Sawtooth Mountains and Submarine Rock in Ironwood Forest National Monument, AZ

Hike Sawtooth Mountains and Submarine Rock Ironwood Forest National Monument, AZ

Class 3 6.9 miles 3400 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Jan 25, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Matt and I have been excited to check out the Sawtooth Mountains south of Phoenix for too long, so we anticipated a wild time. Ultimately more tame than we expected, he dubbed the scenic and craggy cluster of peaks "impressive cuties". There's much fun to be had in the area, but we managed to see everything we wanted to in only a day when we originally expected we'd need two. Shawn and Karson flew down to play in the desert, and the four of us embarked on a week of debauchery, composed of raves, tickle fights, and, most importantly, scrambly desert summit routes.

This loop reaches the Sawtooth Mountains High Point first, tacks on three lesser lumps, and finishes with Submarine Rock. To reach the trailhead, navigate to this turn-off (32.56465, -111.73709) and head north. The road is suitable for Crossover SUVs or better, though we arrived just after it had rained and the road was initially a flooded mess that made me hesitate. We set out on foot along a poor road, leaving it shortly after to ascend a cactus-filled slope to reach a saddle on the south side of the Sawtooth Mountains High Point. It made the most sense not to gain the ridge proper since it featured a significant lump, and side-hilling wasn't notably poor through the tall grasses and rocky terrain. We passed some old debris likely left from border-crossers, including a frying pan, clothes, and a backpack that we chose not to inspect more closely.

After side-hilling fully around the lump, we reached the southern ridge of the Sawtooth Mountains High Point, and it was tempting to just head directly north to it, but a huge notch would prevent access. Instead, we followed some white spray-painted arrows up a Class 2/2+ bit of terrain, and then we wrapped around beneath the crest. The high point came into view, as did a clearly straightforward route. The arrows didn't point that way; instead, they led to a notch on the south side of the peak, which features a natural arch and a Class 4 scramble route. Going this way is much more direct but far more exposed and dangerous. Instead, I left my foolhardy friends and continued side-hilling past the notch option and over to a more tame Class 3 scramble route. It was good fun, though short-lived. A series of slabs, ribs, and a small chute wrapped me to the north side of the summit. A grassy slope brought me to the impressive eastern cliff overlooking the desert floor below. Now on the rim of this cliff, I pulled a Class 3 move to gain the summit while I watched as my friends made their way up their Class 4 route choice. I decided to check this way out on the way down and decided I wasn't interested in the unnecessary exposure.

Shawn and Karson, less excited about hiking a quantity of peaks and preferring to save their legs, decided to birdwatch while Matt and I formed a larger loop that included the less-interesting summits Peak 2334, Peak 2467, and Peak 2473 before we planned to meet them later on Submarine Rock. Off the pair of us went down the west slopes of the Sawtooth Mountains High Point, navigating the lumpy terrain, avoiding a couple of dryfalls, and enjoying the warm temperature after weeks overcast in the desert.

An ATV trail runs through this part of the Sawtooth Mountains, including wrapping just below Peak 2334, so reaching these minor summits can be done more easily with a motorized vehicle, but we only had our feet and enjoyed the ease that came with using the ATV trail when it showed up. We left the doubletrack to ascend the steep and heavily cactus-covered slope, lots of hidden embedded rocks adding surprise looseness that more than once almost sent us each tumbling into a prickly plant. The summit of Peak 2334 wasn't notable except that it gave us a nice view toward the peaks along the loop, so we just continued south down the not super fun slope and rejoined the ATV trail for a bit.

The west slope of Peak 2467 was trivial except for one small cliff band we wrapped around, but every other aspect surrounding this peak has a significant and unforgiving cliff. After reaching the summit, we realized in order to get down and reach Peak 2473, we had to backtrack a bit and descend via a cholla-covered slope to reach the ATV trail below to the south. Once here, we followed it to a saddle higher up and continued south to Peak 2473. Avoiding little rocky bits, the slope was straightforward until the top where we pulled a Class 2+/3 move over a small cliff band to gain the summit.

After backtracking from Peak 2473 to the saddle, we then followed an animal trail north until it petered out, wrapping around Peak 2467 until Submarine Rock came into view. We spotted our friends on the sub-peak along the west ridge and headed directly toward it. The aim was to get above a lower cliff band and ascend along a scree slope beneath the upper cliff band. We might have been able to make this easier by wrapping all the way around, but this was more direct and wasn't horribly unpleasant. We reached a Class 2 weakness on the northwest side of the extended Submarine Rock ridgeline, scrambling up a steep gully and then continuing on somewhat loose rock until reaching the false summit we'd seen our friends on earlier. From here we needed to descend to a saddle before the final scrambling ascent to the summit. It was all good fun, never exceeding Class 3 and not feeling particularly exposed.

