Picacho Peak

A short, steep climb up the Hunter Trail to the summit of Picacho Peak, with steel cables bolted into exposed rock on the upper half.

Picacho Peak rises about 1,500 feet beside I-10, about an hour south of Phoenix, and travelers have used its shape as a landmark since prehistoric times. The Hunter Trail climbs the north side to a saddle, then follows steel cables up exposed rock to the summit; the park recommends gloves. Leashed dogs can go only as far as the saddle. The top has 360-degree views, and in a good wildflower year the slopes below are covered in spring.

Parking

No parking details yet.

Trailhead: Hunter Trailhead (Barrett Loop).

Fee

$20/vehicle

$20 for 2–4 people, $10 with one person, $5 walking or biking in.

Dogs

No dogs

Shade

Not confirmed yet

Hazards

• Steep sections and steel cables on exposed rock; the park recommends gloves.
• Leashed dogs are allowed only as far as the saddle, not to the summit.

Best months

1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D

October to April, when the average high in Phoenix is under 90°F.

Trail map

Picacho Peak park map · Arizona State Parks (PDF)

Sources

5 sources · last verified Sep 24, 2026. Report a change

Photo: Alan Stark · CC BY-SA 2.0

Where each fact comes from

• Picacho Peak State Park map (2024) — Arizona State Parks (PDF) checked 2026-09-27
• Picacho Peak State Park — Arizona State Parks checked 2026-09-24
• Trails — Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona State Parks checked 2026-09-24
• Picacho Peak Trailhead (Hunter Trail) — OpenStreetMap checked 2026-09-24
• Best months: normal high under 90°F, Phoenix Sky Harbor 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI) checked 2026-09-24