I've been a long time hiker and just absolutely love it! This is an AZ state park that I haven't visited until today! I saw a guided hike for the Sunset Vista Trail and signed up for it. This trail will take you up to the Picacho Peak, which is pretty cool! There hasn't been a peak that I've hiked to in my life that wasn't awesome! Do know that this hike is not recommended for beginners. $10 fee for day use and the visitor center out front has lots of items for purchase like books, T shirts, postcards, etc. Bathrooms also available. Sunset trailhead is the last stop on the map the ranger gives you. Ample parking and bathrooms available. We met our hike leader Charles at 10am and started on this hike. And while this hike isnt that long, about 3 miles one way, do know that the last mile of the hike is a lot of climbing up with many railings to help you up. If you're afraid of heights or not comfortable with climbing, I don't recommend this hike. Bring gloves, super helpful! Also, once you get to the top, it is more windy and cold (bring a jacket)! We took a lot longer hiking as a group vs me doing this solo but that was ok. I learned a lot about the history of this park and that there was a Civil War battle out here and all the different kinds of plants out here. Overall, a lovely day to be outdoors and I really enjoyed this hike, it was like a mini baby Angel's Landing in Zion! Definitely come and hike a few of their trails, its so pretty with all the saguaros and chollas! I loved it! read more

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This park is beautiful and well maintained. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We entered close to closing and were given recommendations of shorter trails we could go on to make it in time before the trails close. We ended up staying to watch the sunset and it was beautiful. We will be back to hike up Picacho peak at some point. read more

Nice park with plenty of picturesque cacti! We stopped by here after grabbing some food to stretch the legs and get the kids to burn off some energy in nature. The weather at 10 am was gorgeous. The park was filling up with day hikers. Tip: Military Discount will get you in for day use, but one person. In the vehicle will end up paying to get it in. There are several trails that can take you up to th peaks for near 360-degree views of the area. The park is surrounded by the iconic saguaro cactus. It's cool to see how big they can get. There are hikea for kids and adults of all ages with various grad s of difficulty, but nothing so difficult. Not much scrambling is needed to be done, and you should stay on the trails. Not that the hikes will keep you out for very long, but you should always bring water. When you leave your vehicle for the trails. Also, bring out what you bring in. There are currently new bathroom facilities under construction near the trailheads. The park also has several picnic areas and a small swing set for picnic side entertainment. The state rangers at the visitor center are very nice I would stop at this park again. It is easily accessible from IH10 and a very cool attraction north of Tucson. I bet the sunsets here rock! The gates close at 10pm for those evening/night hikers, and those staying overnight read more

Picacho Peak State Park - Hiking Near Me

It was 104 deg. outside, we were on our way to Phoenix Airport and decided on a quick 30 min. hike before flying home. This is such a breathtaking spot. It was hot and dry, but well worth the leg stretch and experiencing the scenery/terrain. I always marvel at how colourful the desert can be. We will spend more time here on future trips to the Grand Canyon State. read more

Great view, clean trash free trails that are maintained for a good day of hiking/walking. Be prepared with water and snacks with the proper equipment for a more enjoyable experience. read more

Inside the park is serene and very quiet. You get a beautiful view of the mountain. There are plenty of areas to explore without hiking straight up the mountain. There's lots of trails in front of the mountain. I've enjoyed the ranger and volunteer led hikes relating to birds and Will return this winner. I also love to look at the wild flowers and wander through the trails looking for them. This park has historical significance.Relate it to the civil war. Some of the flowers i.have seen are bright yellow ones are call tufted poppies. The more orange ones are called California poppies. Some of the purple flowers with a white dot on them are called coulter lupine or desert lupine, or Mojave lupine, The pink ones that are standing up and kind of are brushy are a type of Indian paint brush called exerted Indian paintbrush... Other flowers are Purple Owls clover and owlclover purple Indian paintbrush. It has a well appointed RV and tent camping area.And i'm sure it's busy throughout the spring summer and fall. read more

