FR 454 A (O'Leary Peak), Inner Basin Road

Newbie hiker · Post by **Newbie hiker** » May 25 2003 9:36 am

My hiking partner and I planned to hike O'Leary Peak and Inner Basin Trail yesterday.

FR 545A, to O'Leary Peak, is closed. There is a parking area at the gate and you can hike to the O'Leary Peak trailhead, about 8 miles. (We opted out of this hike.)

Inner Basin trail opened on Wednesday, May 21, according the Peaks Ranger District. We had no trouble navigating it in a sedan.

MtnGeek · Post by **MtnGeek** » May 25 2003 2:54 pm

I did not realize that the road leading to O'leary peak was ever closed. All i know is that there is a locked gate at the saddle of O'leary peak and Darton Dome and from there you hike to the top. I have hiked to the top years ago starting at Sunset Crater Road, there was too much snow to drive to the mountain, so we waded through the snow the whole way. What a hike that was!

I was about 14 at the time. Sorry you could not make it to the trailhead. It truely is a wonderful hike. Maybe you can try some other time.

Newbie hiker · Post by **Newbie hiker** » May 25 2003 6:46 pm

Steven wrote:I did not realize that the road leading to O'leary peak was ever closed . . . Sorry you could not make it to the trailhead. It truely is a wonderful hike. Maybe you can try some other time.

Apparently, the folks at Peaks Ranger District didn't realize it, either. I called them to check road conditions on Thursday, and they said I should be able to navigate it with my car. It was kind of a surprise to have the gate closed at Sunset Crater Road.

But, we had a good time. Inner Basin was gorgeous. I'll try O'Leary again sometime when I'm stronger.