Picacho Peak

Let me tell you about this fun hike on Picacho Peak. I loved it. It got my adrenalin glands working overtime.

It’s downright dangerous in some places.

The dangerous portions of the hike are near the peak itself. In one place, it’s a near-vertical climb of 100 feet or more up a jagged cliff. Metal cables serve as necessary handrails. Also, nearer the top of the peak, there’s at least one more portion that requires rock climbing.

Other than the vertical climbs, the hike was fantastic. There are two trails leading to the peak – the Sunset Vista Trail and the Hunter Trail. The two trails connect about halfway up the mountain.

We started at the Sunset Vista Trail. It’s the longer of the two at 3.1 miles to the peak. It’s also the more scenic.

The Sunset Vista Trail winds around the foothills of the mountain through a thick forest of saguaros, teddy bear chollas and other desert plants.

The trail dips into small washes and offers an easy, meandering trip. It’s easy and scenic until you reach the base of Picacho Peak.

You get awesome views of the peak as you approach. It gives you plenty of time to psych yourself up for the climb. There’s no mistaking the climb, either. The trail begins at 2,000 feet. The peak reaches 3,374 feet.

Those cable handrails start appearing. In some places, stairs have been installed.

(Anyone looking for an easy four-mile desert hike will enjoy the Sunset Vista Trail. Simply turn around at the peak’s base.)

The adrenalin-inducing wall climb is about halfway up the peak on the Sunset Vista Trail. Once atop that climb, the trail meets with the Hunter Trail, making one path to the top.

Not wanting to experience that rock climb again, we chose to follow the Hunter Trail back down.

While not as steep, the Hunter has its share of climbs, too.

In fact, returning on the Hunter, we had more climbing in front of us as it rose from the west side of the mountain to a saddle, and then descended down the east side.

The Hunter Trail is a no-nonsense hike that winds back and forth up the hill. From the Hunter’s base to the peak is two miles. The trail overlooks Interstate 10 and isn’t nearly as scenic as the Sunset Vista Trail.

I’m glad we experienced both trails, but once at the bottom, we had to walk two miles on a paved road back to the Sunset Vista Trailhead to retrieve the car.

Picacho Peak State Park is halfway between Phoenix and Tucson along I-10 at exit 219. The cost to enter the park is $6 per vehicle. Water fountains, restrooms and picnic tables are available in the park.

This hike was first featured February 2004 and revised February 2007.