The trail starts off easy from the trailhead but will become exceedingly difficult as you go. What a hike! You really can’t miss the jagged figure of Picacho Peak towering above the flat desert valley. They have introduced a new trailhead. I am so totally impressed by your PP Hike! Their trails mark out an easy route of descent. Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog. This is a favorite out-and-back hike for Santa Fe locals. This exit ramp snaps around and deposits you on US 70 going back east in one of the most dangerous intersections I’ve ever seen. If you have a four wheel drive vehicle, you may be able to drive to this location. Location. Geologists have no clue what volcano made it. MAP: paper map available at the Visitor Center PERMITS: park entrance fee is $7 per vehicle, $3 on foot or bicycle HOURS OF OPERATION: park gates are open from 5am through 10pm DESIGNATION: Picacho Peak State Park (Arizona) Hope you are enjoying your winter! Let the world see … The new trailhead will place you directly south of Picacho Peak and closer to the mountain than the west trailhead (described above). Most tragic was the recent (April 2019) death of 16-year old boy scout Joshua Michael White. Hobbies include photography, birding, Pickleball, astronomy, biking, and hiking. The trail begins to require some footwork over more rocks than trail and eventually uses cable hand guides on several portions as you get closer to the top. The canyon is a fun hike – easy footing in soft sand (sometimes too soft for convenience), lots of rock formations, side cuts coming in off of Picacho and longer drainages coming in from the Robledo Range. The trail is on the edge many times. Description of the trail from a web-site: The trail to the… Dec 7, 2020 - Visitors traveling along I-10 in southern Arizona can’t miss the prominent 1,500-foot peak of Picacho Peak State Park. Follow this road up to the Hunter Trail trailhead and park. Summit view across Mesilla Valley to the Organ Mountains. Leave both road and tread, swing below the rocky outcrop and descend along a gently inclined rib. Your task, upon hitting US 70 will be to leap into the passing lane and turn immediately left onto the median strip (paved). There is a decent amount of parking, but by 10 a.m. the lot got pretty full. Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail is a hard 3.4-mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,982 feet. Trails: Picacho Peak Recreation Area has an extensive system of non-motorized and hiking only trails. In March and April, you’ll see wildflowers, too, including Mexican goldpoppies, lupines, globemallows, desert chicory and brittlebush. This 4 mile out and back trail that takes you to the summit of Picacho Peak will not disappoint, especially if you're looking to get that adrenaline pumping. You then follow a complex ledge system, switchbacking back and forth as you climb the otherwise vertical side of Picacho Peak. Picacho, AZ. Simply enter the park, pay your entrance fee of $7 per vehicle (for 1-4 occupants) – and then drive to the end of that road where you’ll find parking near the trailhead. Your email address will not be … Amazing. Give the handsome one a hug for me (you know who)! There are several good hiking and walking trails in the area. If you take the prominent path however, you will be delivered into a wonderland of small canyon cuts, sedimentary rocks intermingled with volcanic scoria, and easy open roaming in an archetype desert environment. When driving eastbound on I-10, the entrance to the park will be off to the right. This is the west trailhead. I saw kids and older (80's) doing it. Write a review. Just past the road, however, there is a new barbed wire fence that forces hikers back to the road at 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Share your best travel photo. Thank You, Sheila. Wolf Song Blog is copyrighted. Take exit 219 and follow the brown signs to the park entrance. The path was steep and rocky, and in some places, we were walking along a sheer drop off. There are two trails out of the parking area, so make sure you start on the one that goes right and up towards the peak. The unimproved road is not recommended for vehicles pulling trailers. Picacho Peak and Box Canyon are located just West of Las Cruces. Picacho Peak can be seen nearby, over the tops of the berms. I am so grateful that we made it to the top. Picacho is Spanish for “peak”. Judging from the patties scattered about, this part of Picacho is very popular with bovines of alpine intent. Then, find a faint old road that heads down from the berm along a rib pointed at Picacho Peak. I have never experienced anything like it before. Robledo Mountains in the distance and Bar Canyon with target rock pillar in the foreground. We recommend avoiding the summer months or starting early in the morning when it’s cooler. HI hI, K. Thank you, my dear friend. This area is also the setting of the only Civil War battle fought in Arizona. Trail from the (new) south trailhead as it descends into the arroyo. They have introduced a new trailhead. you did it. ( Log Out /  Next. From the Cerro Gordo Trailhead, the trail immediately crosses the road and heads up a moderate slope through juniper … Travel one more mile and turn north on Anthem Rd. Starting Elevation (trailhead): 4440 feet. Challenging hike, spectacular vistas, remote location This rarely visited peak is located in a remote location in the Picacho Mountains. This faint trail switchbacks in a mannerly fashion, descending towards and eventually beside a large rocky outcrop. After 6.8 miles get off at Exit 135. It is a volcanic mountain composed of rhyolite (mostly quartz and feldspar) that solidified at the surface approximately 35 million years ago.The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. New roads, however, have entered this area and the Bureau of Land Management has added a new trailhead. This hill offers a nice morning’s stroll through classic North Chihuahuan terrain; incredibly open, prickly, sometimes green, always cattle browsed and on occasion rattle-ly. To my amazement it was still functioning – about half full of water and nearly choked with the first swamp vegetation I’ve seen since hiking Dog Canyon. The recreation area has over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. My knees were shot from all the steps down. Watch Picacho Peak as it returns to the perspective you had when you first got out of the car. Our set challenge was met, it was so much fun and I won’t ever forget this climb/hike. On Friday, January 4, 2019, while staying at Picacho Peak State Park we climbed to the top of the famous Picacho Peak. There are a lot of man-made wooden steps, some … Picacho Peak via Hunter Trail is a hard 3.4-mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,982 feet. Picacho Peak from west trailhead (Dona Anna Mountains to the left). It is a great hike with a wonderful reward at the end. Picacho Peak is where the most western battle took place in the Civil war. (It is a good idea to keep trails out of waterways, they disappear fast when it rains). Full view. The hike up Picacho Peak on Hunter Trail is short but rated as difficult. Open today: 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Rather, all of the incidents involved high temperatures causing heat exhaustion and stroke. Road Conditions: Passenger Car (paved all the way) Navigation: Easy: Length: Sunset Vista Trail: 6.2 miles … Picacho Peak State Park. If you look down into the canyon bed you will see a distinctive pillar of rock. Responses. Hunter trail goes up the front of Picacho Peak to the saddle. Picacho Peak State Park is part of the Arizona State Parks and Trail System and includes a visitor center, park store, campgrounds, picnic areas, armadas, grills, playground and of course hiking trails. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains you just have to hike! Hi Beth! To get there they advise using US 70 as it goes through Las Cruces. This rock, due north, is the destination. This was built by the Civilian … Descend off of the summit to where the approach trail joins with another trail coming in from the east. The Sunset Vista ) trailhead ( picacho peak trailhead Anna Mountains to the top, even on days when the desert earning... ( jeep trail that says “ Hunter trail at Picacho Peak as heads. Photos to other sites such as this how many chain sections there.. Observed along the trail and begin to ascend dirt road gun play that occurs in the driving. Section takes you on a pre-dawn on a late March morning favorite out-and-back hike for Santa Fe locals Explorer the! 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