Hike Robinson Mountain, O’Leary Peak, Darton Dome Loop Coconino National Forest, AZ

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Robinson Mountain, O’Leary Peak, Darton Dome Loop GPX Track

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The hike to O'Leary Peak is a popular walk along a dirt road used also by official vehicles to access the O'Leary lookout tower. I really wasn't excited to hike up a dirt road, so I planned a potential loop route that would descend on the standard road hike, but ascend using the ridge between O'Leary Peak and its neighbor, Robinson Mountain. This resulted in the route becoming a favorite in the Flagstaff area.

Starting from the O'Leary Trailhead, I headed north through the O'Leary Campground and then walked through conifer forest, intending to beeline to the summit of Robinson Mountain. As I started to ascend the steep slope, I ran into an old mining road which led me to a scar in the face of the slope, which I assume is the remains of some old mine. From here, I slogged up the steep remainder of the slope to the summit of Robinson Mountain. The last few hundred feet surprised me with some incredible views toward Humphreys Peak. The ridge leading down from Robinson crossed a dirt road and then started to ascend the mellow southern slopes of O'Leary Peak. It was an uneventful, but pleasant ridge. The pleasantness left as the slope steepened and became a terrible slog up cinder, two steps up and one step back. It was slow moving enough that I added in a purple dotted line on my map with the route I would recommend taking rather than following mine to the summit.

Once on the summit of O'Leary, a very obvious social trail leads to the dirt road that authorized cars use to get up to the lookout tower. I followed it to the lookout tower, which was closed due to COVID, of course. I was now along the standard route and could take this all the way back to the trailhead. Despite being a boring road walk, the views down were nice and Humphreys Peak looked quite impressive.

I left the road for a jaunt up Darton Dome, just off the road. This was a short slope with no trail and the summit had obscured views.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Robinson Mountain

7911 ft

211 rise

O'Leary Peak

8938 ft

1778 rise

O'Leary Peak Lookout

8916 ft

156 rise

Darton Dome

8408 ft

308 rise

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Just past the O'Leary Campground, headed through forest off-trail toward Robinson Mountain.

I stumbled on an old mining road as I ascended to Robinson Mountain.

Looking back along the mining road - my car is somewhere in the trees on the left at the O'Leary Trailhead.

The mining road leads to this scar. I continued to the left to get above it and onward to Robinson Mountain.

Steep to Robinson Mountain.

Along the southwest slope headed up to Mount Robinson, some nice views toward Humphreys Peak.

Robinson Mountain, view north toward O'Leary Peak (left) and Darton Dome (right).

Looking back toward Robinson Mountain as I descend its north ridge.

I ended up on this dirt road about halfway down from Robinson Mountain, which brought me to the saddle of Robinson and O'Leary.

Leaving the dirt road to head up to O'Leary Peak.

Looking back toward Humpreys Peak.

The terrain becomes very steep.

Looking back while hiking up the sloggy cinder.

Very steep. Not quite fun, but not... not fun?

Another shot back down my steep ascent. I recommend taking the alternative route I added to my attached map.

A shot toward the slope so you can see its steepness. It's loose, too.

Summit of O'Leary Mountain, view toward O'Leary lookout tower. I headed down to the saddle between the two on a social trail.

Headed up to O'Leary lookout tower.

O'Leary lookout tower (well, not the tower - it was closed due to COVID), view toward Humphreys Peak.

Continuing down the standard hike on the access road.

Darton Dome visible ahead. It was a nice break from the road walk.

On the way up Darton Dome's west slope, no trails. O'Leary lookout tower visible center.

Almost to the summit of Darton Dome.

Darton Dome, view toward Humphreys Peak.

Back on the dirt road, continuing my descent back to the trailhead.

View back toward O'Leary Peak (center), O'Leary lookout (right of center), and Darton Dome (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!