HikeArizona.COM

Has anyone done it??? There was an article somewhere on the net, said it was quite challenging....with guide wires to help you up and a suspension bridge. Would like to hear HAZ member experiences! Thanks

Hey Kelli,

I know, I know... I need to get the common name linked to the trail name

It's at
http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?TN=Hunter+Trail

go early

Thanks for the review Joe I plan on hiking it this Friday on my way from Phoenix to Tucson. Will add my 2 cents when I get back to Penna.

Joe,
Maybe a good compromise on the trail name issue is to just put 'Picacho Peak' under the 'P's' in the TrailDex but have it hyperlink to the trail name 'Hunter'. Same thing with 'Camelback' in the 'C's' and 'Echo Canyon'. Just a thought since I too had trouble finding these two popular mountains initially on the site.

Kelli,
You shouldn't worry about Picacho Peak if you can do Camelback with no problem. The terrain is very similar, some hand holding required in parts, small sections of cables (10-15 ft) to help you up, and it's only about 700 feet taller. Its got a unique shape to it that makes it seem like a proper mountain (much like the Matterhorn).

Picacho Peak is on my list of wanna-do's. Its a very cool looking point on the southern horizon. Maybe GTG should form a group... It would end up being on a day I have to work of course!

I think the hike is cool...but crazy...first few times I did it, I kept thinking...who puts a trail here?...I figured the person who cut the trail was either stoned or stupid...I'd never done a trail that required cables and a cat walk...

It's a fun hike though!

Good idea, Cakewalk! I'd be up for a group trip to Picacho! Make it a Saturday and I'm there! The heat isn't an issue, I did it once in late June!

Kelli, Picacho is a blast, tempe8 describes it well. As for a suspension bridge, well, it's a lot less than that...
Click here for photo
You may want to take a pair of gloves. Have fun when you go!

Hey all, thanks for the info! And Mike, thanks for the photo of the bridge! That is the part I was most concerned about! Can always count on HAZ!

I have done this hike several times and like the Sunset trail the best. It goes around the back side of the mountain. It is a little longer hike and much more peaceful than the I-10 side. You can get a nice littel map at the ranger station. The Sunset trail begins as a nice desert flora walk, a great place to view the best of sonoran vegetation. Next thing you know you will scale straight up the first ascent where you will come to the jct of the Hunter and the Sunset. Then the fun begins. It is a good physical challenge. Almost kinda scary on that last cable climb and catwalk!
I wear weightlifting gloves for the cables, they work great!
Have fun.
Sande J

I have taken both routes and agree with Sande on the Sunset trail. This is a state park so they charge by the car. There is a gas station/gift shop across the highway where you could meet to consolidate and save on admission. A state park pass is good here, otherwise I think it's $5 for day use. Light gloves will come in handy on the cable climbs. For a kick afterwards you could visit the Ostrich ranch just 1/2 mile south of the park. Take the access road south and you can't miss it. :)

Picacho is a very unique hike and that is why I enjoy it so much. The first time I hiked to the peak it took 1 hour and 50 minutes. The second time (a week later) it took 1 hour and 15 minutes.

This is the trail I prepared on before hiking Bright Angel at the Grand Canyon. It is an intense, steep, rewarding hike. The view is great and the number of hikers is usually minimal. The trail is easy to get lost on so watch out!

We are forming a group hike to pichacho - check the Hiking Partners threads for more info

A friend and I did this about 20 years ago. The back trail was closed because there was no bridge but we snuck in there and used what was left of some cables to hold on to. There was some hairy moments when we could only hold on to some eye-bolts that at one time had cable running through them but we made it. We hiked to the top from 3 different approaches in the space of 2 weeks. The third was a bush-whack (rock-whack actually) and we got caught in a storm on the way down the south side.
From what I can see now is that the base of Picacho is pretty much developed.....bathrooms, ramadas, palapas and such. It's a pretty neat little hike.

Phil

Hi all. Just back from Az a few hours. Did Pic. Peak on Friday April 19.
Pretty much agree with all the posts. I thought it was a cool hike, did
Hunter Trail. Yes, the back side was far more better than front side, away
from I-10 noise, etc. Don't do this hike if you don't have hand/eye co-ordination. Very easy to take header, etc. on back side of mt.
Also, on the top. Be careful with foot, arm placement 'cuz you will be in contact with mt. with all 4 limbs. I slightly hyperextende knee on 1 of the foot placements. Also, had to re-grip with an arm/hand hold. Felt a burning
tinge of muscle pull. Was windy on top, didn't stay long, view was great!!!
More trail coments, etc. tomorrow......tired from long plane ride back to
Penna.......