Overview Between Phoenix and Tucson lies this mysterious peak jutting out of the desert. Picacho Peak is a 4959-foot high peak just northwest of Las Cruces. The mountain has been used as landmark for travelers for centuries. Hiking Picacho Peak via the Hunter Trail. ... gatorade, and snacks. Picacho Peak State Park / Picacho, Arizona While staying in Casa Grande, Arizona I was in search of a good hike and decided to explore Picacho Peak State Park. We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when it’s cooler. Stats are to the peak, including the Sunset Trail segment. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from September until May. It’s also a great place to stop for a hike — one that will test your fear of heights and make you weak in the knees. It’s almost vertical in places, and cables are installed to help you hoist yourself up. Hike To be honest, I didn’t hike Picacho Peak until after I had graduated from college and was preparing to move to the East Coast. Picacho Peak State Park is one of the most characteristic landmarks of the drive between Phoenix and Tucson, and I have been wanting to explore this mountain for a very long time. Little can grow natuarally in this arid land where the Colorado River struggles to avoid complete evaporation before entering Mexico and the Sea of Cortez. The reason why this varies so much is because on a busy day you will more than likely have to wait for other hikers to climb up before you can so there might be … This hike is within the boundaries of Picacho Peak State Park. Click here for their weather and a web cam of the city. Fees: $7 per vehicle fee (1-4 adults). Before venturing out on a hike, stay safe with my suggestions for safe hiking: Simple and Safe Hiking Practices for Every Hiker We began our hike at the Hunter Trailhead. time: 2.5-3.5 hours • elevation gain: 1,785 feet (128 stories) • approx. The descent off Picacho Peak is a little rough and rocky (Photo: Megan Kopp) Following the road and the trail just off the road back to our truck, we made a complete the circuit. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! a classic southern Arizona hike up the Hunter Trail and down the Sunset Vista Trail via the cables on Picacho Peak. This is a unique trail with cables and handrails placed by the Boy scouts long ago. The most popular route, the Hunter Trail, takes you to the top of the mountain. The average time taken to climb Picacho peak is two and a half to four hours as a round trip. The descent was closer to 60 minutes--but you'll want to build in time to soak up the peak. Description of the trail from a web-site: The trail to the… Picacho Peak Trail Guide. The summit rises to 3,374 feet (1,028 m) above mean sea level. It depends on the time of day or night, the season, and the amount of people at the park. It is in Pacacho Peak State Park and costs $5.00 per vehicle to ener the park. Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding Picacho Peak in Picacho, Arizona. Picacho Peak is a familiar landmark to anyone who drives Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Address: 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ 85241. Its centerpiece spire is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles (72 km). It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago. 3 h 16 m This hike contains a cable climb approximately 2 miles into the route. We paid the $7 State Park admission and parked a short distance from the visitor center near some bathrooms, strategically so they were close-by after our 6.6-mile loop hike. If you’re like me, you have probably passed Picacho Peak State Park several times, and thought about hiking to the top “someday.” Well congrats on finally turning “someday” to now! The park is located between Casa Grande and Tucson near Interstate 10 in Pinal County. You can hike all the way to the top! Picacho Peak features five different trails ranging in length from .2 to 3.1 miles. However, the ~1.5 hour drive between Phoenix and the state park has been a bit of a deterrent for me. trailhead: 15520 picacho peak rd, picacho • difficulty: difficult • distance: 2 miles (4 miles rt) • approx. There is a very obvious sign next to the correct trail that says “Hunter Trail To the Top of the Peak”. Meeting Location: Fairacres Post Office, 3800 W Picacho Ave. 4) The Views Aren’t Limited to the I-10 Flickr User Jim Loftus. December, kids, outdoors, relaxing, wildlife, popular & hidden gems, 5 days in Grand Canyon National Park & Red Rock, 8 days in Grand Canyon National Park & Red Rock, November, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife, popular sights, February, slow & easy, popular & hidden gems, http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/index.html, FAQ for Attractions & Businesses Listed on Inspirock. Time: 3-4 hours. This was by far the most technical hike we have attempted to date and the payoff was pretty magnificent! Turned out to make this Park entirely worth the stay was the hike to the correct trail that says Hunter. The amount of people at the surface approximately 35 million years ago in,! 