Wind Cave and Pass Mountain Loop in Tonto National Forest, AZ

Hike Wind Cave and Pass Mountain Loop Tonto National Forest, AZ

Class 2 5.9 miles 1900 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Feb 9, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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A popular trail leads from the trailhead from Usery Mountain Regional Park to the very anticlimactic Wind Cave. Pretty much the entire trail is within Tonto National Forest, but you have to pay to park since the parking lot isn’t within the National Forest, eyeroll. After making it to Wind Cave, which really is just a concave section along the limestone wall and I probably wouldn’t have given it a second glance, continue past the “trail not maintained after this point” sign and follow any number of social trail leading up Class 2 scrambling to the summit of Pass Mountain South Peak. The ridgeline stretches north to the true summit and has a couple of Class 2 spots, but is overall very straightforward. There were even cairns and white spray paint dots to help along the way.

From the summit of Pass Mountain, you’ll see the Pass Mountain Loop Trail to the north. Follow a gully to the north of the peak and locate cairns to avoid deep gullies and excessive bushwhacking in order to make it down to the trail. I decided to go counter clockwise on the trail to shorten the trip, but heading clockwise would extend the hike by a few miles if you choose to. I believe there is also a social trail that leads north along the ridgeline farther rather than dropping to the northeast, but I didn’t know about it at the time.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Pass Mountain South Peak
3127 ft
117 rise
2
Pass Mountain
3312 ft
1142 rise

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Starting up along the Wind Cave Trail.
Starting up along the Wind Cave Trail.
Wind Cave is somewhere on the right in those yellow cliff bands.
Wind Cave is somewhere on the right in those yellow cliff bands.
Image 2 from gallery
The trail is really popular, despite how my photos appear.
The trail is really popular, despite how my photos appear.
The Wind Cave Trail leads to the cliff base and ascends for a bit to the Wind Cave.
The Wind Cave Trail leads to the cliff base and ascends for a bit to the Wind Cave.
Image 5 from gallery
The Wind Cave. Not super impressive.
The Wind Cave. Not super impressive.
Close-up of the feature.
Close-up of the feature.
Continuing past the Wind Cave into "Not Maintained" territory. A pretty obvious social trail leads up the cliff face.
Continuing past the Wind Cave into "Not Maintained" territory. A pretty obvious social trail leads up the cliff face.
There are probably a few routes you could take because of all the foot traffic eroding the route to Pass Mountains' South Peak.
There are probably a few routes you could take because of all the foot traffic eroding the route to Pass Mountains' South Peak.
Image 10 from gallery
Pass Mountain South Peak summit looking south.
Pass Mountain South Peak summit looking south.
Pass Mountain South Peak summit looking north toward the traverse.
Pass Mountain South Peak summit looking north toward the traverse.
Close-up of the traverse to Pass Mountain.
Close-up of the traverse to Pass Mountain.
A couple of easy scramble moves, marked with white dots.
A couple of easy scramble moves, marked with white dots.
Looking back toward Pass Mountain South Peak.
Looking back toward Pass Mountain South Peak.
More fun scrambling along the ridge.
More fun scrambling along the ridge.
Looking back after a short scramble toward Pass Mountain South Peak.
Looking back after a short scramble toward Pass Mountain South Peak.
Pass Mountain ahead.
Pass Mountain ahead.
Image 19 from gallery
Cool ground colors along the route.
Cool ground colors along the route.
Last scramble to Pass Mountain's summit.
Last scramble to Pass Mountain's summit.
Pass Mountain summit, looking south to Pass Mountain South Peak.
Pass Mountain summit, looking south to Pass Mountain South Peak.
Looking down at the drainage I descended. Couldn't find any useful cairns marking the way.
Looking down at the drainage I descended. Couldn't find any useful cairns marking the way.
Desert views as I continue.
Desert views as I continue.
Eventually, I found a cairned route that avoids some cliff bands.
Eventually, I found a cairned route that avoids some cliff bands.
Looking back up the drainage/slope I came down.
Looking back up the drainage/slope I came down.
Looking east toward the Pass Mountain Loop Trail. I chose to take the shorter way, though this way does look more interesting.
Looking east toward the Pass Mountain Loop Trail. I chose to take the shorter way, though this way does look more interesting.
Along the Pass Mountain Loop Trail, heading west.
Along the Pass Mountain Loop Trail, heading west.
Pass Mountain Loop Trail, Pass Mountain visible on the top left.
Pass Mountain Loop Trail, Pass Mountain visible on the top left.

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!