Saddle Mountain in Saddle Mountain BLM, AZ

Hike Saddle Mountain Saddle Mountain BLM, AZ

Class 2 3.6 miles 1600 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Mar 9, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Saddle Mountain GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Saddle Mountain is a big mountain poking out from the flat surrounding Arizona desert. The northern base of Saddle Mountain is a surprisingly popular area for campers and ATVers. To reach the trailhead, head south here (33.46466392, -113.036587) and drive to the road's end. The road is a bit rocky, but fine for any vehicle. If not, it's only a mile along this road so just walk it.

An obvious trail starts southeast and then turns south, leading to a break in the cliffy north side of Saddle Mountain. The trail then becomes slightly less easy to follow as it starts to ascend the peak, but the route has cairns to help guide the way. There are a lot of small cliff bands that the trail weaves around as it makes its way up the slope and to a weakness on Saddle Mountain's east ridge. There wasn't any tricky route-finding, but there were some short Class 2 moves along the way, including a Class 2 slab. Once we made our way along the east ridge, we kept to the rim and made out way to the mountain's cliff-guarded summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Saddle Mountain
3037 ft
1777 rise

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!

Saddle Mountain visible from the trailhead. The trail leads to the center of this photo before ascending.
Saddle Mountain visible from the trailhead. The trail leads to the center of this photo before ascending.
At the northern base of Saddle Mountain. The social trail is still pretty easy to follow.
At the northern base of Saddle Mountain. The social trail is still pretty easy to follow.
Starting up the north slope, the trail avoiding all the little cliff bands you see above.
Starting up the north slope, the trail avoiding all the little cliff bands you see above.
Image 3 from gallery
Making our way up the north slope.
Making our way up the north slope.
Image 5 from gallery
View back at our progress.
View back at our progress.
Some Class 2 moves as you get higher.
Some Class 2 moves as you get higher.
A Class 2 slab section.
A Class 2 slab section.
The trail starts to deteriorate, but there are cairns and the slope is easy to follow west to the summit.
The trail starts to deteriorate, but there are cairns and the slope is easy to follow west to the summit.
Looking back east down the ridge.
Looking back east down the ridge.
Great view south of the saddle that Saddle Mountain is named for.
Great view south of the saddle that Saddle Mountain is named for.
Following the rim to the summit.
Following the rim to the summit.
Saddle Mountain summit looking north.
Saddle Mountain summit looking north.
Saddle Mountain summit looking south toward its lower, unnamed neighboring peak across the saddle.
Saddle Mountain summit looking south toward its lower, unnamed neighboring peak across the saddle.

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!