Harquahala Mountain in Harquahala Mountains Wilderness, AZ

Hike Harquahala Mountain Harquahala Mountains Wilderness, AZ

Class 1 10.1 miles 3400 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Oct 13, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Harquahala Mountain GPX Track

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Harquahala Mountain is a big desert peak far west of Phoenix. It's remote enough that the fact there is a trail leading the whole way to the summit seems really odd to me, but I was happy to learn of its existence and the fact that its quality was excellent. To reach the trailhead, turn-off here from AZ-60 (33.86855, -113.39795), enter through the gate (closing it behind you) and head along the obvious dirt road for a few miles. There are a few sections where the road dips enough through washes that a sedan likely couldn't make it, but otherwise it was a very good road overall.

The trail begins by leading southeast up an alluvial fan for a few miles on the remains of an old road through mostly boring and typical desert scenery. After reaching some old mining remains the road turns into a trail and ascends the rest of the way to the base of Harquahala Mountain. The rest of the hike is very enjoyable. Once the trail wraps around the west ridge of Harquahala Mountain, the summit towers come into view. Oh yeah, you could also drive to the summit if you would prefer to skip the trail (ew).

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Harquahala Mountain
5681 ft
3461 rise

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Harquahala Mountain Trailhead. The peak is visible left of center.
Harquahala Mountain Trailhead. The peak is visible left of center.
Passing some old mining ruins.
Passing some old mining ruins.
The road becomes a trail and continues slowly ascending.
The road becomes a trail and continues slowly ascending.
View back, already a few miles into the hike.
View back, already a few miles into the hike.
Passing a dug-out portion of mine.
Passing a dug-out portion of mine.
View back toward an old mine.
View back toward an old mine.
Harquahala Mountain visible ahead.
Harquahala Mountain visible ahead.
Image 7 from gallery
The trail begins to ascend out of the wash and up onto Harquahala Mountain's slopes.
The trail begins to ascend out of the wash and up onto Harquahala Mountain's slopes.
Image 9 from gallery
View back.
View back.
Ascending along the great trail.
Ascending along the great trail.
The trail wraps around to the other side of the drainage as it ascends.
The trail wraps around to the other side of the drainage as it ascends.
View back.
View back.
Progress up the slope.
Progress up the slope.
View back, you can see the trail from earlier in the center.
View back, you can see the trail from earlier in the center.
Close-up back along the trail.
Close-up back along the trail.
Winding along the northwestern slopes of Harquahala Mountain.
Winding along the northwestern slopes of Harquahala Mountain.
View back again.
View back again.
An old mining cabin or something, this sign was too degraded to read.
An old mining cabin or something, this sign was too degraded to read.
Continuing to wrap around to the west side of Harquahala Mountain. The trail leads to the low point on the ridgeline above, center.
Continuing to wrap around to the west side of Harquahala Mountain. The trail leads to the low point on the ridgeline above, center.
Some tight switchbacks.
Some tight switchbacks.
View back from below the ridge.
View back from below the ridge.
Approaching the ridge.
Approaching the ridge.
At the ridge, view up toward Harquahala Mountain. You can also see the service road which leads to the summit.
At the ridge, view up toward Harquahala Mountain. You can also see the service road which leads to the summit.
View back toward the low point on the ridge I came up from.
View back toward the low point on the ridge I came up from.
Harquahala Mountain ahead.
Harquahala Mountain ahead.
Just below the summit, a view back at a marker that points to the trail.
Just below the summit, a view back at a marker that points to the trail.
Final bit to the summit of Harquahala Mountain.
Final bit to the summit of Harquahala Mountain.
Harquahala Mountain, view southeast.
Harquahala Mountain, view southeast.
Harquahala Mountain, view southwest. The trail came up from the low point on the ridge in the center.
Harquahala Mountain, view southwest. The trail came up from the low point on the ridge in the center.

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!