High School Hill Trail, AZ

This is a nice trail that goes to an overlook and a campsite near the summit of High School Hill. Then there is a short bushwhack to the top of the hill. If you don't want to bushwhack it is still a rewarding short hike with great views from the overlook, both to the east and to the north. To the north, you can see the North Rim of Grand Canyon if you know where to look. To the east, you can see the San Francisco Peaks, with a lot of territory in between.


The trail tread is pretty good, occasionally rocky. The vegetation is mostly Ponderosa Pine, Gambel Oak, with some Pinyon Pine and Utah Juniper.Once you have seen the overlook you may want to bushwhack up to the summit. Use the GPS route provided, or a map and compass. Or just keep going uphill. Just make sure you remember which way you went up! The view from the peak is mostly to the west, south, and northwest. You can see Bill Williams Mountain right across the valley.

It has been a tradition in Williams for high school kids to hike the mountain. The campsite near the summit is large, with a big fire ring.

To find the trail:
Park at the south end of 2nd Street in Williams. This is also Grand Canyon Avenue, Exit 163 off I-40. Heading south, its name changes to 2nd Street once it passes through the tourist areas of town. It dead-ends after driving up a steep hill in a residential area. There's a dirt berm at the turnaround point. Make your way up the berm (to the right of a private property sign, but not within the private property) and to the right of a huge pile of rocks, someone dumped there. You'll see the power line going straight up the hill. To find the trail start looking to your right as you head toward the power line easement. You'll see the trail contouring off to the right (south). Follow it up less than two miles to the first overlook. To reach the summit you'll have to bushwhack to the south. (See GPS route.)

2015-05-06 azbackpackr