Please explore responsibly! View Comments. (I.e. The trailhead is approximately 1 mile after you leave the highway and follow a graded dirt/asphalt mix road. After about 0.55 miles, there are some Cairns marking an unsigned trail (JCT 1L on the map) that crosses a wash and heads directly towards Picketpost Mountain. The Superstition Wilderness is a vast rugged landscape where you can find the cultural remains of ancient Hohokam, Salado, Apache, and Yavapais tribes. 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 Arizona Trail. Bring lots of water!! Fun hike and route up Picketpost Mountain. Rate Quality . adventures and follow local regulations. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. So the first half of the hike was fun and easy. Head down the way you came up, and after some down climbing, you'll be back to your car. Places WeGo Exploring 323 views From the parking lot you will start out on the Arizona Trail until you reach the turn off to begin your accent up the mountain. ★★★★☆ Difficult / Superior. ... My pack weighed down on me the first bit of the hike. I have done my best to describe the more confusing sections of the route, but the responsibility for your safety is your own. All picketpost mountain artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Picketpost Mountain Trail is a 4.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Superior, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. With only 5 miles round trip, we knew we were in for a steep one. Officials of Superior, Tonto National Forest, Resolution Copper and the Arizona Trail Association did the governmental and land management red-tape wrangling, and young American Conservation Experience workers did much of the shoveling and sweating to build the single-track path. Posted by 8 days ago. The trail is primarily used for hiking and horses and is accessible year-round. Another view of Picketpost Mountain: New Mexico Thistle: Saguaros on the Arizona Trail: Hedgehog blossoms: Ben, Doug, Marilyn, Linda, Marilyn, Denise, and Kevin: More hedgehog cactus blossoms: Desert Marigold: This is a view from the trail south of Picketpost Mountain. Time and temperature: Start - 1123, 82 End - 1718, 78 Elevation change: 1757 feet The numbers: 51 Pictures taken 7 Other hikers seen 6 Times I lost the trail 4 Times I seriously thought about turning back. Hikers who reach the summit can sign their name in a classic red mailbox and enjoy excellent 360° views. With a 4.3 mile hike and 2000 feet of gain and a 40 minute drive each way, that meant I had to be perfect on my hike and driving. There was only one problem though, I had to be back in Mesa by 1:30pm no matter what. Access Info. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. Hikers who reach the summit can sign their name in a classic red mailbox and enjoy excellent 360° views. There is a trail around Picketpost, as well as an AZT section that begins and ends there, and only an hour from Phoenix, so the parking lot was completely full when we arrived. 0 7 3 370. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. 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 … Roads are paved and maintained dirt suitable for all vehicles. Climbing up, I actually separated a 200 pound boulder from the mountain, which went crashing 30 yards down the mountain and almost hit my hiking partner! An easy 9 mile loop that goes around the base of Picketpost Mountain with very little elevation change and starts out following a mostly dry creekbed. Incliner - Mar 13, 2014 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2014 Great . Close. A short, steep hike to the Summit of Picketpost mountain where you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding desert. Length 8.6 miElevation gain 754 ftRoute type Loop. Picketpost Mountain is located just outside the town of Superior, Arizona approximately 40 miles (64 km) east of the Phoenix Metro Area. Kellner Group Site is nestled at the base of the beautiful Pinal Mountains south of Globe, Arizona. Do NOT turn left here. This time, we anticipate a drier and faster hike in the opposite direction, which will wake us up with a good climb in the first few miles. Plan on a lot of time and an early start. Leaving Alamo Canyon about 11.5 miles into this ride, you'll transition to AZT - Passage 16 - … “When I first hiked the Legends of Superior Trails, I had no clue how awesome they are,” said Mila Besich, mayor of Superior. Climbing up, I actually separated a 200 pound boulder from the mountain, which went crashing 30 yards down the mountain and almost hit my hiking partner! From the parking lot you will start out on the Arizona Trail until you reach the turn off to begin your accent up the mountain. Even for experienced hikers, Picketpost Mountain is about as much of an adventure (and a pain in the butt) as you’ll find in the Phoenix area. Rogers Canyon Trail takes you to one of the most impressive and best preserved archaeological ... From the Peralta Trailhead, start hiking on Bluff Springs Trail. Access The closest way to access the southern end of Passage 17 is to hike in from the Picketpost Trailhead (11.5 miles), or drive to the historic town of Cochran (follow Cochran Road south from the Florence-Kelvin Highway to the Gila River), cross the Gila River carefully, then hike north on the Arizona Trail for 9.3 miles. Burnt Corral Campground and Recreation Area (elevation 1914') is about 5.8 miles south of Roosevelt Dam along the Apache Trail (... Overview Once at the top, the views are amazing. Picketpost Mountain is the huge mountain looming above the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on the south side of the highway. Apache…, AZ. This time we picked the Picketpost Mountain. See Map and Elevation. Picket Post Mountain Hike Scuji Yama. I did have fun, though. To hike Follow US60 towards Superior Arizona. The peak rises about 300 feet from the mesa. 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. It's 0.4 miles east of milepost 221. Located near the town of Superior, Arizona, Picketpost Mountain isn’t part of any mountain range and stands alone, towering over the surrounding area. Picketpost is a lone standing mountain with no ridges connecting to other peaks. The mountain is located in the southern desert region of Tonto National Forest near (but not within) the Superstition Mountains, and is popular with hikers. The mountain looks very impressive from the trailhead, with 2000′ cliffs shooting up from the desert. Hiking Trails - Picket Post Trail, Superior, Arizona - ^4378 feet – Hard - Duration: 7:01. The trail is primarily used for hiking and horses and is accessible year-round. The hike up picket post is steep but rewarding. An easy 9 mile loop that goes around the base of Picketpost Mountain with very little elevation change and starts out following a mostly dry creekbed. Or, to extend the hike, continue straight ahead into Arnett Canyon for a drop-dead-gorgeous, out-and-back creekside trek smothered in greenery and pillars of petrified volcanic ash. This part of the trail isn't well maintained, and is a scramble, so be ready to use those hands. Picketpost Mountain: Location: USA-Arizona: Elevation: 4375 ft / 1333 m: Ascent Trip Report We decided to hike Picketpost and follow it up with a trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, right at the base. Picketpost Mountain is a difficult scramble, but the view from the top (and unusual vegetation) make it worth it. It is no joke. If butt-kicking scrambles up rocky ravines are your thing, this hike is for you! Picketpost rises 2000′ above the small town of Superior, and with no connecting ridgelines or other summits nearby, it stands prominently above the valley. After about 0.55 miles, there are some Cairns marking an unsigned trail (JCT 1L on the map) that crosses a wash and heads directly towards Picketpost Mountain. The first thing we realized was that it was hot! ... (I realize this doesn't seem too impressive, but the trail starts over a mile away from the mountain.) Picketpost TH. If all goes well, construction could begin in the next couple of years. Apache…, AZ. Fun hike and route up Picketpost Mountain. Picketpost Mountain Trail is a 3.9 mile, out and back trail that has an elevation gain of 2,011 feet. Feet – Hard - Duration: 13:23 for the first bit of the surrounding desert correct!, 2011 i do n't care how many times you hike this one, you will never it. Number of people, horses, bikes, etc at the top all.. 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