Harcuvar Peak Loop in Harcuvar Mountains BLM, AZ

Hike Harcuvar Peak Loop Harcuvar Mountains BLM, AZ

Class 2 7.6 miles 3100 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Jan 31, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Harcuvar Peak Loop GPX Track

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Harcuvar Peak is a high-prominence peak in southern Arizona, and is the high point of the Harcuvar Mountains. The drive is a bit lengthy and the peak isn't particularly interesting, but it does have some nice scrambling and it's always a good time to get out into a new part of the desert. Rather than only doing the high point, I also tacked on a lesser-visited peak to Harcuvar's east, unnamed Peak 4430. This made the route a bit more interesting.

To get to the start of the hike, navigate here (33.81226, -113.62775) on excellent roads and continue north through Arizona State Trust Land. Starting at this point the road begins to degrade. The first half of the drive is rutted and the second rocky, which made me happy to have both high clearance and good tires. Continue north until this point (33.84309, -113.62852), where you hit a powerline road and take a right, heading northeast. The road bends left here (33.85522, -113.61707) away from the powerlines and heads northwest. Veer right here (33.86166, -113.62431) and continue to this intersection (33.88345, -113.62536) where you should continue straight (northeast). The road drops into a wash shortly after this point and I was unable to cross due to very big boulders on the opposite side, which added a mile and a half of road walking in each direction. More capable vehicles can remove this amount from the stats, parking here (33.90408, -113.62971) where the road becomes extra narrow and bad. A little extra walking to warm my legs up wasn't something I'd be complaining about though.

The route up Harcuvar Peak begins almost at the end of the dirt road up a slope/ridge that has virtually no describable characteristics except that it's on the southeast side of the peak. While this is a pretty steep option, it's the most convenient because of where the road leads. A couple of the ridges to the west looked a little more gradual and would have been easier to describe, but these would require some bushwhacking and arroyo crossings to get there, so this steeper and somewhat indistinguishable baby ridge would do. Despite the steepness, there was minimal scrambling and it wasn't an unpleasant ascent by any means. I recommend sticking to the high point of the minor ridge when possible to avoid what seems like the slightly more cactus-filled slopes on either side. About 2/3 the way up the route became a lot more mellow and the terrain was free of most obstacles. Harcuvar Peak has two summits because it doesn't appear that there is a consensus on which point is higher. I tagged them both, the western summit requiring some light Class 2 to reach.

From the eastern summit of Harcuvar Peak, I decided to continue over to Peak 4430 because after driving way out here, I certainly wanted more hiking time. The initial descent from Harcuvar Peak's east peak almost immediately introduced a significant rock outcropping along the ridge crest. I avoided the obstacle by keeping to its right, which brought on some light bushwhacking and Class 2 along the top of a steep slope, but there was a ledge of sorts which minimized side-hilling and created a more chill experience than it appeared it would be from above. Past the rock outcrop, the terrain was a little rocky, but nothing new nor unexpected. The final hundred feet or so to the saddle of Harcuvar Peak and Peak 4430 had more Class 2/2+ boulder obstacles. The terrain was steep, but not dangerously so.

I started ascending the west ridge of Peak 4430, which had more of the same as the descent from Harcuvar. A couple of rock outcroppings along the crest kept me just to their right, and there was a bit of minor cactus to contend with. Once above the steep first half of the ascent, the rest looked like a cakewalk to the summit. A couple of barely noticeable humps and I was there. Harcuvar's humped form looked surprisingly cool from this angle.