We enjoyed the sunset before starting back. Shawn found an alternative descent option from the saddle, a Class 4 chimney where stemming was required. This was a fun addition to the route, though it can be avoided by instead backtracking the whole way along the west ridge and wrapping around the entire peak. Either way, it's a standard desert slope descent back to the trailhead, though the dying light allowed a foot-high drop the opportunity to give Matt a little tumble.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Sawtooth Mountains High Point
2630 ft
1020 rise
2
Peak 2334
2334 ft
414 rise
3
Peak 2467
2467 ft
407 rise
4
Peak 2473
2473 ft
473 rise
5
Submarine Rock
2614 ft
554 rise

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Hiking along an old road for a short time before heading through the desert to the saddle seen right of center.
Hiking along an old road for a short time before heading through the desert to the saddle seen right of center.
Prickly, rocky terrain on the ascent.
Prickly, rocky terrain on the ascent.
Headed north toward Sawtooth Mountains High Point, avoiding a lump along the way.
Headed north toward Sawtooth Mountains High Point, avoiding a lump along the way.
Side-hilling a bit to wrap around a significant bump.
Side-hilling a bit to wrap around a significant bump.
We reached the ridge, where we started ascending more earnestly on Class 2/2+. There were white arrows spray-painted, though they become misleading.
We reached the ridge, where we started ascending more earnestly on Class 2/2+. There were white arrows spray-painted, though they become misleading.
View back toward the side-hilling we'd just finished.
View back toward the side-hilling we'd just finished.
Another shot back, Submarine Rock seen top right.
Another shot back, Submarine Rock seen top right.
Sawtooth Mountains High Point seen center. The Class 3 route leads left on the tamer terrain, but a Class 4 exposed route goes up the notch indicated by a shadow seen center. The white arrows lead to the notch, but I recommend keeping to the safer route option.
Sawtooth Mountains High Point seen center. The Class 3 route leads left on the tamer terrain, but a Class 4 exposed route goes up the notch indicated by a shadow seen center. The white arrows lead to the notch, but I recommend keeping to the safer route option.
Class 3.
Class 3.
View back toward the side-hill I just did, and the sketchy notch route (left) where my friends went.
View back toward the side-hill I just did, and the sketchy notch route (left) where my friends went.
More fun Class 3.
More fun Class 3.
Cairns assist through the somewhat tricky terrain.
Cairns assist through the somewhat tricky terrain.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Class 3 move to gain the crest.
Class 3 move to gain the crest.
Sawtooth Mountains High Point summit, view toward Submarine Rock.
Sawtooth Mountains High Point summit, view toward Submarine Rock.
Just a quick shot of Matt on the sketchy Class 4 notch route option. I chose not to do it and returned the way I came.
Just a quick shot of Matt on the sketchy Class 4 notch route option. I chose not to do it and returned the way I came.
Onward to some lumps before Submarine Rock as the finale. Peak 2334 seen on the right, our first one. Matt and I descended slopes and washes until reaching its base.
Onward to some lumps before Submarine Rock as the finale. Peak 2334 seen on the right, our first one. Matt and I descended slopes and washes until reaching its base.
Peak 2334 ahead.
Peak 2334 ahead.
Short hike on an ATV road at the base of Peak 2334.
Short hike on an ATV road at the base of Peak 2334.
Typical cactus-filled terrain up to Peak 2334.
Typical cactus-filled terrain up to Peak 2334.
View back, Sawtooth Mountains HP seen left, Submarine Rock center, and Peak 2467 right (our next one).
View back, Sawtooth Mountains HP seen left, Submarine Rock center, and Peak 2467 right (our next one).
Close-up toward Submarine Rock (left) and Peak 2467 (right). Peak 2473 behind it (our fourth peak of the loop).
Close-up toward Submarine Rock (left) and Peak 2467 (right). Peak 2473 behind it (our fourth peak of the loop).
Onward to Peak 2467, a pretty straightforward walk up its west slope.
Onward to Peak 2467, a pretty straightforward walk up its west slope.
Peak 2467 summit, view toward Submarine Rock and Sawtooth Mountains HP.
Peak 2467 summit, view toward Submarine Rock and Sawtooth Mountains HP.
We dropped off Peak 2467's south ridge to go grab Peak 2473 first, seen ahead.
We dropped off Peak 2467's south ridge to go grab Peak 2473 first, seen ahead.
Descending the cactus-filled slope of Peak 2467.
Descending the cactus-filled slope of Peak 2467.
A short hike on an ATV road. Cool cliffs surrounding Peak 2467 seen left.
A short hike on an ATV road. Cool cliffs surrounding Peak 2467 seen left.
Ascending Peak 2473.
Ascending Peak 2473.
Some Class 2, but mostly just a steep hike.
Some Class 2, but mostly just a steep hike.
Class 2+/3 move just below the summit of Peak 2473. Submarine Rock seen top right.
Class 2+/3 move just below the summit of Peak 2473. Submarine Rock seen top right.
We backtracked and followed an animal trail north toward Submarine Rock.
We backtracked and followed an animal trail north toward Submarine Rock.
Approaching Submarine Rock. We headed directly toward it above a minor cliff band, and slogged along some loose scree beneath its more significant upper cliff.
Approaching Submarine Rock. We headed directly toward it above a minor cliff band, and slogged along some loose scree beneath its more significant upper cliff.
View back, Peak 2467 seen right, Peak 2473 left.
View back, Peak 2467 seen right, Peak 2473 left.
Class 2 initially up Submarine Rock's west ridge. It's a bit steep and loose, but has some pleasant scrambling.
Class 2 initially up Submarine Rock's west ridge. It's a bit steep and loose, but has some pleasant scrambling.
Submarine Rock ahead. A short descent to its saddle went Class 2.
Submarine Rock ahead. A short descent to its saddle went Class 2.
Class 3 from the saddle.
Class 3 from the saddle.
Fun Class 2/3 to the summit.
Fun Class 2/3 to the summit.
View back from the summit of Submarine Rock.
View back from the summit of Submarine Rock.
View toward Sawtooth Mountains HP (center) and Sawtooth Spire (right).
View toward Sawtooth Mountains HP (center) and Sawtooth Spire (right).
Submarine Rock at sunset.
Submarine Rock at sunset.
We descended from the saddle using a Class 4 chimney.
We descended from the saddle using a Class 4 chimney.
View back up the Class 4 chimney.
View back up the Class 4 chimney.

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