Picketpost Mountain

A short, steep climb up a rocky gully to the flat top of Picketpost Mountain near Superior, with Class 3 scrambling on the way up.

Picketpost Mountain is a cliff-sided butte just off US 60 near Superior. The route leaves the Picket Post Trailhead on the Arizona Trail, then turns up a steep, rocky gully where hands are needed in several places. Above the gully the top is a broad plateau, and a red mailbox at the high point holds notes left by other hikers. The trailhead has a toilet but no water, and there's no fee.

Parking

The trailhead lot fills on weekends; overflow parking is along the forest road.

Trailhead: Picket Post Trailhead (Forest Road 310, off US 60).

Fee

Free

Dogs

Dogs on leash

Shade

Not confirmed yet

Hazards

• Class 3 scrambling up a steep gully; the route there is marked by painted arrows rather than a clear trail.
• No drinking water at the trailhead.

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

None found

Sources

8 sources · last verified Oct 2, 2026. Report a change

Photo: Kevin Dooley · CC BY 2.0

Where each fact comes from

• Picket Post Trailhead — Tonto National Forest checked 2026-10-02
• Tonto National Forest — FAQs ("Pets are welcome, but must be kept on a leash") checked 2026-10-02
• OpenStreetMap — parking beside the Arizona Trail at the Picket Post Trailhead checked 2026-10-02
• Hike Picketpost Mountain — Stav is Lost (Jan 2023) checked 2026-10-02
• Picketpost Mountain Trail — 10Adventures (updated 2026-08-24) checked 2026-10-02
• Picketpost Mountain Hike — The AZ Hikeaholics (undated) checked 2026-10-02
• Picketpost Mountain Loop Hike in Arizona — Must Bring Snacks (Jan 2026) checked 2026-10-02
• Best months: normal high under 90°F, Phoenix Sky Harbor 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI) checked 2026-10-02