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| Difficulty |
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4 of 5 |
| Route Finding |
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2 of 5 |
| Distance Round Trip |
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2.9 miles |
| Trailhead Elevation |
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1,784 feet |
| Elevation Gain |
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1,401 feet |
| Accumulated Gain |
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1,880 feet |
| Avg Time Round Trip |
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2 - 3 hours |
| Kokopelli Seeds |
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12.3 |
| Interest Peak | |
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| Collective Slideshow |
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5 |
2019-01-20 |
Picacho Peak Loop |
rayhuston |
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6 |
2019-01-20 |
Picacho Peak Loop |
Tortoise_Hiker |
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25 |
2018-11-25 | Naferg323 |
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4 |
2018-11-25 | caragruey |
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5 |
2018-11-04 | te_wa |
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4 |
2018-04-26 | chumley |
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9 |
2018-02-23 | astrobrewer |
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12 |
2018-02-10 | caragruey |
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Historical Weather |
| Trailhead Forecast | |
Radar |
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| Preferred Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov → 10 AM |
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Official Route
9 Alternative
Water
| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
| Official Route |
Davis2001r6 |
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2.85 mi
1,819 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.43 mi
2,882 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.54 mi
2,928 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.54 mi
2,928 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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7.35 mi
2,956 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.07 mi
2,755 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.21 mi
2,549 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.17 mi
2,674 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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2.99 mi
2,680 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.04 mi
1,797 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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1.55 mi
1,576 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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1.11 mi
444 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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1.48 mi
1,617 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.01 mi
1,803 ft |
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| Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
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3.6 mi
1,874 ft |
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| 11 unofficial routes |
| Sunset Hunter Picacho Loop
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6.73 mi
1,942 ft |
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| Picacho Loop
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7.98 mi
2,488 ft |
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| Picacho Loop
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7.57 mi
2,861 ft |
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| Sunset Vista Trail-Hunter Trail-Picacho Peak
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5.03 mi
1,907 ft |
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| Hunter Trail to the Saddle
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1.57 mi
846 ft |
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| Picacho Loop
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6.89 mi
2,408 ft |
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| Picacho Peak-Razorback
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3.48 mi
2,646 ft |
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| Picacho Peak Road from Hunter TH
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1.76 mi
76 ft |
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| Hunter - Sunset Vista Trail
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7.1 mi
2,382 ft |
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 | | Calloway Trail - Picacho State Park
0.0 mi away
| |  | | Nature Trail - Picacho Peak State Park
0.2 mi away
| |  | | Children's Cave Trail - Picacho State Park
0.2 mi away
| | | | Picacho Peak State Park Campground
0.2 mi away
| |  | | Turd Hill
0.7 mi away
| |  | | Sunset Vista Trail - Picacho Peak
1.6 mi away
| |  | | South Newman 4209
4.4 mi away
| |  | | Newman Peak - Southeast Route
4.5 mi away
| |  | | Newman Peak Trail
5.0 mi away
| |  | | Sasco to Silverbell Ghost Towns
7.4 mi away
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| | [ View More! ] |
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| Fauna |
Nearby |
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Baird's Old World Swallowtail |
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Black Vulture |
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Chuckwalla |
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Common side-blotched lizard |
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Curve-billed Thrasher |
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Desert Tortoise |
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Giant Centipede |
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Glossy snake |
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Harris Antelope Squirrel |
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Painted Lady Butterfly |
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Prairie Falcon |
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Rock Squirrel |
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Rock Wren |
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Sidewinder |
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Sonoran Whipsnake |
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Tarantula |
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Tiger Rattlesnake |
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Turkey Vulture |
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Wildlife Handling and Feeding |
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| Flora |
Nearby |
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Barrel Cactus - Red |
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Blue Phacelia |
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Brittlebush |
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Coulter's Lupine |
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Creosote Bush |
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Desert Globemallow |
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Emorys Rock Daisy |
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Fendler's globemallow |
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Fiddleneck |
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Lyreleaf jewelflower |
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Mexican Gold Poppy |
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Ocotillo |
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Rock mustard |
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Saguaro |
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Teddy Bear Cholla |
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Unidentified Flora |
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Wolfberry |
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| Named place |
Nearby |
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Newman Peak |
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Picacho Peak |
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Santa Catalina Mountains |
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Santa Cruz Flats |
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| Culture |
Nearby |
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HAZ Gear |
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Informational/Interpretive Trail Sign |
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Trail Signs and Markings |
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Note
Stats are to the peak, including Sunset Trail segment. Overview
Between Phoenix and Tucson lies this mysterious peak jutting out of the desert. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! This is a unique trail with cables and handrails placed by the Boy scouts long ago. Hike
The first section takes you up steep switchbacks to the saddle. When in season a beautiful wildflower is witnessed at the beginning of the trail. February through early April offers the best rewards. Keep an eye on triplogs and photosets.
Okay from the saddle you have just gained 968 feet in altitude. Now you will begin to descend believe it or not. Yes, descend almost half of what you just gained! ( 225 feet ) This is the beginning of the fun. Cables assist you down the steep slick slope. Personally I would avoid this trail when it is wet! Some prefer gloves for the cables.
You merge onto the Sunset Trail. The trail goes back around the mountain and starts to ascend steeply near the end. Once again handrails, cables and even bridges! assist you along the way. This is boy scout dream land! On the peak enjoy the views. With a good knowledge of the surrounding area this is a prime viewing location.
1-2 quarts water is plenty for me moderate weather. Pack a lunch for the summit. When a scattered group of fifty is chowing down you feel like it's the thing to do. Speaking from one that frequents the Valley shrines Squaw and Camelback, this is similar terrain. It's just more intense with the cable grades. For the beginning hiker I can only imagine this is quite a push. Stay out of 8am-5pm heat when hiking this area in the summer. Enjoy! |
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