It goes almost straight up Picacho Peak and ends at the Sunset Vista scenic overlook. It ends in a nice scenic overlook. It has seen better days for sure, the old part of town is very poor and distressed looking. View looking northwest toward Phoenix along the way on the Sunset Vista Trail. We chose the Sunset Vista because it’s longer and made for a nice stroll through the … Picacho Peak is located just west of I-10 about 60 miles south of Phoenix (40 miles north of Tuscon). Hikers can also reach the summit via the Sunset Vista Trail, which climbs a little more gradually, but does not bypass the last section that requires some scrambling. Picacho Peak Hike, a.k.a. As its name implies, the Sunset Vista Trail in Picacho Peak State Park is in its glory at sundown. We had hoped to make the trip about a week earlier. The park ranger I talked to told me there were a few small scattered patches of poppies being reported, but nothing to write home about just yet since it … Along the ridge which bears Picacho Peak can also be found another steep one called Peak 3161. 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. This trail is 5 miles long and meanders through pristine Sonoran desert at the foot of Picacho Peak back to the Sunset Parking Area. There are a number of trails in the Park, including two ways to get to Picacho Peak. OR. Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. 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. The hike up the towering Picacho Peak is a bit of a doozy since parts of it feel like you’re going straight up and cables are installed to help make the trek up just a tiny bit … Mile One is a relatively steep climb (similar to Piestawa’s Summit trail) and we certainly got our cardio going as we scooted up to the saddle. It is 3.1 miles and circles around the backside of the mountain then comes up and connects to the Hunter trail avoiding a lot of the difficulties. The other trail, Sunset Vista trail is not recommended. I soon left it and made my way up the western slopes to a saddle. Picacho Peak at a Glance OR. It came about a week after the deaths of a 63-year-old Tucson man and his 12-year-old grandson, who were found several miles apart along a desert trail in Sonoran Desert National Monument east of Gila Bend. The most common one is Hunter 's Trail. From the top it looks like a boring trail. It was a nice hike through the desert, but the return seemed to take forever. I don't remember the exact date of this climb, but we had camped at the Picacho Peak State Park CG on our way from AZ back to Colorado. Add Your Trails. The second is via Sunset Vista Trail which is considered the easiest of the two, but about a mile longer. I was hoping for sight of the parking lot over every hill! Sunset Vista Trail - Picacho Peak: Tucson, AZ: Sunset Vista Trail - Picacho Peak. Carolyn and I hiked Picacho Peak for the first time and liked it so much that we had to come back and tackle the Sunset Vista Trail.We had hiked the Hunter Trail a two mile steep hike but we wanted to see the Peak from the west side so back towards Tucson we went. It was in late April and we did it from the longer Sunset Vista Trail then … Log In. ... Picacho Peak via Sunset Vista 5.7 mi 9.2 km • 1,179' Up 359.45 m Up • 1,178' Down 359.09 m Down. OR. PICACHO PEAK, AZ — Authorities have released the report which adds new details about the death of a teen on a trail at Picacho Peak last month. There are five hiking trails on the mountain with the Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak being the most challenging. The park has five trails. This trail intersects the Hunter Trail at the base of the mountain’s southern cliffs (see downloadable map below). It was home to the Hohokam from around 750 to 1450 AD, according to Arizona State Parks and Trails, and also hosted an array of travelers including Spanish Conquistadors and the Mormon Battalion. Picacho Peak is a large lava flow. If you enjoy hiking, camping, picnicking, and enjoying the great outdoors, then you’ll love Picacho Peak State Park. Pichaco Peak photography: Everything clicked that day. For the hike back to the trailhead, you can choose to return the way you came, on the Hunter Hiking Trail to Picacho Peak, or make a longer (eight mile total length) loop back to the trailhead on the Sunset Vista Trail. Sunset Vista Trail (Picacho Peak State Park) bob/Flickr. The Sunset Vista Trail begins at the west end of the park road, contouring along the south side of Picacho Peak until it climbs and joins the Hunter Trail near the summit. My hiking partner and I took the Hunter Trail to the Sunset Vista Trail that took us to the top. With hikes for all abilities, Picacho Peak offers something for everyone. Hiding a checklist will exclude the taxa on it from all forms of eBird output that show a location (including bar charts, maps, and arrival/departure tables), but the observation will still be accessible to you, and will appear on your lists. Both the Sunset Vista Trail as well as the Hunter Trail takes you to the peak to an elevation of 3374. Difficult. After lunch we will take the Sunset Vista Trail from the summit down the backside of Picacho Peak for a change of scenery. 