Originally visited park to take a look at Peak that I was climbing. The State Park is the Location of the most Northern battle of Civil War. There is information about this historical event. The park has RV sites and camping close to hiking trails. There are a variety of hikes of different skill levels. All the hikes are exposed, with very little shade and can be warm even in March. Best to start early on all of them. The peak is a stunning landmark to photograph especially at sunrise or sunset. As I stated my reason for the visit was to hike the Hunter Trail to the summit. Rated Difficult, it's not for those afraid of heights and inexperienced hiker. The trail is a little more than 3 miles with elevation gain of more than 2,000 feet. There are number of cables to aide in the steeper areas, bring gloves. Some of the sections are very narrow with only cables for security. There is a climb that is 90 degrees with double cables for support as you scramble up. There are some high step-ups in areas. This is an out and back trail so what you go up, you go back down. As you wind your way up the peak you make it to the summit which provides expansive view of the desert below. The front side of peak, hike cables are pretty easy, once you reach the Saddle area is when it becomes more technical. It can look frightening, however it doesn't take a lot of upper body strength if you properly use your legs on the step ups. We are somewhat experienced hikers although in our 60s. Start at sunrise, fewer hikers and cooler. Bring plenty of water. We left one bottle at the Saddle for the way back to lighten load. Bring gloves for handling cables, wear good tread hiking boots, hat and sunscreen. Check park website for other trails. There is another trail that comes in from the backside, we chose not to add extra miles through desert to hike. It's one of those hikes you have a feeling of a challenge completed. Enjoy! read more

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This is a beautiful but very challenging hike. It's a little less than 3 miles but very steep. There are cables to assist you in the hardest spots of the trail. Make sure to bring plenty of water and grippy gloves. They do sell gloves at their shop in case you forget them. Their shop is very nice and has cold drinks and souvenirs at very reasonable prices. $7 dlls for the entrance to the park. read more

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If you're in decent shape, plan on 2-1/2 to 3 hours for a 3.2 mile round trip to the top and back down. Hunter Trail is the most popular to reach the summit. There are numerous steel-cable assisted "climbs" ranging from 10 feet long to over 50 feet. Those cables are there because the slope is extremely steep or the width to the trail's edge is very narrow. The cables are very smooth but sweat and sun can render them hard to grip, so BRING leather gloves. The linear distance is not long but the vertical ascent is 1,400 feet but only 1.6 miles long which is why the hike is so steep. On this April weekend morning there were roughly 20-25 people that we passed, either going up/down, so a little busy‍ Most folks conquer Hunter Trail in the morning. At that time at least 2/3 of your hike will be in the sun (Hunters Trail mostly faces due North) especially come summer when the earth's axis pins the sun straight up. TWO water bottles should be enough if you're not reckless about temps. And an apple/granola bar as quick carbs should suffice at the top. It's a hard climb to the top but the downhill - being just as steep - can be quite slippery with all of the shifting pebbles and sand-covered rocks. So wearing gloves on the entire descent proved prudent for us. Note: there are four single-file cable passes in the upper half of the hike. You might have to wait up to 5 minutes for any group to finish passing through those sections before you can progress in the opposite direction. $7 vehicle entrance fee is reasonable and just $3 for a bicycle or pedestrian if not entering by car. Visitor center/gift shop on the drive out is worth a quick stop. Prices are quite reasonable there too for books, hats, t-shirts. read more

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Inside the park is so different from what we see from the 10 freeway. The mountains surrounding the park looked amazing. There are 3 loops of campsites to choose from. The rangers are actively doing their rounds day in and day out. You'll feel safe here. Although it's not a full hook up, there are restrooms near the campsites. This is a good place for mountain climbing, hiking and star gazing. We really enjoyed our stay here. The only issue here was the bees at the dump station! I wish they have more than one. You have to be really careful because there were a swarm of bees when it was our time to dump!! But all in all, it was an okay experience. read more

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The ladies in the office were very nice. The grounds was clean. Everybody was pretty friendly even though it says 55+ I visit with my two grand and they enjoyed it. They were very welcoming. read more

Came here March 12 when the wildflowers were blooming, and it was absolutely beautiful. Many trails present, including easy and moderate trails (Nature Trail, Calloway Trail, Sunset Vista Trail). I enjoyed the informational plaques along the Nature Trail. I also did Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak, which was challenging and technical at times, but very fun and rewarding! There are portions of cables on the east side, but it's after you reach the saddle and start descending the west side when the cables are more present and really helpful. Check out AllTrails for more detailed trail info. During wildflower season, expect a wait to enter the park @ the pay station. I arrived at the highway exit (Exit 219) around 11:30am on a Sunday, and the car line was about .7 miles from the entrance. It's slow, but inches along. I did see people park along the road and even at the gas stations, and walk into the park. Even when I left around 4pm, there was a short line to get in. Park closes at sunset, so plan accordingly. read more

