This is a review of the Hunter Trail, which takes you to the top of Picacho Peak. While much more common in Europe, Via Feratta (iron road) routes are relatively rare in the United States. These non-technical climbing routes allow those with limited-to-no climbing experience to get through some challenging passes by using a series to secured steel cables. Luckily, one of those routes is located here in beautiful Arizona, at the prominent Picacho Peak. Located about an hour south of Phoenix on the way down to Tucson, Picacho Peak stands like a majestic spire that can be admired from miles away. I approached Picacho Peak State Park with anticipation, seeing the peak appearing bigger and bigger as I got closer. Once I got to the park gates I'm not going to lie - I was pretty excited. It is a state park, so there is a $7 entrance fee. If you get there before the ranger station opens (around 8am), then you can use the payment envelopes, but make sure that you have exact change. TIP: The visitor center sells gloves for $2. If you forgot to bring your own, BUY SOME HERE! Total bargain for something you'll be glad you had! Not far from the visitor center, turn left off the main road to the Barrett Loop. This will lead you to the Hunter Trail trailhead. Make sure you have plenty of water. They recommend 2-3 liters. I took my 100-oz Camelbak and just about finished it. The trail is very well maintained and well-defined. Keep an eye out for painted arrows on the rocks which will guide you along the way. Not long after you've started, you'll come across your first set of cables. The terrain here isn't too steep, but it's nice having the cables to hold on to. The hike gets gradually steeper as you make your way towards the saddle. This two-mile section is a relatively good workout with a nice steady elevation gain, but nothing too crazy. Once you reach the saddle, there is a nice place to sit, take pictures and take a break. This is where things get interesting. One of the discouraging aspects of the Hunter Trail to the summit is the fact that after you've spent all that energy going up, you actually spend the next section of the hike....going down. Way down. Along a series of cables, you'll descend on the backside of the peak. This is about the time you'll be happy you have gloves, because sliding down the cables is so much easier with them. Once you level out, you start the re-ascent, with several areas where you will need cables. Don't worry - nothing too scary here.Just hold on to the cables and work your way up. Once you get to the top, the reward is worth it. Spectacular views all around. The trip back down is just as fun, as working the cables is just as important. Oh, and you'll have that steady ascent back up to the saddle. After reading so much about it, I was expecting more cable work. I thought it would be a little scarier than it ended up being. But at the end of the day, I was happy that I did it. All in all, Picacho Peak is a great climb, and a nice change of pace from Camelback and Piestewa. For a challenging trek, I still think I prefer Siphon Draw/Flatiron at the Superstition Mountains, but the via ferrata aspect makes this one unique. Tips: #1 - Bring a lot of water. Bring some food too. #2 - Bring gloves. No, you don't need a via ferrata harness. There aren't enough cable sections and the clipping/unclipping will really slow you down. #3 - Wear hiking boots. #4 - Go early. It gets crowded and when everyone (going up and going down) has to use the same cable, you can end up waiting a long time for your turn. Hope this helps!! Have fun and stay safe!! read more

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Nice camp ground, clean quiet..no sewer or water connection at site, but the restrooms are clean and there is a dump station...2nd time here for a night.. read more

Great hiking and run by some great people. We were a little late coming off the mountain at dusk and found a ranger who was happy to see us returning to our car. They have a nice souvenir shop too! read more

Hiked the Hunter Trail. If you don't love hiking and the desert and you live in Phoenix, well, you just don't know want you're missing and I suggest you expand your horizon a little and give hiking and the outdoors a try. Gorgeous scenery. Hike was relayed to me as difficult but was not as hard as I expected. There is a scary part where you have to hike down then up hanging onto chain guardrails. Not that scary~ just a little challenging. The summitt view is breath taking. Mother Nature is best. read more

Wonderful park for people who want to take a few hours off the interstate to see the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Aggressive hike to the top for those looking for a little adventure! Steep climbs to those amazing scenic views-worth it! Watch your step and be aware that the hikes here include trails along cliffs. Be aware if you're a flat lander that's afraid of heights. Oh and everyone should bring water if you decide to go for the top! read more

