Heliograph Peak in Coronado National Forest, AZ

Hike Heliograph Peak Coronado National Forest, AZ

Class 1 3.4 miles 1100 gain 1-2 hr Loop Jun 1, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Heliograph Peak GPX Track

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Heliograph Peak is another Arizona 10,000 foot peak just south of Mount Graham. Matt and I decided we'd attempt the loop route, which includes following a trail to the summit and then heads down on a dirt road back to the trailhead. We knew it might be a bit of a bushwhack, but it ended up being a bit more than we were excited for. Regardless, I thought the trail was pretty enough to warrant the brush, though Matt might disagree with me.

The Shannon Camground was closed due to COVID, so the official trailhead was accessible only by walk-in. We parked at a small parking area just off the main road, I suppose what would be the official trailhead for the Heliograph Peak standard road walk. We headed past the Shannon Campground gate and to the back of the Shannon Campground where we located a trailhead kiosk and followed the Arcadia Trail. At first the trail was a great and inviting stroll with really amazing views to the east. Then we got some brush and eventually we lost the trail completely. The bushhacking wasn't bad, but our hopes were dashed since we were excited to be on a nice trail at the beginning. Eventually we found the trail again (I marked the crap area on my map attached) and followed it south as it followed along a stunning ridgeline. Most maps we looked at (including the official one posted at the trailhead) made the trail appear to continue south along the ridge and up to the summit, but to our surprise, there was no trail at all, but a cairned and well-defined enough trail continued directly west instead. We were baffled, but followed it anyway. The brush encroached enough to be annoying, but not enough for us to consider it awful. However, when the trail was 100 feet from the forest road, we left the trail and just got onto the road rather than suffer on a basically no longer existing trail – it just wasn't worth the extra effort. I marked this spot in pink on my attached map. The dirt road took us to the summit lookout tower, where we enjoyed some mediocre views before heading back down on the road.

I don't know that I'd recommend the trail at this point except for the first quarter mile or so.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Eagle Rock
9360 ft
n/a rise
2
Heliograph Peak
10022 ft
956 rise

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Trailhead within Shannon Campground. We started along the Arcadia Trail.
Trailhead within Shannon Campground. We started along the Arcadia Trail.
Very nice trail at first!
Very nice trail at first!
Really cool views to the east.
Really cool views to the east.
Looking back along the Arcadia Trail, the Shannon Campground behind Matt somewhere.
Looking back along the Arcadia Trail, the Shannon Campground behind Matt somewhere.
Image 4 from gallery
Entering a burned area as the trail winds along the slopes.
Entering a burned area as the trail winds along the slopes.
Looking back again.
Looking back again.
The trail basically disappeared after a while.
The trail basically disappeared after a while.
Somehow, we relocated the trail, which was only faint.
Somehow, we relocated the trail, which was only faint.
The Arcadia Trail crests a minor ridge and continues southeast. The Heliograph Peak Trail heads south.
The Arcadia Trail crests a minor ridge and continues southeast. The Heliograph Peak Trail heads south.
Looking back toward the junction of the trails The route came up and over the ridge on the left.
Looking back toward the junction of the trails The route came up and over the ridge on the left.
Continuing South, the slopes of Heliograph Peak visible in the center.
Continuing South, the slopes of Heliograph Peak visible in the center.
Heliograph Peak ahead somewhere.
Heliograph Peak ahead somewhere.
The trail turns west and continues slowly ascending.
The trail turns west and continues slowly ascending.
The trail is mostly okay, but definitely brushy. At a certain point, we were sick of it and dropped down to the forest road (standard route) to get to Heliograph Peak, since it was right next to us.
The trail is mostly okay, but definitely brushy. At a certain point, we were sick of it and dropped down to the forest road (standard route) to get to Heliograph Peak, since it was right next to us.
Along the standard road walk to Heliograph Peak.
Along the standard road walk to Heliograph Peak.
Looking back, Mount Graham visible above Matt's head.
Looking back, Mount Graham visible above Matt's head.
Heliograph Peak summit ahead.
Heliograph Peak summit ahead.
Heliograph Peak summit, view north toward Mount Graham.
Heliograph Peak summit, view north toward Mount Graham.
Heliograph Peak summit, view east.
Heliograph Peak summit, view east.
Heading back down on the standard road walk. Although I didn't enjoy the bushwhacking, in some ways it was a lot more fun than just walking a dumb road.
Heading back down on the standard road walk. Although I didn't enjoy the bushwhacking, in some ways it was a lot more fun than just walking a dumb road.

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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!