Picacho Peak - Hunter Trail Hike

As the site of Arizona's only Civil War battle, Picacho Peak is almost monolithic in its surrounding desert and can be seen from dozens of miles away on the approach from Phoenix, seeming to never get any closer. An intimidating hike up the Hunter Trail of Picacho Peak lives up to the reputation as one of the more difficult hikes in Southern Arizona. The appropriately named Picaho, or "big peak" in Spanish, spires above the trailhead 3374 feet, tempting only experienced hikers up its rocky peak.

The trail begins climbing immediately, and sooner than you think, you're level with smaller surrounding, lava-formed peaks almost as soon as you're ready for your first break. The mountain's sides are scattered with saguaros and cholla cacti of all sizes as the trail switchbacks its way directly into the base of the peak. While you may think that at the base of the peak you're almost there, the trail has only just begun. After a few more switchbacks, the trail meanders its way into the side of an enormous cliff, only to turn to the north to head for the saddle. This is one of the easier parts of the trail and once finally at the saddle, it makes an excellent resting point for the next surprise that newcomers to the trail never see coming.

After all that work to ascend to where you are now, the trail winds around the base of the peak to the west side of the mountain, only to lead you to a steep descent of 500 feet. Once you're at the bottom of a descent so steep, steel cables are there to help, you begin your climb back up with enormously large panoramic views of a flat desert land to the west with mountains pushed back on the horizon.

The steepness never lets up and there are even more spots where the steel cables are required to help less experienced hikers along that become even more of an adventure on the way back down. You know you're getting close to the top though when you cross an old, metal bridge hung off the edge of the cliff of the peak. From here, it's only about a 10-15 minute hike up the remaining switchbacks until you're finally given an indescribable view from the top of a peak that is literally jutting out of the desert floor. The only company you'll get up here are other hikers and an occasional chipmunk.

To get there from Phoenix, head south on I-10 and take the Picacho Peak State Park exit. There will be an entrance of $6 and the road to the trailhead is the first left down the road from the fee station. Plenty of food and water is required, and good gloves for the steel cables is also highly recommended.