Hike Signal Mountain Signal Mountain Wilderness, AZ

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This Signal Mountain is southwest of Phoenix, not to be confused with the more popular Signal Peak in the Kofas. To reach the trailhead, navigate here (33.25495, -112.88906) and continue southwest on Agua Caliente Road, which turns into Woolsey Wash Road. It's overall a decent road and a Crossover vehicle can make it to the trailhead. We parked just off the road and headed west through the open desert. We headed up to a minor saddle on the south side of a volcanic peak (Peak 1689), which we bagged on the way back, but I didn't include in this trip report.

Past the minor saddle on the south side of the unnamed volcanic peak, we continued west and after navigating some minor hills and arroyos, we decided to start up the closest ridge. The minor gullies surrounding our ridge choice were choked with brush, so the high route seemed the best way to go. A bit of minor ups and downs along the eastern ridge of Signal Mountain's foothills led us to a lightly-colored gendarme of sorts. Realizing it blocked farther access along the ridge, we dropped to its left and kept below its southern cliffs on loose terrain. We began ascending the steep and loose kitty-litter terrain beneath the gendarme, making our way to the east face of Signal Mountain. The peak looked formidable from here, but it was just a matter of wrapping around the base of the peak on Class 2/3 terrain to gain its southeast ridge. Once on the ridge, a fun Class 3 gully brought us most of the way up the ridgeline and to easier terrain leading to the summit ridge. Class 2 led to the summit on the north end.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Signal Mountain

2082 ft

1062 rise

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Starting through the desert, Signal Mountain visible center. We would first head to the saddle on the left side of the volcanic peak seen right of center in this photo.

Close-up of Signal Mountain.

Ascending the ridge along the foothills of Signal Mountain.

Along the eastern stretches of the ridge, a little lumpy, but easy walking. Sometimes there was an obvious animal trail.

Signal Mountain ahead. A lightly-colored gendarme-of-sorts is seen right of center.

We left the ridgeline to avoid the gendarme in the center of this photo, keeping left around it.

Loose terrain beneath the gendarme as we head up to the east face of Signal Mountain. Once at the base of the peak, we wrapped around to the left to get to the peak's southeast ridge (left in this photo).

View back after ascending the kitty-litter terrain. Woolsey Peak visible in the distance.

View back toward the gendarme. We came from the right in this photo.

Ascending Class 2/3 terrain to reach the southeast ridge.

Mike seen left about to gain the southeast ridge.

On the southeast ridge, we located this Class 3 gully.

View down the Class 3 gully.

Class 3 move to get out of the gully. Easy terrain past this.

Final Class 2 bit along the summit ridge.

Signal Mountain summit, view east. The volcanic peak we bypassed toward the start of the hike is seen top center.

Signal Mountain summit, view southeast. Woolsey Peak visible top left.

Signal Mountain summit, view northwest.

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!