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 Reporter |
Summary: This trail leads you to the summit of Quartz Peak (4,056 ft), which is located in the 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness. The trail begins in Rainbow Valley (1,550 ft) and starts out by following an old four-wheel-drive track for approximately 1/4 mile. Look to the left as you hike up the road for a narrow trail ascending the ridge to the north. The trail is steep, poorly marked in places and can be difficult to follow--the final 1/4 mile to Quartz Peak is a scramble over boulder and talus slopes that requires careful footing. The views from the summit are spectacular--to the west is a dramatic panorama of rugged mountain ranges and desert plains, and to the east metropolitan Phoenix unfolds over the valley of the lower Salt River. Quartz Peak is a point on the spine of the Sierra Estrella capped with an outcrop of white quartz. Trailhead: From Phoenix, take I-10 west to exit 126. Drive south (left) on Estrella Parkway for 8.3 miles and turn right (west) onto Elliot Road. Continue on Elliott Road for 2.6 miles and turn left (south) onto Rainbow Valley Road. Drive 9.3 miles on Rainbow Valley Road to Riggs Road and turn left (east). Proceed on Riggs Road for 3.9 miles to Bullard Avenue. Turn right (south) and then take an immediate left onto an unmarked dirt road that parallels the phone lines. Follow the dirt road 5.3 miles and turn right (south) at the "T" intersection where a tiny sign post points towards a "trail". Continue for another 2 miles and turn left (east) at the 2nd tiny trail sign. Drive another 1.9 miles to the trailhead where you'll find plenty of parking and a nicely-maintained restroom. (Lat:33.2 Lon:-112.25) Trail Guides for Quartz Peak Trail: Hiking Arizona by Bruce Grubbs and Stewart Aitchision (The Globe Pequot Press) Exploring Arizonas Wild Areas by Scott S. Warren (The Mountaineers) Best Seasons: Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: BLM Phoenix Field Office (623) 580-5500 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 Brett on 6/11/2008 Drive there is rough. Hike up is good. Back down is rough. Views are unbeatable. 
Reviewed by JE on 6/5/2008 Sketch. didnt make it to the mountain. the drive there was straight outa hills have eyes. clothes thrown all over and half burried tires and fences blocking shit off. once you enter you may never get out alive.
Reviewed by T.S.H on 1/9/2008 Fantastic hike! I love the view of the WHOLE valley.
Reviewed by Gary on 12/10/2007 This was a great hike! I was getting nervous driving down all of the dirt roads. I am from the south and you just don't go down dirt roads in the middle of no where (Movie:Deliverance). The view was worth twice the distance and the quartz peak was beautiful. Directions were perfect if you use your odometer.
Reviewed by Crazy J on 11/5/2007 Mapped out on GoogleEarth. Trail is Easily Viewable. 33°11'56.29"N 112°14'24.66"W Start, 33°13'50.07"N 112°13'49.12"W Summit according to my map. Look for the light tan lines in the image. Be sure to bring lots of water etc. and a vehicle with at least a little clearance. Summit is spectacular. 
Reviewed by Frank L. on 10/16/2007 The directions to the trail head were interesting to say the least but what a fun drive in my Jeep. I was like driving in snow without the snow. The trail looks easy but it is strenuous. It made matters worse that I left my hat in the jeep and we got a late start and it was already in the upper 90's with no wind until you climbed higer. Loved the views. Feels like the middle of nowhere even though Estrella mountain ranch is right around the corner. We will attemt again next week. this time starting out earlier. Would love to camp out there, Not sure if there any any spots that would work.
Reviewed by JDS on 3/19/2007 From the amount of time we spent on this hike, and the people we met who carried GPS, it is much closer to 3 miles from the parking area to the peak, and well over 2 hours if you pace yourself appropriately. Going up was fairly easy, if tedious, but the trek down, as others have mentioned, was much more difficult. Plenty of loose rock and steep sections makes for tricky footing. There also seems to be several places with multiple trails, and more than once a seemingly marked trail vanished. Watch out for extremely warm days, and bring plenty of water because it's 19 miles (10 on dirt roads) back to the nearest gas station/quick mart after you get back to the cars.
Reviewed by RB on 2/10/2007 A terrific hike provided you pace yourself. Panoramas abound, the trail surprisingly well-defined, but tricky in places. The saddles and spine of the mountain offer opportunities to relax and catch you breath. 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, Maricopa County Hiking, Maricopa County Trails, Maricopa County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||