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| Elephant Mountain Fortress, AZ | | -
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| | Elephant Mountain Fortress, AZ | | | |
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Elephant Mountain Fortress, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.00 Miles |
1,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.00 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 1.75 mph |
| 1,000 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This was another guided hike with Kevin (the Ranger at Spur Cross) to the Elephant mountain Fortress. Today was the last guided hike up there until Fall.
You Start off at the Spur Cross Trail head and take the left (west) trail. You follow Spur Cross Trail until it breaks off to the left where intersections with the Tortuga loop. Follow the Tortuga Trail from there until you come across the Elephant Mountain Trail. The Elephant mountain trail breaks left and leads you down into the wash. This part of the trail is steep and would be a nasty fall. There are some steps that were put in by the Boy Scouts a few years back, but it is still steep and you should be careful. Once down in the wash keep an eye out for cairns to mark the way. After going in and out of the wash a couple times you start to head up the mountain. This is also a steep part of the trail with loose rocks. The trail leads you up and over the trunk of the elephant about 500 ft below the summit. As you reach the top of the trail and are on the back side of that cliff face, look up to your left. Here are the remains of a big fortress wall used by the Hohokam people as look outs and defensive positions. There are supposedly Several of these spread through out the state. They are set up in a way that they could signal each other with fire and smoke. There is a trail that switch backs its way up to the wall. This spot gives you some outstanding views. The trail then starts down the other side of the mountain until it reconnects with the Spur Cross Trail, and you can head back to the parking area from here.
Overall an interesting and challenging hike. Highly recommend it. |
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
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