This small state park has two of the best hiking trails in Southern Arizona! The Hunter trail is a short challenging hike half way up one side of the mountain, then down a couple hundred feet, then back up to the summit of the Picacho Peak. The Sunset trail adds an extra mile across the foothills of the southern side before joining the Hunter trail to ascend the peak. I've hiked both trails several times and thoroughly enjoy the hike and views from the summit. The Hunter trail is a half day trip. The Sunset trail, a 3/4 day trip. Bring a pair of leather gloves with you to wear when you use the cable guides to pull yourself up. read more

Simply beautiful! We went to Picacho last Friday to catch a glimpse of the wild flower blooms. Although they weren't in full bloom and the day was overcast, the beauty of the Arizona desert after some rain is just indescribable. This out of towner loved every bit of the experience. We only did the super easy and mostly flat Nature Trail and climbed the Children's Cave trail. read more

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This was a very nice state park as we have found most of those in Arizona are. Our volunteer park ranger, Paula, was extremely helpful with trying to help us identify different flowers. Our campsite, even though next to the restroom, was probably a good hundred yards away. The campsites are not close to each other and you feel like you are in your own little world. The only disappointment was the nature trail. We thought we were going to learn about all of the flora and fauna as we walked the trail however, it only identified different animals that lived in the park and some of the large cacti that you always see. This is an historical area with regard to the Civil War and the attempted advancement of the confederacy. The flowers were just coming into bloom and we took many photos. read more

We didn't get to explore this park because we only were stopping for the night on our way to the west coast, so I can't comment on the hiking trails - but looking at the pictures and reviews about it makes me want to come back for the adventurous hikes. We arrived during the afternoon and it was beaming HOT at 104° F!!! With barely any shade at the campsite and two pups, it was unbearable. Only a few campsites have shaded canopies, we got unlucky and had nothing so we ventured out for dinner and came back during sunset! One of the best sunsets ever!! I even posted some pictures. We walked around Loop B & C of the campgrounds and everything looked mesmerizing, with the sunset, the saguaro cactuses and the surrounding mountain peaks. The temperature at night was about 85° F , so imagine sleeping in that... Very hot and winds were sporadic. Although, on our night, there were very strong winds coming from somewhere, almost like thunderstorm winds cause our tent kept collapsing. About around 6AM, temperature dropped to 80° F so it was a little more bearable but as soon as the sun comes up, it was time to get out of the tent - even if the sun was only beaming on your tent for five minutes. There were mosquitoes at night and nothing helped them from staying away from my face. I didn't get a bite but the sound was annoying and nothing seemed to keep them away - not even my citronella candles or mosquito coils (I use them religiously in Texas). Campsite comes with a fire pit and picnic table and some come with canopies. Overall, it's a well maintained campsite with clean restrooms with showers available - one of the best I've seen. There's a gate code for after hours so be sure to grab that info if you plan on coming in late. read more

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Camped in a campervan. Really hot here pulled in around 2:00 pm I was planning on taking a walk but it's about 100* here, yikes!!! The campground is great, has electricity and access to potable water and a dump station. Parked right next to the bathrooms which are very clean and nice. Lots of hiking trails but with the 100 plus temps I have to pass. My tv antenna pulled in lots of stations. They also have wifi for a small fee. read more

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Wow wow wow what a place to visit the cacti are beaming with expression and a majestic vibe read more

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Nice hike. Much more difficult than we expected to get to the actual peak! Bring gloves for the cables. $7 state park parking fee. 2 bottles of water seemed sufficient. Hiked hunters trail. read more

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Just hiked this puppy today. OMG was I stupid. There I was flying down the mountain wearing an old pair Skechers loafers... very exciting! I think I almost died once or twice, ok, I'm probably exaggerating, but it sure felt like it. Late Nov. to early Dec. are great times to hike this place due to it's mild temperature. The ranger advised me to wear gloves, but I'm proof that you're able to do so without it. But don't be dumb like me, be prepared! My advice: 1. Bring gloves with rubber sole -- it will help grab on better to the thick metal cables. 2. Sunblock / hat 3. Wear shoes with lots of outsole. Gravel is slippery. 4. Water -- about 2-3 litter per person is recommended by the park. I myself only had half a bottle of water. Probably will need more water when temp. rises. 5. Start early if you plan to hike all the way to the top. Coming down in the dark is deadly. Don't be fooled by the distance. It varies depending on your physical condition. Some people will take 5 hours, while others may only take 2 and change. 6. If you're scared, just get low to the ground. Crawl if you have to. Have faith in yourself. I met a 70 year old man on the trail. You can do it! :) 7. Bring a camera to record your demise, I meant conquest. Have fun! read more

