As we rounded into the canyon, the scrambling and route finding became a bit more challenging, swinging around ledges, and heading up the steep gully. Within the National Forest there are approximately 2.9 million acres of stunning forests of cactus, chaparral, pine/juniper, and mixed conifer. While not technically in the Superstition Mountains, the rugged route has a Superstition’s feel, which Holly had yet to experience during her time in Phoenix. We followed the bottom of the canyon a bit longer until we found ourselves on the summit plateau. For those familiar with the Phoenix area, it is about 45-50 miles east. Mt. Hike #19: Pass Mountain Trail, Usery Mountain Park. Picketpost Mountain Trail ... Land Manager: USFS - Tonto National Forest Office. Learn how your comment data is processed. Superior, AZ. Caution: This is a long and rather remote hike that requires good route finding skills. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Ranger Districts. Picketpost Mountain, an ancient volcano and landmark for miles around. My guidebook also warned of a "scary cliff"....it appeared to me that ALL the cliffs along this part were pretty darn scary! After finishing our beers, we headed back down to beat the sunset. In 1876 the Silver King mine was discovered in the mountains north of present day Superior. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Cave Creek Ranger District 40202 N. Cave Creek Rd. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. From the rib, the goal was to head up the steep slopes to the lower cliffs bands, bypassing a dry waterfall in the lower canyon. 0% 0% 13% 0% 88% 0% Add a Photo. We set out fairly late for Picketpost on a Sunday, reaching the trailhead sometime after noon, taking about an hour from home. active couple hikes around picketpost mountain in the tonto national forest near phoenix, arizona november 2011. Sat, Oct 6, 2012, 8:30 AM: Okay, the weather is suppose to break a bit by week's end, and we are itching to get out there and climb a mountain! It is recommended that you ascend and descend on the same route as not to lose the trail. No membership needed. Hiking The Wave Cave Trail Superstition Mountains AZ Tonto National Forest with Rattlesnake - Duration: 2:36. TRAVEL ON THE FOREST More Americans than ever are using off-highway vehicles (OHVs) to enjoy the outdoors. Picketpost Mountain is a peak inside of Tonto National Forest. Upon reaching the bottom you can look back in awe that you conquered Picketpost Mountain! forest along Queen Creek, all while under the gaze of the majestic Picketpost Mountain to the south and Apache Leap to the east. Supervisor's Office 2324 E. McDowell Rd. One of the many scenic drives in Arizona is the US-60 from Phoenix to Superior. A short bushwack got us to the opposite side and back on the trail. It was here that we came upon the infamous waterfall that one must climb directly, basically high angled rock slabs running about 100′. With the sun dropping below the clouds, it grew quite cold and we quickened our pace. Share what you know about this area! Hike #20: Picketpost Mountain Trail, Tonto National Forest ... Towering over the small town of Superior, just 40 miles east of the Phoenix area, Picketpost Mountain provides a steep hike that is as rewarding as it is challenging! Picketpost Mountain is located just outside the town of Superior, Arizona approximately 40 miles (64 km) east of the Phoenix Metro Area. Eventually, the trail flattens again as it reaches the grassy plateau. While in normal weather, this would have been fine, rains the day before meant that there was actually water flowing in the normally dry falls, making it dangerously slick. The mountain looks very impressive from the trailhead, with 2000′ cliffs shooting up from the desert. 132: 20 Vineyard Trail Day hike 134 . 23: The Low Deserts. Voir cette photo intitulée Active Couple Hikes Around Picketpost Mountain In The Tonto National Forest Near Phoenix Arizona November 2011. No need to register, buy now! Directions: From Phoenix, drive east on route 60 towards the small town of Superior. From below, the route wasn’t obvious, although we were assured that it would be well cairned, and sadly, would have the occasional spray painted arrow. This is a relatively difficult, albeit short, hike up to the Picketpost Mountain summit. 