Hunter Trail, Picacho Peak State Park, AZ
On February 11, 2025 Kim and I hiked the Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak in Picacho Peak State Park. The trail is fairly steep, but with many switchbacks, up to a “saddle” with a beautiful view. The trail then descends very steeply before climbing up the “back side” of the mountain to Picacho Peak. Several spots on this part of the trail were very steep, on smooth rock, or on the “edge” such that you needed to use the (very handy) cables for climbing. This was quite an adventure but well worth it for the 360o views at the peak.
Walk-Specific Map
Elevation Profile
Images
PCHOPK01: Sign at start of trail
PCHOPK01: Initial view up to the peak
PCHOPK01: Kim climbing to the saddle
PCHOPK01: Typical scenery Winter 2025
PCHOPK01: Kim climbing to the saddle
PCHOPK03: Kim and I at the peak
PCHOPK03: View from the peak
PCHOPK03: Climbing down
PCHOPK03: Climbing down with aid of cables
PCHOPK03: Climbing down with aid of cables
PCHOPK03: Climbing down with aid of cables
PCHOPK03: Climbing down with aid of cables
PCHOPK03: Typical scenery Winter 2025
PCHOPK03: Climbing down with aid of cables
GPX Download
A sanitized GPX file of our hike is here.
Summary Information
| NUM | trackID | Primary | Description | Distance | CumDist | DeltaElev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PCHOPK01 | Hunter Tr | Barrett Loop parking lot to saddle | 0.86 | 0.86 | 893 |
| 2 | PCHOPK02 | Hunter Tr | saddle to Sunset View Tr | 0.23 | 1.10 | -63 |
| 3 | PCHOPK03 | Hunter Tr | Sunset View Tr to Picacho Peak | 0.38 | 1.48 | 570 |
| 4 | PCHOPK03 | Hunter Tr | Picacho Peak to Sunset View Tr | 0.38 | 1.86 | -570 |
| 5 | PCHOPK02 | Hunter Tr | Sunset View Tr to saddle | 0.23 | 2.09 | 63 |
| 6 | PCHOPK01 | Hunter Tr | saddle to Barrett Loop parking lot | 0.86 | 2.96 | -893 |