A Hike for the Skilled Climber

Suspension bridge across Queen Creek.

PHOTOS BY ANDREAS SCHMALZ

View of the Historic Picket Post House mansion from Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Ayer Lake at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

PICKETPOST MOUNTAIN

A Hike for the Skilled Climber

For experienced hikers desiring something far more adventurous, the backdrop to the arboretum is Picketpost Mountain—a challenging hiking destination within the Tonto National Forest. This 4.3-mile out-and-back hike is rated difficult and involves about a 1,990-foot elevation gain, as well as some route-finding and scrambling skills. The initial part of the hike follows the Arizona Trail for 0.4 miles, but then one heads east along a smaller dirt road across a creek bed and up toward the mountain. Cairns are evident along the way, but it’s highly recommended to seek out a proper map beforehand and study the route through the chute that leads up to the upper plateau.

GET THERE

Directions Follow US-60 to mile marker 221 onto Uno Trail (Forest Road 231). Follow the dirt road 0.3 miles to Saddleridge Trail. Head east 0.75 miles on paved road to parking area. Difficulty Rating 4.5 out of 5 (Source: www.alltrails.com.)

Andreas Schmalz is a local Realtor and an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys trail hiking, nature photography, and scenic drives throughout Arizona. His inspiration for the Picketpost Hike came from Charles Liu’s second edition guide, “60 Hikes within 60 Miles, Phoenix.”