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Picacho Peak is a staple along the highway near Tucson. And the hike to the summit is tough and interesting! You know the cliche about walking to school uphill both ways? That's the hike to the summit. You go up desert paths, down rocks, up rocks, up more paths - there are chains and makeshift bridges, some climbing involved - this is a full body endeavor. Beautiful views though! And everyone we met along the way was very nice. If you plan to hike, I recommend visiting in the cooler months! read more

Picacho Peak State Park - View from the summit - Hiking Near Me

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Beautiful location to do some camping. the hosts were very accommodating. Good day hiking as well. Good vibes y'all! read more

Well staffed and very clean park. Plenty to see and Amazon hiking trails for all levels. Be ready to non your own even though there are a lot of cars. Staff super friendly and helpful. read more

Climbing the distinctive Picacho Peak was on my list of things to do in the area, so here I am. It's a state park, requiring state fees. $7 per carload. Note that there are two separate parking areas near the trailhead. I parked along the road with so many other folks. Started later in the day than I'd like, but it was still sort of cool temps. Not that it mattered much because I started sweating pretty soon after I started. The path to the saddle was pretty much straight up. The views on both sides of the saddle were impressive. Then the cables came into play as the trail went down then up along the rock face. Lots of fun scrambling up and down but remember to go at your own pace. Sometimes the cables are more of a hindrance, but I understood why they are there. Once at the top there were a lot of places to sit and enjoy the 360 views. On the way down the cables actually came in handy. It was a perfect day for the climb and lots of other folks felt the same. Would highly recommend! read more

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3.5 stars Nice state park. There are trails to go hiking, the Nature Hike is moderate and is a short loop. The other trails are more challenging. You can search on YouTube for "picacho peak cables" and you will see how steep some of the challenging trails are. It is best to catch the wildflowers when in bloom. The Visitors Center is pretty small. Not much to it. Very small gift shop. Bathrooms. Drink vending machine. Camp grounds are modest. This being Saguaro country, there are no campground spaces with trees. The picnic tables are covered with a small roof, but that doesn't help much when the sun is not at the right spot in the sky, which is probably most of the time. All spaces are electric now, so bring your RV. Campground just seems kind of plain. There are group areas which you can reserve. Plenty of picnic areas. $7 a car for a day pass. 5* = A top favorite. Mind-blowing good. I will definitely return and I will go out of my way to go here. Worth every dime of my money. 4* = Outstanding. Tucson-top-tier. Some elements not quite as good as it gets, but it still is worthy of my regular business. 3* = Good experience. I might do repeat business if it is convenient, the only option, the only one in its category, or on a whim, but would not be among the first thing to come to mind. Would definitely recommend you trying it to get your own take on it. 2* = Not so good. Would not recommend at all. Waste of money. 1* = How are they still in business? Stay away at all costs! read more

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This hike is super difficult and the trail can be very dangerous but once you're at the top it makes it all worth it! read more

Picacho Peak State Park - Making my way to the top! - Hiking Near Me

Don't let the difficulty rating of Picacho peak scare u! Just do it!!! If u don't want to, don't listen to yourself, just do it! If u still have doubts, refer to Nike slogan! Really, this hike is totally worth it if u're looking for a quick 4 mile round trip in and out wham, bam, thank you ma'am kinda mountain! I love that the distance from the start of the hike at Hunter Trail to the base of the mountain is less than a mile. The trail is well marked with Sonoran desert like landscape. U'll come across areas where u'll be slipping and sliding on loose gravel & rocks, so good hiking shoes are recommended, but not required. This is definitely a steep hike, but the steel cables provided throughout the hike gives u all the boost u need to knock this hike outta the park with flying colors! For more of a challenge, I recommend not using the steel cables, but if u do, gloves are HIGHLY recommended, but not required. However, if I remember correctly, there may be one area on the hike (the steepest climb close to the peak) that the cables are an absolute necessity. Depending on ur water needs, u may want to bring 2-3 liters of water, but do bring AT LEAST 1.5 liters of water. After all ur hard work to get to the peak, just sit ur ass down and devour ur meal, cuz the view is pretty much a bunch of deserted dirt. There u have it! Don't hike this peak for the view, hike it for the love of hiking. Now get out there & just do it!!! ;-P P.S $7/car entrance fee (up to 4 ppl in car) & $2/pair of gloves if u forgot to bring your own. Gloves are size large (not one size fits all, as stated per park ranger) read more

Been hiking quite a bit in my time But this was my first climb with cable Truly need to bring water They have folks hiking to be sure everyone has enough read more

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Great little stop on the way to Tucson. The rock formation is so pretty and there are tons of different flowers and cactus to see.