I went to Picacho Peak State Park this past weekend, Fri-Sun, Aug 16 - 18, 2019. On Friday, there was NO ONE but the rangers, camp host and us (my BFF and me). Imagine, a whole park all to yourself! Of course, an Extreme Heat Advisory and temperatures of 108* does make it uncomfortable. My AC could not cool down below 80/81, and the fridge could not take the freezer below 10 and the fridge part below 45. Fortunately, the weather dropped back to 101 - 102 on Sat and Sun. Wildlife is so amazing. The bees were swarming around us like crazy when we stopped to fill the fresh-water tank. I did not understand until we hooked up. The AC unit condensation, on the roof, was the draw. The bees have figured out that any flat, light-topped vehicle may expel the precious water they need. We had only one bee fly into the trailer, and I trapped it in a glass and released it outside. I was happy to provide for the desert. Picacho Peak had electricity, but no water hookup! I pondered over that until I realized - the park needs to provide electric for AC or people will not visit in the summer, but they also want visitors to save on our precious water. Since the guests have to use their own tank, they will conserve to avoid having to stand down and go get more water. Good Job, AZ Park service. The showers and bathrooms are adequate and if you are there in the summer, you will use them a lot. The hiking there is awesome, especially hiking to the top of Picacho Peak itself. The final part of the hike, past the "saddle", is not for dogs. There are plenty of cables mounted to assist your climb. If it is summer and not morning, do not touch the cables. If you are a ham radio operator camper, try the west or east sides of the loop. The area is heavy in iron and it does a good job of reflecting your signal everywhere but where you want it to go. Lastly, the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is just a mile away - If you have children, or still delight in such things, it is a fabulous visit with many different critters. read more

Hiked the Hunter's trail. It was a short distance but a bit of inclining trail. Several places required holding on to the cable for support and stabilization. Bring a pair of gloves. It will be easier on your hands when pulling on the cable. Going up in the morning, in the beginning it was in the shade, but once wrap around the saddle, it was sunny all the way to the summit. The view is great. I wouldn't call it hard. But it wasn't a walk in the park either. It was definitely a fun trail to hike. read more

**CAMPGROUND REVIEW** Wow, does this campground have some amazing views - with even more stunning sunsets! We came on a whim and got 2 nights (Sunday-Tuesday) without any problems. We did try to call ahead, but they would not take same day reservations. Our site (C10) had electric, no water, no shade, a picnic table and one of the nicest fire pits we've ever had at a campground! The fire pit is huge, and has a dual insulated frame with a cooking rack and you can even adjust your fire tray (see video linked below). The site came nicely groomed (seriously, someone had racked some cool looking circles in it), and there was a spot off to the side that was leveled and would have nicely fit a tent. For us though, the highlight of the site was the fact that there is a LOT of space between each site - you feel very isolated! The park also has WiFi (for a fee - again see video attached for the details, for some reason yelp won't let me attach pictures here). The restrooms were also in really nice condition - clean and some of the nicer ones we've seen! There are three loops (make your first right into the campground, all three loops connect to this one - don't make the mistake we did expecting there to be a different entrance for A, B & C), and two main bathrooms at the top of the three loops. The bathrooms were in nice condition - better than many of the other state parks. There is also one dumpster (that we could find) and it was quite a hike away - not super convenient. The fill/dump station was COVERED in bees, plan on wearing pants and long sleeves when using it. The state park includes a playground and small children's hike to a cave which was cute. There are a LOT of rentable day use picnic and hang out areas (many with covers) that had gorgeous views. There was also a spot for horseshoes an easy walk from any of the camping loops. I would also highly recommend bringing bikes to this park - it's pretty big and would be fun to ride around in. The I-10 was easily viewable in the distance, and we could hear the trains passing by, however it didn't bother us - it was pretty faint. It was also kind of fun to watch the traffic go by at night. Overall, we recommend this campground and will be back! Check out our video review here: https://youtu.be/nGJFBtF8dTk read more

