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 Reporter |
Summary: You will enjoy a short strenuous hike to the summit of this isolated desert peak. From the start the trail gradually gains elevation until you reach the main saddle just below the summit buttress; once at the saddle, the fun begins. Expect short steep sections requiring hand-over-hand climbing aided by steal cables and handrails. When you arrive at the summit you will be rewarded with 360 degrees of breathtaking views of the surrounding Sonoran desert. Picacho Peak has been use as a navigational landmark for hundreds of years, was the site of Arizona's only Civil War battle, is a geographic spectacle, and it abounds with petroglyph from prehistoric Hohokams. Trailhead: From Tucson, follow I-10 north for about 50 miles to the Picacho Peak State Park exit. The trailhead is located at on southwest end of Barret Loop. (Lat:32.64258 Lon:-111.40297) Trail Guides for Picacho Peak: Hunter Trail: Hiking Arizona by Bruce Grubbs and Stewart Aitchision (The Globe Pequot Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: Picacho Peak State Park Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Rob Brinkerhoff, who has posted 33 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Daniel C on 11/22/2009 Me and my friend try to do this hike every other week, we see alot of people underestimate the difficulty of the hike. After 5 minutes you can already feel it in your legs, and once you reach the saddle you go back down the other side on "the stair case" which are large rocks, railroad ties, and cables making a steep but crude stair case. Don't get me wrong its one of my favorite/hardest parts especially going down, because on the way down you have to climb up the stairs. after that there are a few tricky parts involving tight spaces and rock faces with cables, there is a part where you have to cross a wooden plank. Whenever you think you're almost at the top... you got anther 100 ft to go straight up. It's a very fun and adventurous hik 
Reviewed by Jermy on 5/9/2009 This is a strenuous hike. My friends and I are in relatively good shape and we were surprised to see how quickly this trail gains elevation. Bring at least 2 liters of water per person. We hiked this round trip in 3 hours, by the time we were back in the car at 11am it was almost 100 degrees. We did not bring gloves but we absolutely would have if we had known, the cables get difficult to grip eventually so a pair with rubberized hands would be useful. It's a great trail, definitely one that I am glad to say I've done! 
Reviewed by Zach on 3/25/2009 This was a BEAUTIFUL hike. Me and my buddy hiked it in three hours. We are expert hikers by no means. We have only hiked Camelback and Picacho Peak. We did not use gloves as they made our hands slip on the cables on the way down. But bring ALOT of water. I went through 2.5 liters. Start early in the day. We started around 8 and got done around 11 while it was still cool. I wouldn't recommend for young or really old hikers. Have fun. :)
Reviewed by Nathaniel on 3/21/2009 The round trip on hunters trail is actuall 4.2 miles. It says that at the start of the trail head and we also used gps to measure it.....Awesome trail though.
Reviewed by Steve on 2/28/2009 Loves this hike! Not as epic but more fun than the Grand Canyon, due to outlandish cable contraptions and the climbing aspects. Picture essay can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=91208&id=599478932&l=699b3
Reviewed by Jerry on 11/29/2008 aMy 19 year old daughter and I (58 years old) took our first trip up Picacho today. The weather was cool, especially in the shade (where we were for over half the hike0. Beautiful views at the summit and along the way. A very busy day, we encountered several dozen people on the trail although most did not make it the last quarter mile to the summit. I think some of the round trip time estimates quoted by others are potentialy dangerous. My daughter and I bike and run regularly. While I am somewhat overweight (10 - 15 lbs) I was pouring sweat after the first 15 minutes and continued to do so for the 2 hour ascent. After a 30 minute lunch on the summit, it took us 90 minutes to descend to the parking lot. Figure 3 1/2 hours total.
Reviewed by David on 3/22/2008 Have hiked Hunter Trail twice in four years, first with my Dad, and this year I brought my son from College Spring break. We had a great trip again to the saddle, though Dad is 73 and a cancer survivor. Would advise like others say bring leather gloves, a water bottle each, and try it during the Spring, Fall, or Winter months. We are from the flat lands of Nebraska and can say that you may want to get in shape for the climb up and down both sides, so you can enjoy the views of the valley from 2,960 feet. Also a good idea if you go down the back side try to park your ride over at Sunset Vista Trail Head, for it is almost another two miles back to Hunter Trail by paved road. Enjoy and thanks to all who maintain the trails in the Park.
Reviewed by Chris on 11/23/2007 My absolute favorite hike everytime I visit Tucson. Short, sweet, convenient. I hiked this peak for the third time on Thanksgiving morning. I started the timer from the first step from the parking lot and peaked in 51 minutes. Round trip was less than 2 hours...I just tagged the top then headed down. Great hike and workout. Make sure you bring six bucks for an entry fee into the state park. I don't recommend young ones due to there are a few sketchy areas after the saddle. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Arizona Hiking, Arizona Trails, Arizona Hikes, Pima County Hiking, Pima County Trails, Pima County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||