Little Elephant Head - Santa Rita Mtns, AZ

Overview
Little Elephant Head (elevation of 5,139' with a prominence of 439') is in the western Santa Rita Mountains, lying just outside of the Mount Wrightson Wilderness. It is 1.4 miles south of its higher and better known sibling, Elephant Head.


Hike
The hike begins at the Elephant Head TH in Agua Caliente Canyon. This is the trailhead for the Elephant Head - South Approach hike.From the TH, take Quantrell Mine Trail #141 for about 0.7 miles until you see a trail going off to your left (at GPS coordinates 31.70110, -110.93523). This trail is unnamed and unsigned, but there is generally a rock cairn at the junction. Take this well-worn and easy-to-follow trail to the summit of Little Elephant Head. There are 3-4 false summits on the way, but if you persevere, you will make it to the summit, where you can enjoy awesome 360-degree views of the surrounding area.

This is mostly a class 1 hike, although there is a bit of class 2 hiking along the way. The tread is mostly friendly, although there is a bit of scree and loose dirt. There is no climbing involved, but you will likely need to use your hands for balance in a couple of places as you near the summit.

History
This part of the Santa Ritas was home to some extensive mining in the early part of the 20th century. The mines produced considerable amounts of gold, silver, and lead ore during their heyday.

Synopsis
This is a tough 3-mile hike, and it will give you a good workout. Hardy hikers may wish to combine a hike to Little Elephant Head with a hike to Elephant Head; after all, two head are better than one!

2021-01-17 DixieFlyer