Picacho Peak Wildflower Hike 25-30s

## Picacho Peak Wildflower Hike via Hunter Trail (Carpool from South Phoenix)

Date: Saturday, February the 28th
Meet Time: 7:30 AM
Carpool Location:
Chick-fil-A
5035 E Ray Rd Phoenix, AZ 85044

Hi Friends! Let's checkout Picacho Peak and see some wildflowers! The plan is to meet at Chick Fil A in South Phoenix at 7:30am, organize carpools, and then drive down toward Tucson together. Once at Picacho Peak State Park, we’ll begin hiking the Hunter Trail.

### About the Hike & Why Picacho Peak

We’ll be hiking the Hunter Trail, Picacho Peak State Park’s most popular route to the summit. This is a challenging hike, rated 6.5 out of 10 in difficulty—more demanding than Camelback but not as strenuous as Flatiron. Expect steep grades, loose rock, solid elevation gain, and fixed cable sections near the top that require some upper-body engagement and comfort with exposure. You will absolutely need to bring some sort of gloves for the cable sections. Picacho Peak is especially well known for its winter and early spring wildflowers when conditions are right, and it also holds historical significance as the site of the westernmost Civil War battle in U.S. history (Battle of Picacho Pass, 1862). On clear days, the summit offers sweeping views of the Sonoran Desert and surrounding mountain ranges, making the effort well worth it.

### Park Entry

Picacho Peak is a state park and will likely require an entry fee per vehicle (cash or card).

### What to Bring

• Gloves required for the cable sections
• Hiking boots or trail shoes
• Snacks or lunch
• Sun protection
• At least 2–3 liters of water

If you enjoy challenging desert hikes, dramatic scenery, and a bit of adventure, this hike should be a great fit. Looking forward to hiking together.

As a reminder again, this hike has quite a few cable sections. You will definitely want to bring gloves.

Looking forward to another adventure!