I happened to see this on a map as I was driving through Arizona and had to check it out. It was epic. A lone hill rising 1,500 feet above the desert floor with tons of history behind it. I stopped to take photos of it from a distance, but once I found out it could be climbed I had to give it a shot. It's a very popular hike you shouldn't miss if you're ever in that area.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:55 pm
by HikeUp
Cool. I feel like I've been there!
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:50 pm
by dima
Images don't show up. Can you host them somewhere public? It might require a google login or something.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 9:27 pm
by CrazyHermit
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:25 am
by Gene
What a climb, glad to see folks heading/pulling up that trail.
I really like the video, especially the various view of the peak in black and white.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 8:49 am
by CrazyHermit
Thanks Gene. I'm not out in Arizona very often but that one's worth the drive. Kind of close to Tucson.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:32 am
by JeffH
That one has been on my radar for many years, but since my sister moved I don't get down to Tucson any more. It's definitely an AZ landmark.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:08 am
by CrazyHermit
If you're ever back in Arizona look up the Toilet Bowl near Strawberry. Another epic one.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2021 5:28 pm
by Girl Hiker
Looks really cool. I want to do this!
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:50 am
by Edward
Nice video. Picacho Peak is on the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section List. Commonly referred to as 'Little Picacho', to differentiate it from 'Big Picacho', which is El Picacho del Diablo, the highest mountain in Baja, also on the list. Back in the 1970's, I climbed Big Picacho, but bad knees forced me to quit climbing before I made it to Little Picacho, so I enjoyed the video. I wonder if the extensive posts and cables were there then. Little Picacho was considered a 'Sixth Class' climb, meaning a rope was used for support as well as belay over a short section. But I never heard anyone refer to an extensive system of posts and cables.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:50 am
by CrazyHermit
Thanks for the info. Picacho in Arizona requires no ropes, just the pre-set cables that are stuck in the rock, which are quite extensive. The park around it rates it as a difficult climb, but I've seen small kids do it. However there are places you can get hurt or worse if you don't watch your step.
Re: Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:43 pm
by tekewin
Edward wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:50 am
Nice video. Picacho Peak is on the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section List. Commonly referred to as 'Little Picacho', to differentiate it from 'Big Picacho', which is El Picacho del Diablo, the highest mountain in Baja, also on the list. Back in the 1970's, I climbed Big Picacho, but bad knees forced me to quit climbing before I made it to Little Picacho, so I enjoyed the video. I wonder if the extensive posts and cables were there then. Little Picacho was considered a 'Sixth Class' climb, meaning a rope was used for support as well as belay over a short section. But I never heard anyone refer to an extensive system of posts and cables.
The Little Picacho on the Sierra Club Desert Peaks list is not the same as this one in Arizona. It's in California, but north of Yuma, southwest of the Chocolate Mountains. It is definitely an intense class 5 affair. Too spicy for me. The Picacho in Arizona looks like great fun, though. The cables sort of remind me of Angels Landing.