The hunters trial is quite the hike, I have done it three times and today really kicked my butt. The whole hike is about 3-4 hours long, unless your a superman then it can be faster. The terrain is pretty rugged, with cables helping you up the steepest parts. The view from the top is amazing. On a clear day you can see the outline of Tucson and can clearly see Casa Grande. Its not a hike for beginners in my opinion if do decide to do it without much experence, take it easy, as it can get dangerous at points. Its a hike that leaves you feeling accomplished at the end, exhausted, but accomplished. BRING PLENTY OF WATER, more than you think you will need. read more

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If you hadn't heard, the park is still open. Thankfully. Come on people and get active, both literally and politically. Our legislators wanted to close access to this, and other State Parks. These are OUR lands (heard the Woody Guthrie song before?) and we need to insist that we continue to have the ability to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our state. Besides, once you get here, you'll see just how much money was put into bringing this place into the modern age. There's a new visitor's center, fully LEED certified (meaning it is energy efficient to a national standard basically). Staff is fairly standard for State Parks, but still they are friendly as well. But what are you doing in the visitors center anyways?! This is a State Park, get out and hike! And what a hike it is! Yeah, the trail is short, but it goes up steadily, before going back down about half the distance you've already climbed before continuing up even further to the peak. The trail itself is one you will never forget. There's a number of steep areas with ropes (really cables) to assist with the climb. This is not for the weak-kneed. But really, it is simpler than it may at first seem. Many recommend gloves for these stretches. Not a bad idea, but not really absolutely necessary. Once you have made it to the top, you can smile each time you cruise by on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix, knowing you have conquered that crazy looking peak! Summer is a tough time for the hike, just too hot. The rest of the year should typically be good. But the real magic happens in the Spring, IF there's been good rains--there will be flowers galore. This is one sweet spot in a good Spring. Also, for the history buffs, this was the furthest West site for a Civil War "battle" to take place. And that battle is reenacted every year, I believe in March. Great hikes, energy-efficient visitor's center, and history to boot. Why on Earth do AZ legislators want to close this place?! Get out there and make them think twice about that idea!! read more

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Only hiked here, haven't camped, but loved every minute of it. The view from the top is sublime. Located on the west side of I-10 off of exit 219 about 60 miles south of Phoenix, 40 miles north of Tucson. I'm sure you've seen it if you've made the drive - you can't miss it - the jagged peak rises 1500 feet up. There are 2 main trails - Hunter (2 miles to peak) and Sunset Vista (3 miles to peak), which meet up on the backside of the mountain. Hunter is the more strenuous of the two, with some really cool steep sections, complete with rails, ropes and steel cables to pull yourself along. You'll definitely need gloves for this one, not to mention plenty of water and quality hiking shoes. Not for beginners, in other words - or those afraid of heights. There's a $6 per vehicle fee for hiking. I believe the official park policy is no dogs, though I have seen them on the trails. Bummer though - they're closing the park starting July 1 all the way until October for the construction of a new visitor center. Check their website for updates. read more

I have stopped and tried to camp here twice - both times during monsoon season. This is an extremely bad idea. The first time I slept in my car with two teenagers, amidst thunder, lightening and torrential rain. We did see a wild javelina in the middle of the night near the car. The second time, we stopped briefly, looked at the historical stuff and drove on into Tuscon. This place is significant as it is the most western Civil war battlefield. Bet you didn't know any Civil War battles were fought in Arizona. On April 15, 1862, an advance detachment of Union forces from California attacked a Confederate scouting party. The battle lasted for 1-1/2 hours, and three Union soldiers were killed. read more

