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Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide
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If you want a good winter hike featuring a good climb to great views, you will like this hike.
This hike is located near Wickenburg, Arizona. From Phoenix, take US-60 North West towards Wickenburg. Stay on US-60 as you go through Wickenburg. While in Wickenburg (after the junction of US-93), turn left on Vulture Mine Road. Take this paved road 6.7 miles to the turn off for the Vulture Peak trail (well signed). Turn left and drive 0.4 miles on this gentle dirt road to the parking area. Four wheel drive vehicles can continue an additional 1.4 miles to a higher trailhead, but the walk is nice from this point too. Be Aware of: To the top is some aggressive scrambling. 30 yr old Recommendation: This hike is Moderately Strenuous to the saddle and Strenuous for the last 250 ft to the top. This would be a great hike to take in the Winter season that isn't too far from Phoenix. Elevation change: 940 ft elevation gain to the saddle and 240 more feet to the peak. Total: 1180 ft Distance: 4.0 miles round trip to the peak and back. Time: This hike took us about 2.5 hours. It was late in the day so we didn't spend much time at the peak. I would recommend spending some time relaxing at the top... the views are great. Time of year: All year. Winter would be especially good. Summer will be HOT, so hike in the early morning hours. Solitude: Surprisingly good. We only saw 3 other hikers on a Sunday afternoon. Vulture peak is the obvious peak overlooking the town of Wickenburg, Arizona. When viewing the peak from US-60, you would never imagine that there is a route to the top. Once you get around to the other side, however, you will see a way to the top of this local landmark. The trail starts from the well maintained parking area. Winding towards the peak, the trail spends some time in a desert wash, as well as crossing the 4 wheel drive road, before reaching the base of the peak. The trail is well marked, so if you are worried about loosing the trail, look carefully for a trail marker... they are out there. This part of the trail winds through plenty of Saguaro and Cholla cactus. This is prime rattlesnake country, so keep a sharp eye out. After about 1.5 miles, you reach the base of the peak and begin climbing quickly. The trail switchbacks up the side of the peak. As you hike, be sure to take in the increasingly good views of the surrounding desert. Pretty quickly, you reach an obvious saddle featuring good views. For the best views, you need to take the scramble route (not maintained, but pretty obvious) to the top. It isn't easy, but the reward is worth it. 360 views of the surrounding desert and Wickenburg are yours. This would be a good place to sit back for a while and enjoy the rewards of your hard work. When ready, return the way you came.
[View of surrounding mountains at the top of Vulture Peak] This hike was taken in October 2004
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