North Peak 7,449' - Very Difficult

DRIVERS - THE TRAILHEAD IS MINERAL CREEK / NORTH CREEK TRAILHEAD - Arizona. TYPE THIS INTO GOOGLE. I CANNOT POST IT HERE DUE TO TECHNICAL GLITCHES ON THE MEETUP WEBSITE.

Google says to approach the trailhead through Payson. I don't have any details on the southern approach to the trailhead, which Google may say is shorter.

LET ME STRESS, THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT HIKE. AS NOTED BELOW, THE LAST SECTION IS VERY STEEP AND IT INVOLVES BUSHWHACKING WITHOUT ANY TRAIL. THIS TECHNICALLY IS HARDER THAN HUMPHREYS PEAK AND HARDER THAN FLATIRON TO IRONVIEW. THIS IS ADVANCED LEVEL, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON HARD MOUNTAINS, YOU WILL NOT MAKE THE SUMMIT.

In late March on Knob Mountain with other 3H Hikers we viewed the route up North Peak, and determined that it would be a worthwhile adventure!

The hike starts with over 3 miles on trail and then ¾ miles up gaining 1,200’. It’s steep. In total, the hike is about 8 miles gaining nearly 3,500 feet. This is considered a very difficult mountain due to the steepness of the final section. We will all approach the peak as a group. However, the ascent and descent will take much longer for some. Therefore, I would appreciate if slower folks can buddy up to make sure the last folks make it down safely.

The road should be fine to the trailhead, as it is often used, but 4WD high clearance is recommended and drivers appreciated.

The trailhead is the Mineral Creek Trailhead. LINK WAS NOT WORKING.
More details: https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=22837

READ THE FOLLOWING: The Organizer of this trip is a VOLUNTEER, not a "leader". The organizer IS NOT trained in first aid and is not a bonded expert mountain guide. You will need to bring your own experience and judgment. If you want to enjoy the benefits of traveling in a group, then we suggest that you stay with the group on the trip.

The waitlist is created to give preference to hikers who have demonstrated the ability for tougher hikes and consistency of showing up when they RSVP. Those who have RSVPed multiple times and have always cancelled or been a no-show will be kept on the waitlist until others who are more likely to come are given an opportunity to RSVP. The waitlist also ensures we do not overwhelm parking, as this area doesn’t have infinite parking. Those with vehicles to drive us are given preference.

Assess the route and conditions as if you were going to do this trip solo.

About your organizer: My name is Dan. I moved to the Phoenix area in early 2017. I have organized over 200 hikes for various groups – including in Arizona, the Sierras, and Northern Nevada. I tend to choose mountain summits I have never done before. I do as much preparation and mapping as I can to ensure we take the correct trails. However, when driving to and hiking in a new area, there are always surprises and unknowns.

This hike is subject to cancellation or rescheduling due to fires or inclement weather.