I dig Picacho Peak. You see it every drive on I-10. It's worth a stop, and maybe a weekend at. The camp site is quite enjoyable and amazingly quiet despite its proximity to the interstate, the sound of cars is not an issue. The sites are civilized with restrooms and places for RVs and tent camping. There is a little gift shop in front. And the hiking is great. If you want to do the full big Picacho Peak hike, you might want to bring some gloves and be prepared to actually climb- there are cables to hold on to for getting up and over at least one area of the trail. For the less adventuresome, there are plenty of other trails, and I look forward to trying those next. This would be a fun place to camp at during the Picacho Civil War days. read more

Last weekend a bud and my bf and I decided to go to Picacho Peak to tame the wild desert! ...well, not exactly. I had no clue what I was in for! First, you pay the reasonable $3 fee to go to the mountain. Once you park, you can start the journey. I wasn't expecting anything rough since this isn't my forte (I've only hiked, maybe 3 times in my life?), but I was really excited. My friend told us we were going on Hunter trail which is the rougher of the two available, I didn't know that at the time, so I just packed a first aid kit, a camel pack, some tennis shoes, a hat, and some sun block. I highly suggest wearing sun block if you're going to be out there. There's some shade in the rocks, but for a lot of the hike you'll be exposed to the sun. I also recommend you don't wear regular tennis shoes because they'll tear up your feet, and make sure you have plenty of water! Bring extra, because if you run out of water, you'll be in a lot of trouble if you have heat stroke or dehydration. I enjoyed the hike, though it was treacherous at some points, and one misplaced step could definitely put you in a world of hurt. We had to take frequent stops since I haven't done anything athletic in...ohhh...let's say a long time. There are some parts of the hike which are intimidating, but there are safety cables and nets to help you along. The view is great from up on the peek and completely worth the hike. Watch out for centipedes because they're poisonous, but they won't hurt you if you don't mess with them. Also at the very top there were a lot of flying ants, I just swished my hat around so they wouldn't be tempted to land on me. If you go on the hike, which I recommend, bring a first aid kit, plenty of water, and the right kind of shoes, along with that handy sunblock and you should have a great time. Remember to be careful during the hike because there are tons of ways to break something or fall off. All in all, it was a great time! read more

Beautiful park & nice place for hiking. We stopped on our way south on I10 & not only is it a great place to stretch your legs on the way to Tucson, the wildflowers were beautiful. Can't remember which area we hiked but it was not too steep & you can just sort of meander your way up the lower slope of the mountain. Most popular area seemed to be the first one on the left after you enter...it was so crowded the day we were there, we drove to the end of the park to a quieter, less busy spot. Several areas to choose from for a minimal fee to get in. read more

It's such a bummer that this park is going to close in June. After my first time camping there I would definitely go back. The boyfriend and I wanted a quick weekend camping getaway so we immediately thought of PIcacho Peak. It's only an hour south of Tempe and having hiked there before we knew it was pretty and clean. So we packed up the car and headed down for a weekend of sleeping among the cactus. I will admit that we're total car campers. We don't have an RV but we don't do backwoods camping either. We like to pull our car up to the campsight, grill some hot dogs and hang out by the campfire with the option of being able to get in our car and run to the store if we need to. That being said, Picacho has one of the nicest campgrounds we've stayed in. The tent sites were well maintained and the bathroom facilities were great. Hot water and soap! A real toilet! Showers even! It almost doesn't feel like camping. The place was packed. I think every site was taken but overall people were respectful of each other which is especially important with desert camping since you don't have trees to give you privacy. We hiked one of the days we were there. The trail we went on wasn't too challenging (no cables for us) but it was a nice hike and I took lots of pictures of wildflowers. We saw lots of people using the trails which again makes me sad that in a couple months no one will be able to enjoy these nice trails and campsites. I hope the closure doesn't last too long, I would hate for these facilities to go into disarray. If it does open up again this fall we will camp there again for sure. read more

This place is so cool! Bring some good shoes that you don't care if they get a tad dirty. The views are sensational. Pick up a few lava rocks while your down there exploring. I visited around sunset so it was more cooled off and not as hot. The sunset near the peaks are so perfect. Good spot to venture to while your near. read more

