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Jimmyc

Anyone hiked Picacho Peak?

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Hiked up to the peak at Picacho. That was a pretty tough hike. The view from the top was spectacular. Good times on Easter morning.

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Yes, I've been up there. Twice.

 

During my last five or six years at the Tucson Citizen, the powers to be informed me they wanted less hook and bullet coverage on my outdoor page and more articles on "participant sports." So I rode in gliders, photographed hang-gliding nuts, did stories about cowboy polo, and walked some of some of southern Arizona's popular paths.

 

My first time on the peak was in about 1990, and it was the short walk from the highway side. I did it again about three years later with my wife. We walked the northern path, which is longer. The view from the top is spectacular, but I was most impressed with all the small caves and overhangs that undoubtedly had been used in earlier times by desert sheep moving from the Picachos to the Silverbells.

 

Even in the mid-1990s, there was a steady string of people using both paths.

 

Bill Quimby

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Every time I head north to the valley picacho peak always catches my attention. I've always wanted to hike up it. Anywhere specific to park?

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We entered the park and drove around to the opposite side of the freeway. The road ends at the Sunset Trail head parking lot. Round trip it was about 6 miles. And it kicked my butt. Wear boots not tennis shoes. There are maps on line if you Google Picacho Peak.

It was a blast. I recommend it.

And I forgot, there was a 7$ fee to pay at the ranger booth.

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That $7 fee is new since I was there. Were there still lots of people walking the paths?

 

Bill Quimby

There was one vehicle in the parking lot when we arrived. On our way down. We passed about 15 people coming up. And it was getting warm. We arrived at 6:30am.

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I worked there from 99-2003 and I've hiked it more times than I can remember. It is a difficult, challenging hike and I always enjoy it. My kids made it up there twice this year.

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