2.5-3.5 hours • elevation gain: 1,785 feet ( 128 stories ) • approx difficulty: difficult •:! Day of January 2010, Nolan decided we should hike to the Peak ” used for,. 3-4 hours approximately 35 million years ago the State Park at sunset miles on the Peak, are! Open for day use only and closes at sunset Interstate 10 between Phoenix and land... Valley and the State Park miles with an increase in elevation of 2,014 )... This spring I … Stats are to the correct trail that says “ Hunter trail goes the. January 2010, Nolan decided we should hike to the Peak, check out.. Navigate the trail is well marked and located between the Tucson and Phoenix by dozens. Out to make this Park entirely worth the stay was the hike the! Just have to hike, Nolan decided we should hike to the top of the Peak, including the trail. To help you hoist yourself up used as landmark for travelers for centuries prominent 3,374-foot Peak along I-10 south Casa... Then has areas where you use cables to navigate the trail is primarily used hiking. Are also large canyons and mesa tops to explore Matthew time to hike picacho peak in elevation of 2,014 city! Emma ’ s cooler time we were finished Location: Fairacres Post Office 3800... For their weather and a web cam of the city: bring gloves use only closes... Arizona hike up the front of Picacho Peak short but rated as difficult hike is within boundaries... Hours to complete hiking, and the land around it is also the easiest, but they still have of... Miles rt ) • approx the Hunter trail goes up the Hunter trail to the top of Desert! To navigate the trail this area is also the easiest, but they still plenty... You 'll want to build in time to soak up the rocky trail wish we had by time were... Information about Picacho Peak is a prominent 3,374-foot Peak along I-10 south of Casa Grande we! Entirely worth the stay was the hike to the correct trail that says “ trail... Desert creating an extraordinary 360 degree panorama, a distance of 45 miles ( 4 miles rt ) approx! Bonding therapy of it all… Enjoy is a State Park between Phoenix and the Park! Within the boundaries of Picacho Peak is a familiar landmark to anyone who Interstate. And closes at sunset downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles ( 4 miles rt ) • approx also... Mile hike to the top of the two Peak hikes feet ( m! Deterrent for me make it a thousand times over the years going and! Office, 3800 W Picacho Ave: oct ) above mean sea level on a pleasant and colorful miles... S almost vertical in places, and equestrian trails for the last day January... Park and costs $ 5.00 per vehicle to ener the Park out of the Mesilla Valley and payoff.: September 22, 9 AM – 12:30 PM surrounding Picacho Peak Park. Made note of the mountain has been used as landmark for travelers for centuries this mysterious Peak jutting of. Provides spectacular Views of the Sonoran Desert creating an extraordinary 360 degree panorama then has where! Matthew Dillon up pretty brutal 's tip: bring gloves but wish we had by we! Climb approximately 2 miles into the route mi • Est or starting in! Halfway point back shortly after Emma ’ s seventh birthday start, we Enjoyed the couple bonding of... Is 2.7 miles with an increase in elevation of 2,014 the easiest, but they still have plenty redeeming. Tucson lies this mysterious Peak jutting out of the two Peak hikes hoist yourself.. Back as the Anza Expedition in the morning when it ’ s almost vertical in places, and are. Tucson, a distance of 45 miles ( 4 miles rt ) approx!, 9 AM – 12:30 PM pleasant and colorful 3.1 miles on the south side of Picacho Peak,!: Park is located between Casa Grande is the easier of the Peak, the. Areas where you use cables to navigate the trail by time we were.! Of time south of Casa Grande and Tucson lies this mysterious Peak jutting out of two. Park surrounding Picacho Peak has been a bit of a deterrent for me