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One of the best and most difficult hikes I have ever done! I took Hunter trail. Steepness does not bother me as long as I can stand only on my feet since I am an athlete. But climbing rocks with a help of cable was beyond my expectations. I came to the trail unprepared with a small bottle of water and small amount of trail mix. Halfway on Hunter trail, I met a group of ladies who were on their return way and they told me I needed a pair of gloves to climb up the rocks with a help of cables and gave me their pair. Total random kindness! This trail requires camelbak amount of water, gloves and early arrivals as the parking lots fill up quickly. The steepness worried me to return the same trail (downward) but it was not that difficult. I thought about taking Sunset Vista trail back but the other hikers warned me that Sunset is about 3 miles of no shade and it takes another 3 miles from its parking lot back to Hunter trail parking lot. Glad they stopped me from going back on Sunset trail. It is definitely not an easy hike but there were many families with kids hiking there. So don't be discouraged. The trail gets, fortunately, harder and trickier as it goes closer to the peak. So you can turn around to come back if you feel uncomfortable with the difficulty. I would definitely love to try this hike again. read more

We came in the spring after a nice rainy season when the hills were full of flowers. We camped in a tent in Loop B. The bathrooms are really clean with nice showers. We hiked the Hunter Trail, which climbs up one side of the saddle, descends the other side before ascending steeply to the summit. This is a difficult trail with several difficult climbs and descents, some of them almost vertical. The campground is not very far from I-10 and train tracks which contributes a bit of noise. We will return! read more

Picacho Peak State Park - Picacho Peak at sunset - Parks Near Me

I absolutely loved this hike...even more than Flatiron. My friend's and I agreed that this mountain is like an obstacle course for adults! Bring gloves, as gripping metal cables will be necessary. I brought 1.5 liters of water in my C-bak and was fine. A few dates and a protein bar at the top did the job. The hike isn't long - expect just short of 3.8 miles round-trip. The ranger told us to allot for 4 hours, but we made it to the summit and back down in 2.5 hours. The view at the top is interesting. One half is highway and the other is cacti and desert. Still beautiful! I can't wait to conquer this mountain again! We live in Phx and left around 9:30 a.m., got there, hiked, and were back in town at around 3:30, so it's not a bad commute at all if you live in Phx and want to explore some different terrain. Happy Hiking! read more

What a very cool hike. You want to go in the winter before it is too hot. Great trail conditions and we'll signed. The staff are helpful. Great history on site so don't forget to check the interperative area when you visit. Dog friendly, but hard to get most dogs the entire way to the top. Take plenty of water and I hope you don't have heights issues. We will do this hike again soon. read more

This park is beautiful! I can't wait to go back and hike Picacho Peak. I haven't hiked this mountain yet, but I hear it is amazing.

Park is nice and clean. The WiFi is a scam however. Beware of the scam. No support from the company.

i would rarely give any trip outdoors less than 5 stars. especially in az what with the all-time best weather and nicest people ever!!!! this was about my 5th time on picacho and it never disappoints. on this trip, we were lucky enough to have acres upon acres of wildflowers to compliment our hike. only downside today? it was more packed than camelback. i don't know where all these people came from. maybe if they hiked like this regularly, this park wouldn't close. literally 15 minute bottlenecks at each cable pull. and only just a year ago, the entry fee was 3 bucks...now it's 7! what a huge price increase. i guess since they're closing it in june, they're going to try and get as much money as possible. on a rant, i don't care. i'd pay 10 bucks to visit our state parks (and i probably will shortly). it's more enjoyable, longer lasting, and has better memories than spending 7 bucks for an overpriced mixed drink at an upscale bar that you slurp down in a couple of minutes. anyway, some say this trail is difficult, but it's only 2 miles via the hunter trail. i would go so far as to label this hike easy. what it is is fun. with the cool cables planted into that rock, the feeling like you're doing something really dangerous and strenuous and novel. and then rewarded with unobstructed 360* views. it's so much fun to be outside. go now, go now, go now. this gem is in danger of being closed in june. but be prepared....there will be hundreds of your fellow hikers joining you to take advantage before the closing. and take plenty of water, sunscreen, and good shoes! read more