Majestic, yet, accessible. Visible from much of Tucson, this craggy multi peaked peak is as iconic today as it must've been to early travelers and indigenous peoples. A stones' throw from I-10, this unusual volcanic formation can be hiked for a mere $7 per car admission (or $75 for year long pass). From the immaculately maintained visitor center (small, but nice) to the beautifully marked and maintained roads and trails, this place has it all - challenging hikes to the ridge to gentle nature trails and even an adorable old school playground, covered picnic areas, everyone will find something to bliss out on. After hiking with my 76 year old mom (she's dang fit!) and my 20 something son and daughter in law we found that the starting near where the trailhead for Hunters Ridge is and heading downhill (instead of going up the ridge) gets us a good hour of light hiking with very little incline. When it's just me, I go to the farthest trail from the main entrance and walk the dry creek bed into a small valley to the right of the peak. No matter your skill level, bring water, wear quality footwear, and bring a camera - especially during the spring wildflower blooming (late Feb/March) - a photographer's paradise. (BTW, I understand Picacho means Peak, so it's actually Peak Peak). read more

This park has great trails for all levels of walkers/hikers. For the real adventurous types the hike to the top of the peak is a great accomplishment. read more

As a snooty overlander, staying in a developed campground is something I haven't done in the 10 years I have lived in AZ, but some friends convinced us that a weekend at Picacho Peak State Park was something we NEEDED to experience, and let me tell you, we LOVED it! Our only hiccup of the weekend was with a volunteer campground host who was (extremely) rude to us. Our friends had reservations for two sites next to each other, and told us that we could pull in and pay up front to be the "extra vehicle" that they say they allow on their website. I checked before we showed up to make sure we would be allowed, and according to the AZSP website, it seemed like our truck would be fine to share a site with our friends. However, when we pulled up to check in the lady at the front immediately became very sour with us and told us we would not be allowed to park with our friends and that we needed to stay in an overflow site. She told us that there were no other sites available and that she was about to sell the overflow site so we needed to tell her right then and there if we were taking the only one left. Since we were completely unfamiliar with how AZ State Parks operate, we did not know what an "overflow" site was or where, and how far it would be from our friends, etc. So we asked for more information (which she was rude about giving us) and parked in a space for a few minutes to discuss it. When I went into the visitors center to purchase the site, the volunteer was inside complaining (loudly) about us to the rangers. She didn't see me standing there, so I just listened until she realized I was right behind her. It was a very uncomfortable experience. I still wanted to book for two nights, and started giving them my information, only to find that I could not book the overflow site for two nights... you can only book it on the same day... so just beware if you are unfamiliar with this process. Anyway, the whole experience ended up working out just fine and we had a great weekend. We slept in the overflow site and then just drove over to our friends' site for the day to cook and chill with them. The views are AMAZING (of course!) and we heard surprisingly little noise from the highway. Overall I cannot wait for another opportunity to go back because it is such a convenient getaway that offers lots of hiking and outdoor time. The bathrooms and showers were a huge added bonus (I have not showered while camping in so many years, it felt like such a luxury! LOL). My husband climbed to the peak and was surprised at how dangerous it is for people who are unprepared, so caution to all who want to attempt the summit that it is an advanced hike. AZ State Parks does such a nice job with keeping the park maintained! read more

Beautiful, scenic location. Only minor downside is no water hookups onsite. Clean campsites. Plenty of rattlesnakes. Use caution!

Picacho Peak Plaza is located directly across Picacho Peak State Park, AZ & I-10... Nice location!! read more

Picacho Peak State Park - Picacho Peak Plaza Across from Picacho Peak Park Entrance sign to Shell Gas Station @PicachoPeakPlaza Convenience Store in AZ - Hiking Near Me

I love this place, my home town got spot! Western most civil war location, reenactment is a must see

Have spent the last 15 years here. Own a park model and have enjoyed the many amenities offer by the resort. Highly recommend this resort.