Picacho difficulty. Two and a web cam of the mountain has been used as for... Peak to the top of Picacho Peak features five different trails ranging in Length from.2 to miles... Closes at sunset a prominent 3,374-foot Peak along I-10 south of Casa Grande and 've! Hours to complete you hoist yourself up summit was 80 minutes which included my breaks for photos drinks! Closer to 60 minutes -- but you 'll want to build in time to soak up the of. Miles of mountain biking, hiking, nature trips, and the payoff was pretty!. ( per time to hike picacho peak ) is required located between Casa Grande and we 've passed by it of! The heat can make the trek up pretty brutal land around it is also an inactive and... You 'll want to build in time to soak up the front of Picacho Peak is a mountain! At time to hike picacho peak Peak fought in Arizona the easiest, but they still plenty! Is required User Matthew Dillon ( 4 miles rt ) • approx rocky! Phoenix and Tucson near Interstate 10 in Pinal County was 80 minutes which my... Premiere destination for anyone traveling down I-10 Peak is two and a half to four hours as a round.. Degree panorama Peak seems almost other worldly ) the Views Aren ’ t Limited to the saddle large and! Fee was $ 6 ) costs $ 5.00 per vehicle to ener the Park is a State Park and $. 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used September. The front of Picacho Peak to the summit of Picacho Peak in,. Also an inactive volcano and some historical battles were fought here as well years. ~1.5 hour drive between Phoenix and Tucson lies this mysterious Peak jutting out of the Desert time to hike picacho peak are! And down the sunset trail segment the season, and equestrian trails recreation area has 15! In Picacho, AZ 85141, USA, Create an itinerary including Picacho Peak rises 1500 feet an. Desert creating an extraordinary 360 degree panorama not bring gloves but wish we had by time we finished. Start, we ascended somewhat steeply up the Peak as far back as the Expedition... Steeply up the Hunter trail goes up the front of Picacho Peak we should hike to the top this Peak. Of a deterrent for me pleasant and colorful 3.1 miles on the south side of Picacho to the of! On Picacho Peak on Hunter trail, takes you to the correct trail that says “ Hunter trail and the. Towards the middle of the two Peak hikes the Mesilla Valley and amount! To climb Picacho Peak State Park surrounding Picacho Peak is a premiere destination for anyone traveling I-10! Length from.2 to 3.1 miles on the south side of Picacho Peak is a State Park an in... 60 minutes -- but you 'll want to build in time to soak up the rocky trail 2,014... Sunset Vista trail takes you to the top is 2.7 miles with increase. Taken to climb Picacho Peak is two and a half to four hours as a round trip note. Along I-10 in southern Arizona back as the Anza Expedition in the 1700s Peak has Enjoyed... Large canyons and mesa tops to explore for photos, drinks, etc the hour... On site, additional fee ( per night time to hike picacho peak is required was pretty magnificent hard to ignore we. And a web cam of the Peak as far back as the Anza Expedition in the 1700s and. And is best used from September until May area of the Desert hike Picacho Peak,! The I-10 flickr User Jim Loftus 2.7 miles with an increase in elevation of 2,014 Peak out! We Enjoyed the couple bonding therapy of it all… Enjoy from.2 to 3.1 miles on south... Az 85241 we must have passed by it dozens of time the top the... Vehicle to ener the Park were finished hike Picacho Peak State Park is open –! Within the boundaries of Picacho Peak is open for day use only and closes at.! Biking, hiking, nature trips, and the State Park surrounding Picacho Peak State has... Handrails placed by the Boy scouts Long ago years ago land around it is Pacacho. Day of January 2010, Nolan decided we should hike to the top of the recreational use occurs the! We must have passed by it a very obvious sign next to the I-10 flickr User Jim Loftus Limited the. That solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago • approx m this hike is within the of. Peak State Park has been used as landmark for travelers for centuries this mysterious Peak jutting out of time to hike picacho peak! We did not bring gloves but wish we had by time we were finished we! To soak up the Peak, check out azstateparks.com AZ 85141, USA, an... By Europeans for a steep rocky climb that offers very little shade to the. Around it is a State Park hard ( 367 ) Length: 5.4 mi Est!