Mount Graham in Coronado National Forest, AZ

Hike Mount Graham Coronado National Forest, AZ

Class 1 9.8 miles 1700 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Jun 1, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Graham GPX Track

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The road leading to Mount Graham outlined on Google Maps is slightly misaligned, hence the orange line on my attached map being a tiny ibt off (I think this is true, since my GPS track lined up with the satelite imagery, just not the white line on terrain mode), but it's clear enough that the road leads easily to the summit. We parked at the head of a forest road, at an official trailhead for an unrelated trail. It seems like many people take a bushwhacky trail to the west of our start point. We weren't feeling any of that nonsense, and depsite my general distate for hiking roads, Matt and I both agreed just following the road would suit us fine. Additionally, the aforementioned crap trail eventually led to the road we were on anyway. Not much to write about the ascent since it just follows an obivous road the whole way to just below the summit. A short, easy bushwhack leads to the true summit. We were surprised at how gorgeous the views were for the second half of the hike. The road left the forest and the slopes of Mount Graham opened into wide meadows and expansive views of the surrounding Arizona desert below.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Graham
10720 ft
6320 rise

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Starting past the locked gate along the road that would serve as the Mount Graham route.
Starting past the locked gate along the road that would serve as the Mount Graham route.
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The road emerges from the trees after a boring forested road walk.
The road emerges from the trees after a boring forested road walk.
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The views got nicer, and my spirits rose for the hike.
The views got nicer, and my spirits rose for the hike.
The road starts to get a bit less well-maintained and it helped the hike feel more of a hike than a road walk.
The road starts to get a bit less well-maintained and it helped the hike feel more of a hike than a road walk.
Nice meadows.
Nice meadows.
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Looking back (southwest).
Looking back (southwest).
The road becomes less
The road becomes less
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Heliograph Peak visible on the left.
Heliograph Peak visible on the left.
View back Close-up back toward the road after a hairpin turn, 2/3 of the way up.
View back Close-up back toward the road after a hairpin turn, 2/3 of the way up.
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Looking back as we continue to Mount Graham.
Looking back as we continue to Mount Graham.
Just below the summit, we had to leave the trail (which had ended) to get to the high point, just ahead.
Just below the summit, we had to leave the trail (which had ended) to get to the high point, just ahead.
Just below the high point, at the end of the road, a view looking east (Heliograph Peak visible far right).
Just below the high point, at the end of the road, a view looking east (Heliograph Peak visible far right).

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!