Mescal Mountain and Deadman’s Peak (Peak 6027) in Coconino National Forest, AZ

Hike Mescal Mountain and Deadman’s Peak (Peak 6027) Coconino National Forest, AZ

Class 3 6.9 miles 2200 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Oct 29, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mescal Mountain and Deadman’s Peak (Peak 6027) GPX Track

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This route visits some fun destinations in Sedona and reaches a gorgeous summit with some cool scrambling, visiting the Birthing Cave, some ruins, Mescal Mountain, and Deadman's Peak (Peak 6027). I set out from the popular Long Canyon Trailhead, just an old dirt road for the first half mile or so. I kept left at a junction that leads away from the Long Canyon Trail and over to the popular Birthing Cave attraction. I took the little spur trail to reach the cave where I almost couldn't help but laugh at someone posing for a photo in typical Instagram-style. The cave itself is underwhelming, just a depression in the wall. Apparently there's some debate as to why it's called the Birthing Cave, but I didn't care all that much and just wanted to escape the crowds. I continued along the trail to some ruins housed under an overhanging rock ledge. I love how you can casually stumble on some historic Indigeonous remains all over the place in Sedona, and it's great that people seem to pretty universally respect them. Some Class 2 got me above the ruins and to the flat ridge above.

I was now just north of Mescal Mountain, my first peak. I could see cliffs surrounding the mesatop, so I started up the slope toward them. I'd read that there was a Class 3 route to reach the summit, but I wasn't expecting a social trail the whole way. I was happy this was the case since the brush would be a little annoying otherwise. The trail ascended a bit below the cliffs before reaching their base and then used a little tunnel through the manzanitas. Shortly after reaching the cliffs, a sloped and well-featured ramp served as the Class 3 move. At the top of this move, I kept left and continued on Class 2 to gain the mesatop. It was a trail-less jaunt to the high point from here. I took some time to enjoy the view to the north, realizing what I was seeing would be my next peak for the day.

I'm taking the liberty to provisonally name Peak 6027 Deadman's Peak since Deadman's Pass is located just to its southeast, and because a known canyoneering route called Deadman's Descent leads off the peak's south side. It just seemed like a responsible name, and it's an excellent summit that deserves to not only be a number. I originally planned to backtrack to the Long Canyon Trail to reach the peak, but instead I headed along the trailing ridge on the northeast side of Mescal Mountain, which had a social trail that was pretty easy to follow along its length. This sure beat backtracking, so I was happy I made this decision. At the northern end of this thin ridge, a Class 2 move dropped through a weakness in the small cliff, and the social trail sort of seemed to dissipate past here. I descended the mostly open slope to reach the Deadman's Pass Trail.

Deadman's Pass Peak is almost completely surrounded by impossible sandstone faces, but it has a curved, long finger on its southeast side. The route wraps around the east side of this finger before using an unlikely ramp system that serves as the key to reaching the summit. From below, I kind of couldn't imagine there was a way up, but my friend Matt who'd done it earlier this year assured me via text that it would go. After only a short time on the trail, I headed northwest toward a significant cluster of rock pinnacles at the end of the long finger, using what started out as an excellent social trail. There seem to be multiple social trail options, but none are great and I found myself bushwhacking a teeny bit once in a while. After about 400 feet of vertical gain up the slope, the terrain leveled out and I was still well below the cliffs of the finger on a wide bench. Using a combination of social trail, slickrock, and light bushwhacking I made my way to the base of the seam where the finger joins with the bigger lump that hosts the summit. I saw a series of ledges and ramps, vegetation hinting that this would be the most likely route option. I headed to the base of the cliff toward a wide water-stained overhang. I hugged the wall's face and ascended Class 2 boulders before reaching the start of a ramp. Class 3 led up this steep, humpy ramp characterized by rock ribs and gullies separating the ribs. I seemed to prefer using the gullies over the ribs, keeping close to the sheer face on the left. While the exposure was minimal, the ramp continues for about a hundred feet, so the drop starts to feel a bit daunting. At the top of the ramp there was a Class 3+ move up a short chute and I was standing on flat slickrock sandstone back in the sunlight and just east of Deadman's Peak.

The summit was still a bit away, but I could sketch my route from here and knew there wouldn't be anything problematic. There's a ridge that extends from the summit to above where I was standing, but I don't believe this is a viable option. Instead, I began contouring, following a light social trail leading beneath the aforementioned ridge and around the southeast side of the summit dome. The views during this section were incredible: a curved, massive amphitheater of rounded sandstone plummeting to the desert floor below. I passed over the drainage known to canyoneers as Deadman's Descent. A canyoneer myself, I took a peek at the route to see what I might be missing out on. It looks more like a series of stunt rappels than a true technical canyon if you ask me, but hey, I'm not one to kink shame!

Still contouring, I made my way on slickrock to the southern slope of the summit dome. I headed up the final 600 feet or so, the route pleasant and mostly cactus-free. I encountered some Class 2/2+ and a short couple of sections where it was necessary to navigate around minor rock outcrops. Even if you do a poor job navigating, you still shouldn't encounter anything exceeding Class 3 all the way to the summit. The views were immense.