I may have underestimated Picacho. I have been on a few fairly long hikes in the last few months and I was excited to see the view from the top of the peak. There are two main ways to get to the top. The Sunset Trail which is adds about a mile to the hike and the Hunter Trail which goes up the middle. The Sunset gives you a really easy walk and beautiful scenery on the far side of the mountain to warm you up for the ascent to the peak. The Hunter Trail has you go up and down and back up so it's a bit challenging if you haven't done it before. I am a bit nervous of heights and there are a couple places where some chicken wire fencing and a cable at other parts is the only thing holding you from plummeting down the mountain. Definitely take some gloves and good hiking boots. The cables can pinch your hands and there is quite a bit of gravel so take your time the first time up. The views from the top are pretty amazing I highly recommend it. - Check out the Sunset Trail - $6 Car Charge for Parking read more

Had a great hike to the peak via Sunset Vista trail on a remarkably uncrowded Saturday. The trail was well-maintained with no obstacles preventing an unobstructed trek to the top by any reasonably fit hiker. The post-monsoon trail damage, evident on all trails in the region, have been repaired in a timely and satisfactory manner. The final mile or so is a sweaty challenge, but the installed cable paths allow the hiker to shift from lower to upper body exertion and actually gives your legs a rest for the final scramble to the peak. Gloves are a must! .Helpful and friendly park rangers and volunteers made my visit even more enjoyable. read more

My husband and I along with our dog camped here in early August. Definitely way too hot to camp at that time, the dog had a blast. We camped in section A near the bathrooms. The scenery was absolutely stunning, there was a lot of red ants at our site which made it unbearable to sit under the Ramada and enjoy the day. It was windy at night, which was nice for our extremely hot situation. They had potable and non potable water stations and garbage disposal areas. The lady ranger with short brown hair there was extremely rude. Apparently it was frowned upon to leave our dog food morsels behind, although the red ants had taken over the dog dish & we had to rid of the food. And it was unforgivable for us to stack rocks at our site and leave them stacked. She said she "expected more of us" and that she cleaned it all up already. Although we made the best of the situation and the scenery was beautiful. We will be looking for more places to camp! read more

Took our daughter, who is visiting from Texas, to see Picacho Peak State Park. Beautiful! Small but beautiful. We are old and not very agile, so hiking is not an option, but the trails look pretty nice. A week day is a good time to visit; not very crowded at all. Took some great pics. All we have to do now is figure out how to get them off the camera and onto our computer. Recommend you add it to your visiting list. Enjoy. read more

Such a great hike for those seeking adventure. The trail has very steep sections to climb and the park service did a great job of installing railings in those sections. We went on a day it was about 80 degrees, a bit warn on the way up but a nice breeze at the top kept it pleasant. I would not want to be stuck on the trail on a hot day. Tons of sargaro cactuses and other varieties along the way. read more

I was here for the Sunset Trail and what a trail it is! The first two miles or so is great. Wonderful scenery. Once you hit the mountain it gets quite intense. It's damn near rock climbing at points so be sure to watch your feet and hand holds. I really scared myself good when I slipped on a section of the cables coming down. Had I not caught myself I may have fallen at least 30 feet straight down. Not for the faint of heart. When all is said and done I feel great but I really had to dig deep to get to the top. Can't imagine doing this in sneakers, boots are the way to go. I couldn't have made it to the top without gloves. There's a lot of cables you don't want to lose grip of. read more

This is a great state park less than an hour from Tucson. There are only a couple hikes. A shorter one that gives a nice view of the valley and one that charges right up the side of the peak. There are some nice picnic areas, but be aware there is not much shade in the park. It is the desert, you know. The best part, however, is the wildflowers. For some reason, when we have had a nice, rainy spring, this place just blows up. Beautiful colors all around. Look for the wildflowers in late March-early April. read more

One of the best hikes in Tucson is the Hunter Trail. It is a challenging hike but the payoff at the top is worth it. It's also pretty fun traversing the cable rope ladders. Being a good pair of leather gloves for those sections and pack plenty of water. There is usually ample parking in the park area, bit it is a popular trail, so can be limited during the spring and nice weather. A small playground can also be found near the base of the peak read more