!! I feel like an old woman! O_O
Advice:
+ You better be conditioned for this hike
+ Longer legs have a greater advantage
+ Bring lots of water
+ Gloves for holding onto the cable line
+ Towel
,/```\
/*`~* \,,,/'''`\
/.........................\ ...mini version of peak peak O_O
(not to scale... 1 line height = over 500 feet)
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Last weekend a bud and my bf and I decided to go to Picacho Peak to tame the wild desert! ...well, not exactly. I had no clue what I was in for!
First, you pay the reasonable $3 fee to go to the mountain. Once you park, you can start the journey. I wasn't expecting anything rough since this isn't my forte (I've only hiked, maybe 3 times in my life?), but I was really excited. My friend told us we were going on Hunter trail which is the rougher of the two available, I didn't know that at the time, so I just packed a first aid kit, a camel pack, some tennis shoes, a hat, and some sun block. I highly suggest wearing sun block if you're going to be out there. There's some shade in the rocks, but for a lot of the hike you'll be exposed to the sun. I also recommend you don't wear regular tennis shoes because they'll tear up your feet, and make sure you have plenty of water! Bring extra, because if you run out of water, you'll be in a lot of trouble if you have heat stroke or dehydration.
I enjoyed the hike, though it was treacherous at some points, and one misplaced step could definitely put you in a world of hurt. We had to take frequent stops since I haven't done anything athletic in...ohhh...let's say a long time. There are some parts of the hike which are intimidating, but there are safety cables and nets to help you along. The view is great from up on the peek and completely worth the hike. Watch out for centipedes because they're poisonous, but they won't hurt you if you don't mess with them. Also at the very top there were a lot of flying ants, I just swished my hat around so they wouldn't be tempted to land on me.
If you go on the hike, which I recommend, bring a first aid kit, plenty of water, and the right kind of shoes, along with that handy sunblock and you should have a great time. Remember to be careful during the hike because there are tons of ways to break something or fall off. All in all, it was a great time!
A nice little government provided State Park with a hike built right in. Site of our our only Civil War battle. Lots of swell wildflowers in season. You can camp here but I wouldnt recommend it--because of the proximity to the interstate. Others may differ. Close to Rooster Cogburns. Another wonderful State Park one threatened with closure. Its an easy drive from Phoenix so get down there and see it before it joins Painted Rocks State Park...Five Stars
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Only hiked here, haven't camped, but loved every minute of it. The view from the top is sublime. Located on the west side of I-10 off of exit 219 about 60 miles south of Phoenix, 40 miles north of Tucson. I'm sure you've seen it if you've made the drive - you can't miss it - the jagged peak rises 1500 feet up.
There are 2 main trails - Hunter (2 miles to peak) and Sunset Vista (3 miles to peak), which meet up on the backside of the mountain. Hunter is the more strenuous of the two, with some really cool steep sections, complete with rails, ropes and steel cables to pull yourself along. You'll definitely need gloves for this one, not to mention plenty of water and quality hiking shoes. Not for beginners, in other words - or those afraid of heights.
There's a $6 per vehicle fee for hiking. I believe the official park policy is no dogs, though I have seen them on the trails.
Bummer though - they're closing the park starting July 1 all the way until October for the construction of a new visitor center. Check their website for updates.
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Drive south on I-10 out of Casa Grande and Phoenix. About half an hour from Tucson, you will notice a bizarre shape in front of you, jutting out of the desert landscape. Drive closer and you will see It, the Mountain. Picacho Peak.
It's a strangely shaped mountain, like something out of an alien movie, pointed sharply at the heavens, eroded by sand, water, wind, and time.
If you park there at night, you can look at the glittering stars all around you. If you're lucky enough to have a full moon, the silhouette of the mountain will awe you. It's almost silent, with just an occasional rumble of traffic blowing by rapidly on I-10.
(There's more to the story than just stars: a case of beer split on the way south, some Ritalin to stay awake, lots of Camel butts in the ashtray, and a pretty girl whose name I think I've forgotten, but it's all sort of irrelevant now.)
Picacho Peak is the middle of nowhere, but it's a pretty compelling sort of nowhere.
I have stopped and tried to camp here twice - both times during monsoon season. This is an extremely bad idea. The first time I slept in my car with two teenagers, amidst thunder, lightening and torrential rain. We did see a wild javelina in the middle of the night near the car.
The second time, we stopped briefly, looked at the historical stuff and drove on into Tuscon.
This place is significant as it is the most western Civil war battlefield. Bet you didn't know any Civil War battles were fought in Arizona. On April 15, 1862, an advance detachment of Union forces from California attacked a Confederate scouting party. The battle lasted for 1-1/2 hours, and three Union soldiers were killed.
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