Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565 • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Feb 12 2024

DixieFlyer

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Feb 12 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	4.56 Miles	1,850 AEG

Hiking	4.56 Miles	5 Hrs 8 Mns	1.10 mph
	1,850 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

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SecretMtnLover

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I have been wanting to hike to this peak for a while, so I decided to take advantage of a near perfect hiking day to finally do this one.

Most people seem to loop around on a long ridgeline, but I studied it and decided to take the @FLYING_FLIVER descent route both on the ascent as well as the descent. The route worked out well, so I am glad that we did it this way.

From my parking spot, we hiked up a rough road for about 1/2 until the road ended. Then we followed a use trail for a bit and then descended down to a drainage. We followed the drainage for a ways and then went up a SSE slope to a ridgeline just west of the summit. Then we followed the ridgeline to the promised land.

There were nice views at the summit, so it was enjoyable being up there. I located the benchmark and both reference marks. There were several snow-capped peaks off to the north, and some nice views in general.

We returned the way that we came, although knowledge gained on the way up helped with the descent.

On the way back, while making the descent down toward AD Wash, we saw a group of around a dozen javelina. Unfortunately, they did not seem interested in posing for pictures.

It was a very nice day weatherwise, almost perfect hiking weather: the temperature was in the upper 30's at the start and the upper 50's when we finished; and it was a sunny day with calm winds.

After the hike we stopped off at the Scorpion Bay Grill on Lake Pleasant for lunch.

Synopsis
This was an enjoyable hike and it was better than I thought that it would be. I'd recommend this route instead of trying to follow that long, loopy ridgeline.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Summit Register Log

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] A D Wash Black Butte Bradshaw Mountains Buckhorn Mountains Four Peaks Harquahala Mountain Horse Mountain Lake Pleasant Red Picacho Towers Mountain White Picacho

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Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

2 archives

Jan 01 2022

rcorfman

Guides 1
Routes 226
Photos 1,675
Triplogs 1,867

65 male

Joined Oct 17 2008
Phoenix, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Jan 01 2022
		rcorfman • Triplogs 1,867

Hiking	7.95 Miles	2,737 AEG

Hiking	7.95 Miles	5 Hrs 22 Mns	1.55 mph
	2,737 ft AEG	15 Mns Break

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Happy New Year! I got a late start due to too much celebrating into the wee hours this morning. Shots of tequila, beer, and champagne will do that. Supposedly hiking uphill helps metabolize any lingering side effects from partying, so this was the perfect peak to chase after, especially since geocache was recently hidden there. It didn't disappoint, with lots of steep ascents.

This took way longer than I anticipated. I figured four hours max, but I was out for over five, including a side trip near the end to find a geocache at the Big Reef Mill. Going over and down that first ridge after leaving the trail was slow going. At one point, I was debating whether I had enough daylight as progress had slowed quite a lot. Thankfully the return was much quicker as I had a much better idea how to attack each section.

I must say the views from the peak were outstanding. It really was a blue-ribbon day with the sky finally being clear after a week of overcast and rain.

From parking, the route follows an old road which turns into a dirt bike trail, with very steep sections. How anyone is able to ride it is a mystery to me. From a saddle the route veers off the trail to climb peak 4378 (at least that's what I did) and is all off trail from there. I returned the same way.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Historic survey instrument structure Reference Mark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Buckhorn Mountains Rincon Basin

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Go find a LonelyCache

1 archive

Dec 04 2021

Highpointer

Triplogs 1

male

Joined Mar 24 2006
Tempe, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Dec 04 2021
		Highpointer • Triplogs 1

Hiking	6.80 Miles	2,192 AEG

Hiking	6.80 Miles
	2,192 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

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Hiked this peak as part of a group with Hiking Hikers Hiking Group ("3H"). Placed geocache GC9K426 atop peak.

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Mar 22 2020

FLYING_FLIVER

Guides 1
Routes 259
Photos 10,458
Triplogs 293

male

Joined Jan 28 2010
Fountain Hills,

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Mar 22 2020
		FLYING_FLIVER • Triplogs 293

Hiking	6.90 Miles	2,192 AEG

Hiking	6.90 Miles	7 Hrs 49 Mns	1.77 mph
	2,192 ft AEG	3 Hrs 55 Mns Break

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At 4,565 feet, Buckhorn Mountain is the highest point in this mountain range. I have read that it is also known as 'Crater Benchmark'.
(There are quite a few 'Buckhorn Mtns' in Az. This one is between Winkelman, and Pleasant Lake Reservoir, in Yavapai County).

The area was once very prolific in mining, and prospecting. Plus, I believe some ranching still goes on, due to the "Watch where you step" methodology I had to employ.

I did a clockwise loop, with the, 'up to the mountain', being mostly a curved track, going up and down many mountains and ridges.
Once off Buckhorn Mtn, it was more of a straightforward descent, with the added attraction of using the 'A D Wash' for awhile.

The only negative on the way up was traversing around the side of one of the many mountains.
The area had very thick vegetation, with barely visible, loose rocks/boulders.
We humans like to walk upright, but traversing a mountainside with a pitch of 30 to 40 degrees, is a good way to strain the heck out of your 'human' feet, and ankles. Good thing that area was short lived.
Of course, the USGS surveyors wouldn't want to hear any of my whining, as they used a helicopter, to get up there in 1963.

Wonderful views up there - That alone made the hike worthwhile.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Claret Cup Cactus

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Historic survey instrument structure Reference Mark Summit Register Log

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] A D Wash Buckhorn Mountains Lake Pleasant Red Picacho Rincon Basin White Picacho

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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN

Jan 16 1994

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Buckhorn Mountains Hi Pt 4565

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Jan 16 1994
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	5.00 Miles	1,620 AEG

Hiking	5.00 Miles
	1,620 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

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Second time here - last time we drove in on the Ruby Wash jeep trail but it was a bit rough. This time we parked at the corrals at the junction of Buckhorn road and Ruby Wash. Took the prominent ridge coming down from Crater BM and went round the south side of the large rock outcropping. Pretty nice peak with some nice views.

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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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