Bonus Hike of the Week: Picketpost Mountain near Superior
PhoenixMag.org | MARE CZINAR | February 14, 2024
Tonto National Forest, near Superior
Notoriously overgrown, unmarked and insanely steep, getting to the top of Picketpost Mountain is a make-it-up-as-you-go prospect. Located outside the Town of Superior, the adventure starts with a hike south on the Alamo Canyon Passage 17 of the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
About a mile in, a cairn marks the turn off for the summit climb.
In theory the route plan is simple—just climb up the obvious gully. But in reality, it’s a bear. Finding secure hand and foot holds to scale the stony, cacti-encrusted chutes is confusing and exhausting. The grunt work ends at the edge of a massive mesa-like mound where an easy walk through desert scrub leads to the high point.
- LENGTH: 6 miles roundtrip
- RATING: difficult
- ELEVATION: 2,370 – 4,378 feet
GETTING THERE:
Picketpost Trailhead:
From U.S. 60 before entering the town of Superior between milepost 221 and 222, turn right at the Arizona National Scenic Trail/Picketpost Trailhead sign on the right. Follow the signs along the maintained dirt road for one mile to the trailhead.
- FACILITIES: restrooms
- HOURS: n/a
- FEE: none
- INFO: aztrail.org/explore/passages/passage-17-alamo-canyon/
