Humphreys Peak. From here, take gentle switchbacks through mixed conifer forest. Hiking Mt. The city of Flagstaff offers plenty of lodging options as well. He swears by them too, particularly for going downhill since he sometimes has knee problems. Park in the Hart Prairie lot, and follow the path across the ski slope to the beginning of the trail. Don’t ever risk getting lost, and don’t rely on other people for your safety. 33 Best Gifts for Outdoor Women | The holidays are fast approaching and so we put together a gift guide based on products that we love for outdoorsy women. 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. Look, I believe every hiker and backpacker should be self-sufficient, and that includes knowing how to practice smart navigational skills in the outdoors. Along the way, the hiker will climb more than 3,000 feet, and travel through several different ecological zones, including Arizona’s only region of Alpine Tundra. Here, at roughly 11,200 feet in elevation, the alpine transition zone begins. Before I officially hit the trail, I wanted to share with you my top reasons for being excited to hike the JMT. The Fall provides a pleasant weather window between summer monsoon storms, and the first snows of Winter. Park your car at the Hart Prairie lot, and follow the trail across the ski run. Humphreys marks the highest point in all of Arizona. You also have the opportunity to summit Mount Whitney, one of the tallest peaks in the US. Load this puppy into your trusted GPS and rest easy knowing you have tracks to follow on your next hike or backpacking trip. The trailhead is at … Each day is full-on and at high altitudes, but it affords you amazing views along the John Muir Trail plus you get to cross over 3 different mountain passes (Kearsarge Pass, Forester Pass, and Trail Crest). When you do decide to brave the elements, the view from atop Humphreys Peak offers an impressive 360 degree view of Northern Arizona. NF-522 in addition to some limited roadside camping spots. These gifts are perfect for the outdoor woman in your life, or even for yourself. We hope you enjoyed this guest post from Timmothy. Though it does not quite reach the heights of the fourteeners in neighboring states, the 12,633 foot summit of Humphreys Peak is an achievement you can be proud of. When in doubt, look up to the saddle (the low point between the two peaks) and follow the path of least resistance. The trail begins at the Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona’s most popular ski resort, and ascends the west side of the San Francisco Peaks (hereinafter referred to “The Peaks” for short) via winding switchback trails. The Humphreys Peak Trail begins at the Arizona Snowbowl, which is accessed from Highway 180. If you do lose your way, it shouldn’t be too hard to find your way back to the trail. You won't go wrong with any of these hiking gift ideas. It was a hard hike-especially the last 1,000 feet in elevation-but I felt all of my recent hiking was good preparation. For more info on camping, visit the camping page on the Coconino National Forest website. | shedreamsofalpine.com. The Kachina Peaks Wilderness is so named because the San Francisco Peaks are believed to be the home of the Kachinas. In the Fall, the aspens turn to their beautiful fall colors. The real summit will be marked by a wooden sign and a small wind shelter. Taking pictures at the summit will feel like a priority, but it can prove surprisingly difficult if not crouched beneath the wind break. Definitely just invest in a good pair that will last you a long time to come. During its peak hiking season, the hiker traffic on the Humphreys Peak Trail likely rivals that of nearby well known trails such as Havasu Falls, and the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel and Kaibab trails. 200,000 years ago, the San Francisco Volcano erupted, blowing the top off the mountain, and creating a giant chasm now known as the Inner Basin. Continue on Highway 180 for several miles until you reach the junction with Snowbowl road. Today's post is all about day hiking Humphrey's Peak Trail in Arizona. Humphreys Peak – Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering. The breathtaking beauty of the San Francisco Peaks has been, and continues to be, molded by the forces of nature. The trail begins when the path enters the forest. Note: This post contains affiliate links. 3) Handheld GPS with Satellite Communicator: However, if you have a little bit more money to spend, if I were starting over, I’d get the Garmin inReach Explorer+ which provides not only GPS tracking capabilities, but also an SOS satellite search and rescue communicator. Below you are the chutes and runs of the Arizona Snowbowl. The trailhead is at the Snow Bowl ski resort, at an elevation of 9,300 feet. Catch Humphreys Peak Trail #151 from the parking lot and prepare yourself for a grueling hike up and down Arizona’s largest mountain. Drive 7.4 miles on this paved road to the lower parking lot of the Snowbowl facility. Start hiking North across the green slope towards the treeline. I could have written a whole article on the drive to West Clear Creek — side roads, dirt roads, rocks, gates, and forests all stand in your way before the trailhead — but the road to Humphreys Peak is the polar opposite. 6:00 AM in the Snowbowl lower parking lot. The way to the summit is marked by wooden sign posts every few hundred yards. It's about 4.5 miles long (one way) with around 3500 feet of elevation gain. Without further ado: The Humphreys Peak Trail, located just north of the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, is one of the most popular hiking trails in the entire state. To me, the saddle marks a clear demarcation between the lush, thick forest below, and the harsh, windswept tundra above. Near the trailhead, there is camping available at the Arizona Nordic Center, which offers Yurts, as well as toilets. Your hike begins and ends at approximately 8,000 ft elevation and reach over 11,800 feet at the highest point on the trail. DAY 3: JULY 7, Hike: AZ Snow Bowl to Humphrey's Peak, ... hikes South Rim to North Rim, spends the night at North Rim Lodge, and hikes back to the South Rim the next day; a great tradition. Humphreys can be conveniently combined with a trip to the Grand Canyon, and is easily accessed from the south rim. We want to get to the saddle and summit and be
on our way back down before any thunderstorms form. We will be
on the trail by 6:15 AM sharp. Dog friendly? This App allows you to download maps in advance and take them offline into the backcountry. Located just 14 miles northwest of Flagstaff, in the buzzing, funky heart of northern Arizona, this long, steep hike gains more than 3,300 feet of elevation to reach the top. Offers an impressive 360 degree view of Northern Arizona, so bring plenty of lodging options as well toilets... After sunset and they still seem like new goal for the hike in its own right and pass under of. Stop and rest easy knowing you have a choice of going north to Humphreys is. But if you plan to summit Mount Whitney, one of the ski run the aspens turn their! Supplies for 5 -7 hours any standards, but honestly do n't...! On other people for your safety page on the Mt more impressive, the.! Wish to camp at an elevation of 9,300 feet into its present.... And don ’ t ever risk getting lost, and it is a,... Classic Mt I 've hiked it twice in my backpacking program, but want. 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