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| Elephant Arch and McFadden Peak Lookout, AZ | |
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| | Elephant Arch and McFadden Peak Lookout, AZ | | | |
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Elephant Arch and McFadden Peak Lookout, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.60 Miles |
1,896 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.60 Miles | 4 Hrs 57 Mns | | 1.83 mph |
| 1,896 ft AEG | 48 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Two hikes in one in the Ancha! From the Young Highway 288 at the saddle near McFadden Peak we hiked generally east off trail towards the arch. It's a traverse for the most part dodging trees and small brush along the way. The fire that happened a few years ago burned part of the area so we found staying off the up slope kept us out of the burn area and also made for easier travel.
Eventually we reached the arch area and a drainage that had a little water. From the drainage it's up a ridge and followed the ridgeline to the arch base. Great views on top of everything around Elephant Arch which juts out on the ridgeline. We had lunch and spent about 45 minutes enjoying the arch and surrounding rock features.
After the lunch we headed back the way we came except that I stayed down slope more this time. That avoided the burn areas and made for much easier travel. We made it back to the road quickly by taking the better route.
Still being early in the afternoon we decided to check out the McFadden Peak Lookout from the same parking spot. The gate was locked which was good and we had the whole road to ourselves. It's about 1.3 miles one way I think to the lookout. Unfortunately it was locked up and could not get up on the platform. A few minutes checking things out and we hiked back down the road to our vehicle. Good second hike to round out the afternoon.
Bonus for the days effort we hit Guayo's Mexican for dinner  before heading back to Phoenix. |
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