On the way back, I did a worse job at navigating around the long finger, constantly losing the social trails and bushwhacking a lot more. I kept only my ascent route on my attached map, but I think it's safe to say there's not a "best" option to ascend around the finger. I backtracked to the Deadman's Pass Trail and took it to the Long Canyon Trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mescal Mountain
5047 ft
327 rise

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Long Canyon Trailhead. You can see Deadman's Peak poking out in the center.
Long Canyon Trailhead. You can see Deadman's Peak poking out in the center.
Along the Long Canyon Trail. Mescal Mountain seen top left.
Along the Long Canyon Trail. Mescal Mountain seen top left.
Birthing Cave seen center.
Birthing Cave seen center.
View from within the Birthing Cave. It's been photographed enough that I didn't feel inclined to get too creative.
View from within the Birthing Cave. It's been photographed enough that I didn't feel inclined to get too creative.
Along the social trail to reach some ruins, the flat ridge of Mescal Mountain seen ahead.
Along the social trail to reach some ruins, the flat ridge of Mescal Mountain seen ahead.
Ruins.
Ruins.
On the flat ridge, view south toward Mescal Mountain.
On the flat ridge, view south toward Mescal Mountain.
Social trail leading up to the cliff band surrounding Mescal Mountain.
Social trail leading up to the cliff band surrounding Mescal Mountain.
Class 3 textured ramp move. I came from the right in this photo.
Class 3 textured ramp move. I came from the right in this photo.
View down at the Class 3 move.
View down at the Class 3 move.
Past the Class 3 move, I headed left and continued on Class 2 terrain.
Past the Class 3 move, I headed left and continued on Class 2 terrain.
Above the scrambling, now on the mesatop. I headed to the summit, but couldn't locate any discernable social trail to get there.
Above the scrambling, now on the mesatop. I headed to the summit, but couldn't locate any discernable social trail to get there.
Mescal Mountain summit, view south toward Bear Mountain, Doe Mountain, and The Coxcomb.
Mescal Mountain summit, view south toward Bear Mountain, Doe Mountain, and The Coxcomb.
View east toward Capitol Butte.
View east toward Capitol Butte.
View toward Deadman's Peak and the amazing amphitheater on its south side.
View toward Deadman's Peak and the amazing amphitheater on its south side.
Along the trailing ridge north of Mescal Mountain.
Along the trailing ridge north of Mescal Mountain.
Class 2 weakness to get off the trailing ridge and make my way down to the Deadman's Pass Trail.
Class 2 weakness to get off the trailing ridge and make my way down to the Deadman's Pass Trail.
After a short time on the trail, I left it to head up this slope. Those pinnacles ahead mark the end of the long finger ridge of Deadman's Peak.
After a short time on the trail, I left it to head up this slope. Those pinnacles ahead mark the end of the long finger ridge of Deadman's Peak.
Mostly off-trail (some sporadic social trails) lead up the slope.
Mostly off-trail (some sporadic social trails) lead up the slope.
View back down the slope. You can see the trailing ridge from Mescal Mountain I just came down from in the center.
View back down the slope. You can see the trailing ridge from Mescal Mountain I just came down from in the center.
Some bushwhacking (nothing too bad) along the base of the long finger ridge.
Some bushwhacking (nothing too bad) along the base of the long finger ridge.
View back.
View back.
Hiking along a wide bench to the east of the long finger. Often there was slickrock to break up the brush.
Hiking along a wide bench to the east of the long finger. Often there was slickrock to break up the brush.
The route up a weakness to access the peak. I headed to the water-stained overhang on the left.
The route up a weakness to access the peak. I headed to the water-stained overhang on the left.
Almost beneath the water-stained overhang. I hugged the wall from there.
Almost beneath the water-stained overhang. I hugged the wall from there.
View back from below the overhang.
View back from below the overhang.
Hugging the wall, Class 2 boulders.
Hugging the wall, Class 2 boulders.
Class 3 up the ramp using a series of gullies and rock ribs.
Class 3 up the ramp using a series of gullies and rock ribs.
View down the ramp/gully.
View down the ramp/gully.
Higher up, another shot back down.
Higher up, another shot back down.
Wider shot back down. You can see the bench I hiked along in the center.
Wider shot back down. You can see the bench I hiked along in the center.
Some slabby stuff, but nothing exceeding Class 3.
Some slabby stuff, but nothing exceeding Class 3.
Class 3+ move to gain the top.
Class 3+ move to gain the top.
View back down the Class 3+ move and the ramp system I just came up.
View back down the Class 3+ move and the ramp system I just came up.
Above the Class 3+ move, a view toward Deadman's Peak. There's a ridge out of frame on the top right, but I don't think that way works to access the summit. Instead, I contoured here along the top of the sandstone drop using a social trail.
Above the Class 3+ move, a view toward Deadman's Peak. There's a ridge out of frame on the top right, but I don't think that way works to access the summit. Instead, I contoured here along the top of the sandstone drop using a social trail.
Contouring above the drop.
Contouring above the drop.
View back.
View back.
Image 37 from gallery
View back from the canyoneering route known as Deadman's Descent. Holy moly what a view.
View back from the canyoneering route known as Deadman's Descent. Holy moly what a view.
Continuing around the amphitheater.
Continuing around the amphitheater.
View back at the walk along the top of the sandstone drop.
View back at the walk along the top of the sandstone drop.
A nice little puddle just before starting up the south slope.
A nice little puddle just before starting up the south slope.
Class 2/2+ from here to the summit.
Class 2/2+ from here to the summit.
View back down the south slope.
View back down the south slope.
Ascending the slope.
Ascending the slope.
View down toward the amphitheater.
View down toward the amphitheater.
Nearing the summit of Deadman's Peak.
Nearing the summit of Deadman's Peak.
Deadman's Peak summit, view east.
Deadman's Peak summit, view east.
View north.
View north.
View west toward Boynton Canyon.
View west toward Boynton Canyon.

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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!