24: Saguaro Lake Day hike 26. If you witness this illegal activity, report it to the Tonto National Forest (602) 225-5200. There’s a site host there overnight so folks won’t get locked in, but no late night arrivals. Beyond that, Four Peaks, half covered in cloud, would occasionally show flashes of white. Unlike most of the hikes in Tonto National Forest, you’re sure to see water on this trail with gorgeous views of Saguaro Lake. The Tonto National Forest is closing the gate at Picketpost TH between dusk and dawn now. Report Wildland Fires 1-866-746-6516 24 hours. Dad and I drove from Flagstaff, AZ to the Picketpost Trailhead, located in the Tonto National Forest. Picketpost Mountain is a well-known landmark mountain a couple miles west of the town of Superior, with highway US-60 passing below the peak. Peeley. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 (480) 595-3300 Summary: A short, steep hike to the summit of Picketpost Mountain near Superior, AZ. The hike started out easily enough, following the Arizona Trail for 0.7 miles to an unmarked but obvious junction to the left, complete with a large cairn. The Tonto National Forest is closing the gate at Picketpost TH between dusk and dawn now. To the east, clouds hung low on Pinal Peak, but still above snowline. Tonto National Forest Biking . One of the most striking features of the drive is Picketpost Mountain, an enormous summit just south of US-60, 30 miles east of Apache Junction. We dropped out of the canyon, following the same route down the gully and around the lower falls. Temperatures are currently forecast to be in the upper 7 Sonoran Desert cacti and flat lands slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim. Picketpost Trailhead to Rogers Trough Trailhead General Information This passage provides a linkage from the Alamo Canyon and Picketpost Mountain area south of Highway 60, to the southern boundary of the Superstition Wilderness. Drive 0.5 miles past mile marker 221 and turn right (south) on Forest Road (FR) #231 (look for the aluminum windmill to the south). Introduction to this Hiking Guide . Where the route brushes the flanks of Picketpost Mountain, ambitious hikers might be inspired to climb to its 4,375-foot summit by way of a sketchy and difficult spur path off … The highway weaves around the southern edge of the Superstition Mountains, through canyons and tunnels, and through the small town of “Top ‘o’ the World,” at just under 5,000′. 21: Tips for a Happy Camping Trip 22. Picketpost South on the AZ Trail - Tonto National Forest. After enjoying a break at the top, it's time to return down the same path. Confluence of Haigler and Tonto Creeks. Picketpost rises 2000′ above the small town of Superior, and with no connecting ridgelines or other summits nearby, it stands prominently above the valley. Winding through the desert low lands, the trail eventually narrows into a series of slippery, rock-covered switchbacks, which slowly lead to the base of the mountain. Far to the south, we could clearly see Mount Lemmon, which had also received plenty of fresh powder. My wife told everyone she knows how beautiful the mountain ws. Length 4.2 miElevation gain 2070 ftRoute type Out & back Summary: A long out and back hike through the desert along the AZ Trail starting at Picketpost Mountain near Superior, AZ and heading south. Picketpost Mountain - Tonto National Forest. 175 Views Last Month 7,166 Since Dec 29, 2014 Difficult. 2017 Update The trail is marked with multiple routes and can get confusing at times. 17 Picketpost Mountain Trail Day hike 115. The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. It was like looking at a postcard, very beautiful. in Tonto National Forest #80 in Arizona #2,057 Overall. 425 Miles 685 Kilometers of Trail 2 Recommended Routes 6 Easy Trails ; 20 Intermediate Trails ; 1 Difficult Trail ; MTB Project is built by riders like you. We really enjoyed our trip. Starting from the parking lot, the trail begins by following a portion of the famous Arizona Trail; however, after about a half-mile, the Picketpost Mountain Trail turns to the left and begins a relatively steep climb towards the mountain. Picketpost rises 2000′ above the small town of Superior, and with no connecting ridgelines or other summits nearby, it stands prominently above the valley. As the mine was developed and its production grew, a mill town called Picketpost was developed on the site of an old short-lived Army road construction camp along Queen Creek at one of the few places in the area with a reliable water supply. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Tonto National Forest contains some of the most varied terrain in the United States. We cracked open a few summit beers we had brought along with us, and enjoyed the snowy scenery in the distance. The narrow rib ended at some rock slabs, and the scrambling began. 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