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Syenite 2 BM 2783 - Peoria HP - 1 member in 4 triplogs has rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
4 triplogs
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Mar 04 2025
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male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Syenite 2 BM 2783 - Peoria HPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 04 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,374
Hiking2.43 Miles 808 AEG
Hiking2.43 Miles   2 Hrs   39 Mns   1.19 mph
808 ft AEG      36 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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oldadit
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I had never even heard of this peak until a couple of peakbagging legends invited me to come along and hike to the summit. This unnamed peak has is the highpoint of the the city of Peoria, one of Maricopa County's 24 incorporated municipalities. As for etymology, Peoria got its name from one of the early landowners in the area who was from Peoria, Illinois.

I have now been to the highpoint of 7 out of the 24 Maricopa County municipalities. In addition to Syenite Peak, the others that I have been on top of are listed below.
Carefree -- summit of Black Mountain
Cave Crick -- Elephant Mountain
Fountain Hills -- Slope point on the ridgeline between Peak 3804 and the West View Overlook
Goodyear -- Sevenmile Mountain
Scottsdale -- Butte Peak
Surprise -- point in the desert along 187th Avenue

We turned off of Highway 74, about halfway between I-17 and US 60. We drove a series of dirt roads and parked about as close to the peak as we could get. We were southeast of the peak and made our way to the ridge east of the peak. It was a good route and it went much better than what I was expecting.

There were nice views at the summit, particularly of Lake Pleasant to the east.

We located the Syenite 2 benchmark and both reference marks. The benchmark was covered up with a layer of dirt, and I used some of my water to clean the dirt off and make it visible.

This was an enjoyable hike with some good company, and I am glad that I hiked this one.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Lake Pleasant  Syenite Peak
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  7 archives
Nov 12 2016
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male
 Joined Jan 24 2016
 Arizona
Syenite 2 BM 2783 - Peoria HPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 12 2016
MountainMattTriplogs 530
Hiking3.35 Miles 1,331 AEG
Hiking3.35 Miles   1 Hour   46 Mns   2.18 mph
1,331 ft AEG      14 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
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Went for a quick hike before my workday to alleviate the suckage of having to work from 11a-9pm on a Saturday! :sk:

Last time I was in this Hiero range I assumed the old dirt bike trails went up to Syenite's summit but they certainly do not, they just wrap around the peak and go around it aimlessly.
Instead I just made a quick steep off trail jaunt towards it and ran into about 20 feet of easy scrambling just before the top.
So little ol' Syenite Peak is finally bagged and I'm certainly impressed by the views from up there!
It may not look like much on the map but the summit provides excellent sights of everything from Four Peaks to Harquahala!
The easily locatable summit register jar only had 6 names on it and no signs human impact on the peak are solid evidence that not many folks make it up here even though it's a stones throw away from many populated areas.

I spooked the largest herd of javelina I've ever seen on my way back to my unofficial TH, about 7 or 8 piggys darted out in front of me and loudly scurried down the mountainside. Once halted the alpha male kept looking back up at me to make sure I wasn't going to fry them into bacon while the rest of the group hid in the nearby brush, it was cool to see some unexpected wildlife close to home.

Fun place and great hike if you're ever in the area! : rambo :
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Nov 08 2016
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male
 Joined Jan 24 2016
 Arizona
Syenite 2 BM 2783 - Peoria HPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 08 2016
MountainMattTriplogs 530
Hiking2.50 Miles 659 AEG
Hiking2.50 Miles   1 Hour   22 Mns   2.54 mph
659 ft AEG      23 Mns Break15 LBS Pack
 
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Second time to this little Hiero Mountain Range and boy did I come across a gold mine! :y:
The "gold mine" I'm referring to is simply an awesome network of what I assume are old dirt bike trails!
They basically run across, around and literally up practically every small peak in the range along with Syenite Peak itself, this will most definitely be my new little backyard playground!
With the assurance of these sweet unexpected trails I decided to head up to the summit of Hiero 2490 to shoot sunset photos well into the dark.
This little place boasts some mighty fine views of Lake P, New River, Bradshaw Mountains, Hells Canyon Wilderness, and even downtown Phoenix.
I'll be back soon for another before or after work hike to finally bag lil ol Syenite!
What I thought was going to be a okay hike turned into a great little trek with sweet views and even had time to bust out my camera gear! :D
Good stuff!
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Sep 20 2016
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 Guides 3
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male
 Joined Jan 24 2016
 Arizona
Syenite 2 BM 2783 - Peoria HPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 20 2016
MountainMattTriplogs 530
Hiking4.56 Miles 791 AEG
Hiking4.56 Miles   1 Hour   32 Mns   3.26 mph
791 ft AEG      8 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
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Found out I was able to get out of work one hour earlier than normal so I quickly looked at my list and realized I could easily fit a quick and easy peak bag and the perfect overcast we had today only enhanced my eagerness!
The place I had in mind was Syenite Peak which is part of the Hieroglyphic Mountain range and resides just west of Lake Pleasant, north of Highway 74 and within a stones throw east from the fancy Quintero Golf Club.
It's labeled Syenitie 2 on the topo map, not sure what thats supposed to mean and I've already looked for the number 1 but can't find it anywhere, not sure if it exists...
I glanced at the area while at work to check land ownership rights and realized my desired starting point would skirt past the the Quintero Golf Course on Iron Springs rd. but the rest of the area is all on BLM land so I thought I'd be fine but a fresh new gate that was not there on satellite view set a halt to my Syenite summit plans. ](*,)
I looked for another possible way to the base of Syenite but found nothing logical given the lack of daylight I had passing by, so I opted to park just east of the private property near the highway and just went for a nice trail jog and played around on a couple of small but fair little peaks to make the most out of my short drive. Made it up to a feeble HP of 2,344 but it was actually quite a nice little mound of rock that gave opurituntiy for scrambling near its top.
I'm not sure if Syenite is named because of the rock it consists of but the litlle peaks I had a chance to hike on did have a very unique granite/shale looking type of rock that actually made for a pretty cool little mini mountain range. I googled photos of syenite rock to compare and the match looks promising to what I physically saw but I'm no rock expert but I'd love to know the exact answer.
I'll be back soon because I hate leaving unfinished business behind so see you soon Syenite! : rambo :
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average hiking speed 1.97 mph

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