1.1 mi 1.7 km #1 Hunter Trail. Gloves (and a first aid kit like Moyano’s) are recommended, as the slick rock can be tricky to navigate. There are two trails to the peak, the Hunter Trail at 2 miles and the Sunset Vista trail at 3.1 miles. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . Summit the 1,500-foot-tall ancient lava formation known as Picacho Peak by scampering up Hunter Trail -- a challenging feat! Picacho Peak via Sunset Vista RECOMMENDED ROUTE. ... One sultry summer morning, I drove to the start of Sunset Vista Trail and set out at 5:25 AM. An open desert trail up the historic Picacho Peak. Connect with Facebook. The Hunter Trail … If you want more of a challenge, try the two-mile Hunter’s Trail. Picacho Peak overlooks the campground and is a tempting hike. After hikes in the Santa Ritas and Tortolitas, we headed for Picacho. Sign Up. There are two trails to the summit, the Hunter and the Sunset Vista, that converge for the last push to the top. From Phoenix drive south on I-10. ... Sunset Vista Trail: The trail begins at the Sunset Vista Trailhead at the north end of the park. Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. The Sunset Vista Trail begins at the very end of the Picacho Peak Road – the road on which you enter the park. ... Sunset Vista Trail Difficult. This south-facing trail has more direct sunlight and offers a lengthier meander through the desert landscape than the Hunter Trail. 5.0 (2) RECOMMENDED ROUTE. View of Picacho Peak from the Sunset Vista Trail: 1st Cactus blooms of the year: Thursday was a cloudy lazy kind of day, a day off from hiking with Twinkles sewing and a drive for me to explore. For some reason, I chose the longer trail. Sign Up or Log In. Password help. Today, this … Ready for a challenge? A couple of days before this hike I called Picacho Peak State Park to inquire about the Sunset Vista Trail and also ask about the wildflowers. Picacho peak gets its name from the Spanish for Picacho which simply means ‘peak’. Eloy, AZ. The Sunset Vista Trail adds an extra two miles of easier trail before joining up with the Hunter Trail, which wends to the peak. Recommended Routes in Picacho Peak State Park - 1. Access to Hunter Trail is from either Barrett Loop or the longer Sunset Vista Trail. Route Climbed: Sunset Vista Trail Date Climbed: Late April, early 1990's . It is flat until hikers reach Picacho Peak, then it gets quite steep. Near Eloy, Arizona. Or, enjoy the more modest Sunset Vista trail featuring equally impressive desert views. This is usually a half-day excursion excursion. Also, see the site of the furthest-west Civil War battle. Picacho Peak lays almost exactly half-way between Phoenix and Tucson, so a short hike on Picacho Peak would be a nice break to stretch our legs. Trails in Picacho Peak State Park - 4. Sunset Vista Trail: Slightly longer in distance at 3.1 miles, the Sunset Vista Trail begins on the south side from the westernmost parking area and then meets up with the Hunter Trail to reach to the top of the peak. THe first stop was the nearby town of so "Eloy". 4.3 (7) This trail is 2.6 miles one way. It's a 4 mile out and back trail that takes you straight up to the Peak. Hell Hike. A 29-year-old Texas woman vacationing in the Phoenix area died Wednesday afternoon while hiking on the Sunset Vista Trail at Picacho Peak. Picacho Peak State Park What: For a challenging, strenuous day hike, the park's Hunter Trail can't be beat.Hikers use both upper- and lower-body strength to navigate the vertical steel cables on the way to the peak. Picacho Peak State Park - Hiking. Tucson, AZ. Trail Ratings 5.0 from 2 votes #1 in Picacho Peak State Park #1281 Overall. Investigators looking into the death at Picacho Peak State Park last Saturday don't expect to file a criminal case, Pinal County Sheriff's spokeswoman Navideh Forghani said. Before starting on a hike, pick up a trail guide from the Ranger Visitor Center/Store. Note the sign describes the trail … The nearly three-mile Sunset Vista trail is pretty nice. It presents an imposing 1,400-foot wall to the park’s visitor center below. The Sunset Vista Trail climbs to the dizzying highpoint of Picacho Peak State Park with the aid of wire cables bolted into bare rock where the hike becomes a grueling vertical ascent. What sets this hike apart from most trails in Arizona is the system of cables, handrails, and bridges in some sections of the hike. 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