On the way down from Peak 4430 I took the obvious southern ridge then kept right to continue down a spur ridge. This led me back to the road more quickly than the main southern ridge would have. It's a very straightforward descent, initially with less rock and cacti than the rest of the hike. However, the bottom couple of hundred feet does have a bit of a steep rock outcropping that I avoided on its left via pretty loose Class 2 in order to reach flat desert below and ultimately the road.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Harcuvar Peak
4618 ft
2048 rise
2
Peak 4430
4430 ft
590 rise

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I didn't want to attempt the horrible road on the opposite side of this wash, so I started here.
I didn't want to attempt the horrible road on the opposite side of this wash, so I started here.
Hiking along the dirt road to the base of Harcuvar Peak, seen left. Peak 4430 is visible top right.
Hiking along the dirt road to the base of Harcuvar Peak, seen left. Peak 4430 is visible top right.
Nearing the spot where even burly vehicles would likely not want to continue. Harcuvar seen ahead.
Nearing the spot where even burly vehicles would likely not want to continue. Harcuvar seen ahead.
I left the dirt road and started up this minor ridge (more just a slope) on the southeast side of Harcuvar Peak.
I left the dirt road and started up this minor ridge (more just a slope) on the southeast side of Harcuvar Peak.
Class 2 ascent along the minor ridge's crest.
Class 2 ascent along the minor ridge's crest.
View back. The road I walked in on is in the center.
View back. The road I walked in on is in the center.
The terrain mellows out a bit higher up.
The terrain mellows out a bit higher up.
Another shot back down toward the road.
Another shot back down toward the road.
Harcuvar Peak's summit ridge seen ahead.
Harcuvar Peak's summit ridge seen ahead.
A view back down. Peak 4430 seen top left.
A view back down. Peak 4430 seen top left.
Along the ridgeline, first headed to the western summit.
Along the ridgeline, first headed to the western summit.
Class 2 western summit of Harcuvar Peak.
Class 2 western summit of Harcuvar Peak.
Western summit, view east.
Western summit, view east.
Eastern summit just ahead.
Eastern summit just ahead.
Eastern summit of Harcuvar Peak, view back west.
Eastern summit of Harcuvar Peak, view back west.
Onward down the west ridge of Harcuvar Peak. There's a significant outcropping, seen left here. I kept to the right of the obstacle. The saddle I'm heading down to is visible on the right.
Onward down the west ridge of Harcuvar Peak. There's a significant outcropping, seen left here. I kept to the right of the obstacle. The saddle I'm heading down to is visible on the right.
View back up toward the rock outcroppings.
View back up toward the rock outcroppings.
Continuing down from Harcuvar Peak. Peak 4430 seen right of center.
Continuing down from Harcuvar Peak. Peak 4430 seen right of center.
A shot back up toward Harcuvar.
A shot back up toward Harcuvar.
Nearing the saddle.
Nearing the saddle.
Class 2 and sort of steep down to the saddle.
Class 2 and sort of steep down to the saddle.
At the saddle, view up the eastern ridge of Peak 4430.
At the saddle, view up the eastern ridge of Peak 4430.
More rock outcroppings to avoid, I kept to the right.
More rock outcroppings to avoid, I kept to the right.
View back toward Harcuvar Peak.
View back toward Harcuvar Peak.
The mellow terrain after ascending the steeper east ridge of Peak 4430.
The mellow terrain after ascending the steeper east ridge of Peak 4430.
Peak 4430 ahead.
Peak 4430 ahead.
I descended from Peak 4430's southern ridge. The main ridge continues to the left, but the spur ridge seen on the right leads more efficiently back to the road.
I descended from Peak 4430's southern ridge. The main ridge continues to the left, but the spur ridge seen on the right leads more efficiently back to the road.
Along the spur ridge on the south side of Peak 4430. Harcuvar Peak seen above.
Along the spur ridge on the south side of Peak 4430. Harcuvar Peak seen above.
View back up the spur ridge I took down. Peak 4430 up there on the left somewhere.
View back up the spur ridge I took down. Peak 4430 up there on the left somewhere.
Steeper Class 2 terrain to avoid a rock outcrop on the way down. The road I hiked in on is visible on the left. I reached it to complete the loop.
Steeper Class 2 terrain to avoid a rock outcrop on the way down. The road I hiked in on is visible on the left. I reached it to complete the loop.
View back up at the final bit of descent from Peak 4430 after avoiding rock outcroppings. Class 2.
View back up at the final bit of descent from Peak 4430 after avoiding rock outcroppings. Class 2.

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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!