Fissure Peak in Mule Mountains BLM, AZ

Hike Fissure Peak Mule Mountains BLM, AZ

Class 2 4.3 miles 1900 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Oct 12, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Fissure Peak GPX Track

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This route may have access issues.

I was contacted by the landowner directly who has now placed "No Trespassing" signs. This hike is on private land and the owner is concerned about litigous hikers. Do not enter!

Fissure Peak is the high point of the Mule Mountains just outsid e of Bisbee, Arizona. The hike starts from above the AZ-80 tunnel at Mule Pass at a pull-off and the trailhead is easily accessed via North Divide Road, just off the highway. A social trail leads all the way to Mount Ballard, a contender for the high point status. This sub-peak is located just southeast of Fissure Peak and this route to Fissure Peak requires going up and over Ballard and then reascending Ballard on the way back.

Finding the social trail from the trailhead took me a few minutes. From the trailhead, rather than ascending the slope directly (tempting because there seem to be social trails leading this way), head to the right on a gravel road for 50 feet or so to the base of a tree, where the trail starts up and is quite clear. It continues to be easy to follow almost to the summit of Mount Ballard. Along the way the views toward Bisbee and the surrounding hills is quite nice. Overall the grade of the trail was pretty steep, though not scrambly. A few hundred feet from Mount Ballard the trail becomes a little harder to follow as it heads through some tall grasses, and then it pretty much disappears, becoming just a sliver as it wraps around the north side of Mount Ballard. I accessed Mount Ballard via short and easy bushwhack from the north side, where I could see Fissure Peak ahead.

I backtracked from Mount Ballard to the almost nonexistent social trail and followed the ridge crest from Mount Ballard over to Fissure Peak. The route from here is basically without a trail, but the bushwhacking is minimal. Mount Ballard's north ridge requires a single Class 2 move down a minor rock outcrop, and the ascent to Fissure Peak has some slightly burlier bushes and rocky terrain to contend with.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Ballard
7370 ft
210 rise
2
Fissure Peak
7375 ft
2675 rise

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I parked at this pull-out at Mule Pass. Head to the right.
I parked at this pull-out at Mule Pass. Head to the right.
On the right I followed this gravel toad to the tree in the center.
On the right I followed this gravel toad to the tree in the center.
At the tree is where the trail begins.
At the tree is where the trail begins.
Ascending a good social trail.
Ascending a good social trail.
Mount Ballard and Fissure Peak ahead.
Mount Ballard and Fissure Peak ahead.
View back, the highway visible below.
View back, the highway visible below.
Good social trail on a pretty steep slope.
Good social trail on a pretty steep slope.
A hump before Mount Ballard visible ahead.
A hump before Mount Ballard visible ahead.
Mount Ballard and Fissure Peak ahead.
Mount Ballard and Fissure Peak ahead.
View down toward Bisbee, Arizona.
View down toward Bisbee, Arizona.
The trail hugs a fence for its majority.
The trail hugs a fence for its majority.
View back the way I came.
View back the way I came.
Mount Ballard, center.
Mount Ballard, center.
Steep ascent for a while. It's a little rocky, but no scrambling all the way to Mount Ballard.
Steep ascent for a while. It's a little rocky, but no scrambling all the way to Mount Ballard.
View back down, some unnamed mountain visible to the north.
View back down, some unnamed mountain visible to the north.
Mount Ballard ahead. The trail sort of disappears a little within the tall grasses, but is still somewhat easy to follow.
Mount Ballard ahead. The trail sort of disappears a little within the tall grasses, but is still somewhat easy to follow.
Mount Ballard and Fissure Peak ahead.
Mount Ballard and Fissure Peak ahead.
It gets a little bushwhacky, but not too bad.
It gets a little bushwhacky, but not too bad.
I left the fading social trail to get to Mount Ballard. Fissure Peak visible ahead.
I left the fading social trail to get to Mount Ballard. Fissure Peak visible ahead.
On the way down from Mount Ballard, a short (3-5  feet) Class 2 section to get down a small cliff band. Fissure Peak visible ahead.
On the way down from Mount Ballard, a short (3-5 feet) Class 2 section to get down a small cliff band. Fissure Peak visible ahead.
Approaching the saddle with Fissure Peak.
Approaching the saddle with Fissure Peak.
Steep and trail-less ascent up Fissure Peak.
Steep and trail-less ascent up Fissure Peak.
View back toward Mount Ballard.
View back toward Mount Ballard.
Fissure Peak ahead. Light Class 2.
Fissure Peak ahead. Light Class 2.
Another shot toward Mount Ballard from Fissure Peak's summit.
Another shot toward Mount Ballard from Fissure Peak's summit.
Summit of Fissure Peak, view west. Miller Peak visible in the distance.
Summit of Fissure Peak, view west. Miller Peak visible in the distance.
Summit of Fissure Peak, close-up toward a cool feature to the northwest.
Summit of Fissure Peak, close-up toward a cool feature to the northwest.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!