Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Here, the Weatherford Trail comes in from the south, but the peak trail turns north to skirt the west side of the ridge. Check wind/ weather conditions before. Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram! At the top there are several false summits and a decent amount of loose rock. Up on the ridge to the summit, the snow varies between nine and up to two feet. Parking: Humphreys Peak has a large parking lot that can fit 30+ cars.As of 2020 there are a handful of porta potties at the TH. At only 10 miles round-trip it truly shouldn’t be as hard as it is but with the weather, wind, shale rocks near the top and maybe getting off trail here or there… it can be an adventure. If you can make it to the summit, which tops out at 12,633 feet, you’ve conquered all there is to conquer — from a hiking perspective, anyway. In general though, this is not the GREATEST area to camp, but you can certainly make … Humphrey's Peak, Weatherford and Kachina Trail Loop. Your lungs may be feeling it at the start, but once you get north of 10,000ft you will really be breathing heavy. On a typical hike you will get a great perspective of the other San Francisco Peaks. Humphreys Peak and the greater San Francisco Mountain is part of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area, which includes 18,960 acres. Once you get close to the TH, there will be signs for Humphreys Peak parking. Discover Humphreys Peak B-24 Wreckage in Flagstaff, Arizona: The wreckage of a deadly bomber plane crash can still be found near an Arizona peak. Arizona Office of Tourism, 2702 N. 3rd St., Suite 4015 , Phoenix, AZ, 85004, Phone: 888-520-3434, Fax: 602-240-5432, [email protected]. The popular 4.75-mile-long trail is moderate but can be strenuous for lowlanders. be prepared for 3 false summits. The alpine forest trail is located just north of Flagstaff. Making it up and down is certainly something to be proud of, but, despite its stature, the Hump is not the most difficult hike in Arizona. What is the length of the Humphreys Peak Trail? Out of all the western states high points it is the easiest summit to hike. Canyonlands National Park Needles District Trail Guide. The trail gets harder to follow, more rugged, and lot steeper. As of 2020 there are a handful of porta potties at the TH. Start hiking North across the green slope towards the treeline. Like Lockett Meadow and the Inner Basin Trail, these woods are full of beautiful aspens and, if you’re hiking in the fall, golden autumn leaves. The trail leading to Humphreys Peak begins in the Snowbowl parking lot and ascends 3,343 feet up to a total elevation of 12,635 feet. I was very happy I had my spikes and poles with me. Humphreys, you are standing on the state’s highest peak and are rewarded with a 360° panoramic view that is unparalleled anywhere in Arizona, taking in hundreds of square miles on a clear day. Humphreys is Arizona’s premier high-altitude hiking experience. At the end of the parking lot, closest to the ski lodge, you will see a sign for the Humphreys Peak Trail. Mt. I went 11/21 and it was a beautiful day! Above treeline it exposes you completely to the whims of nature. As you can see in the photo at the top of the post, it’s a wide open grassy field leading to a grove of aspen and conifers. I arrived to the trailhead on an early October weekday and was greeted with the cool desert temperatures. 2) Take breaks! Sunny, no wind, and I could see Grand Canyon. Not super windy at the top which made the last mile a little easier. Trail has a decent amount of ice. This epic, out-and-back route starts at Heritage Square (at the heart of historic downtown Flagstaff, AZ) then (about 20.5 miles later and about 6,000 feet higher) goes to Humphreys Peak (highest point in AZ at 12,633 feet in elevation) and then back to Heritage Square. Elevation gain is 3,313 feet. Dogs: Humphreys Peak is dog friendly however it does enter a wilderness area for the majority of the hike so please keep dogs leashed when you can. The route is 99% trail (smooth to rugged) and 100% beautiful. Not only are the temperatures cooler which will make for a much more enjoyable hike but you will also get to enjoy the beautiful aspen trees that cover all sides of the mountain. *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. Humphreys Trail is steep and long and extremely rocky in its higher reaches. You could manage without, but makes things easier. Humphreys Peak is the highest of a group of dormant volcanic peaks known as the San Francisco Peaks. Didn’t use microspikes on the way up, but did on the way down and would recommend them. Humphreys Peak Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Humphreys Peak is: Mostly dryTemperatures will be below freezing (max -2°C on Mon afternoon, min -9°C on Wed morning)Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Mon afternoon, gales from the W by Tue afternoon). A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 3.5 hours in one direction and in 2.3 hours in the opposite direction. Only saw 6 people all day. It was noon. Take a right here and continue to the end of the road (about 6.5 Miles). The trail offers a number of activity options. The alpine forest trail is located just north of Flagstaff. Hiking through the aspen groves and green pastures on the neighboring Aspen Nature Loop trail is not a bad add-on if you are looking for a warm up or cool down hike to your Humphrey’s Peak hike. Since the snow cover and lack of signage can make navigation difficult, it is recommended that you use the app's recorder feature to avoid getting lost. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Camping: The best areas to camp are on the road along to the trailhead. The trek to Humphreys Peak is about five miles each way and most of that time is spent in the forest. The trail rises over 3,000 feet in elevation over approximately 4.5 miles, and takes you through alpine forest to alpine sage above treeline. When you hit the 11,400’ sign, that’s when things get pretty tough. I was down at the bottom at 5:15pm, and since the ski hill was closed by then, I just walked down the most direct route which was down the middle of a ski run! 1.0 mile to the peak on the Summit Trail. A side trip to Humphreys Peaks at over 12,000 feet is possible. Didn't realize I was at the peak when I saw a sign-in metal case with Humphreys Peak post laying on the ground after being blown down from daily strong gust. It’s the pinnacle. Your email address will not be published. I didn’t have trekking poles. We happened to go with 60mph winds. On clear days hikers can see the Grand Canyon from the summit. I would highly recommend this hike in the fall when the leaves are changing to add to your views. Chances are if you have been near Flagstaff, Arizona you have seen a portion or the summit of this mountain. I wore microspikes. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. Trail was very easy to follow. Is there a Humphreys Peak trail map? We were going half our usual pace the last mile just due to the wind. This is a strenuous rocky trail with over 3,000 feet elevation gain. An extinct volcano, Humphreys Peak, is the highest in Arizona. Remember to check the wind forecast on Mountain Forecast before you head up! It’s a 3,300-foot climb to the summit and close to 10 miles round trip and although not technical, the high altitude and steepness makes it a difficult hike. Great day - started a little later around 8am and was a bit over-prepared with layers. A moderately difficult, 4.8-mile trail leaves from the resort and leads to the 12,633-foot summit of Humphreys Peak. On a super clear day from the summit you can even see the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Highly recommend carrying micro-spikes. You do not want to be caught in the trail when the sun goes down! Then, follow the Humphreys Summit Trail for 1.0 miles to Humphreys Peak, which is the tallest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet. Your email address will not be published. The highest point in the state. Humphreys Trail is open year round but snow can make the hike difficult during the winter months. Finally, continue down the Humphreys Summit Trail toward Snowbowl for the final 4.1 miles. Quite a bit of snow/ice. If you are used to high elevation hiking, this one will not be a problem for you as it only tops out in the 12,000 range. The hike does start with a lot of exposed roots so be cautious. Make note once you’re out of the forested area and in the barren, mountain top area the trail markers are wooden posts sticking out of the ground. It’s one of the easiest summits to reach among the highest peaks in the western states. Since the snow cover and lack of signage can make navigation difficult, it is recommended that you use the app's recorder feature to avoid getting lost. To get to the very top, hikers should expect about 10 miles out and back before returning to the parking lot. There is no additional charge to you. The summit had beautiful views of the fall colors to the east and west with the Grand Canyon’s south rim veiled in smoke. Pick a day when it isn’t windy to summit this one during winter conditions. We hiked with micro spikes and trekking poles. Not too steep of a grade really anywhere besides the rocky section at the top. Humphreys Peak is a 10.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Flagstaff, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Recommend micro spikes as it’s icy for a good portion of the hike. NF-522 in addition to some limited roadside camping spots. The trailhead is located at the north end of the parking lot. The first part of the ascent is pleasant with a steady incline. A bit icy in sections. I decided to jog down and ended up car to car in just over 4 hours. Start early. Cross the open meadow to the forest on the far side, and pass under one of the ski lifts along the way. We hiked 12/23/2020 and the wind was BRUTAL. The trail became very icy, very icy! Great hike, very windy up top. Fees: There is no fee to hike Humphreys Peak. Hiking consists of a dirt trail with some extremely minor class 2 as you get above treeline. The view is incredible, the trail was crowded, and she said yes at the top! Title says it all. Humphreys Peak is the eroded remnant of an ancient volcano that was active more than 400,000 years ago. On a clear day you will see Humphrey's Peak on your right/East. G.K. Gilbert, in 1873 named the peak for his superior officer, Brig. As always, please pick-up after your dog. As you gain elevation, the already rock-studded trail (shown above) loses its soil leaving uneven, foot-chewing scree. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Would recommend at least poles and good boots, but spikes and poles would be best. Parking: Humphreys Peak has a large parking lot that can fit 30+ cars. Getting Here: From Flagstaff, take US-180 for 6.6 Miles to reach the entrance of Arizona Snow Bowl. Online it says the trail to the summit is closed due to covid but I’m wondering if anyone has any updated information. The way up wasn’t bad, but coming down with tired legs and icy downhill trails was quite nightmarish. Starting at the Arizona Snowbowl ski base, it’s a 4.8 mile climb to the summit and elevation gain of 3,313 feet. Best Views: Humphreys Peak has the best views once you crack treeline. Took almost 5 hours to descent. Highly recommend! There are just a few things I ran into along the hike: Great view, though. The length of the trail is 5.3 miles (8.5 km) or 12,010 steps. Hiking the Humphreys Peak Trail is like getting on a StairMaster, setting it to the highest setting and handcuffing yourself to the handles. Trail Summary: Humphreys Peak is the highest mountain in Arizona at 12,637ft. But once we got back into the trees, the sun came out and it was still a beautiful hike and we would do it again on a less windy day. (Note that the Forest Service prohibits off-trail hiking here above 11,400 feet, so stay on the trail.) You could certainly tell by the unique rocks that almost looked like lava. If high-pointing Arizona is on your bucket list, then Humphreys Peak is the trail for you! I started at 10am and got out of the trail right when the sun was setting. Photo credit: Nathan Hillman Humphreys Peak. Hiking Humphreys Peak The Humphreys Peaks Trail begins from the Arizona Snowbowl parking lot at an elevation of 9,300 feet. You'll be hiking the Weatherford, Humphreys Peak and Kachina Trails. ), but because the winds were ridiculous. I’ll be completing it again! NF-522 in addition to some limited roadside camping spots. You can also take a side trip and see the remains of a B-24 crash site from 1944. Hike Tip(s): I would highly recommend hiking Humphreys Peak in the fall. … About 4.5 hrs moving, 5.5 hours total. 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