Date: October 17, 2024 • Elevation: 3,024 feet (Lidar) • Prominence: 311 feet (Lidar) • Distance: 3 miles • Time: 90 minutes • Gain: 622 feet (gross) • Conditions: Warm but clear with a nice breeze

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ • Mine Information

I was on my weekly drive to ASU in Tempe from Bisbee. I had Tuesday off, so I only needed to go in today for classes. It would be a long drive both ways and a long day overall. I wanted to break up the drive with a hike. The weather has cooled from the three-week heatwave we've been having. Highs today in Tucson would be in the high 80s.

Today's peak would be a nameless hill in the northern part of the Saguaro National Park, West Unit. This peak is marked by a 3,022-foot spot elevation on the maps, whereas Lidar at the 1-meter scale says it's 3,024 feet. An old mine, the Gila Monster Mine, lies at the south foot of the hill. It was an old lead, zinc and copper mine.

This area is one I've never visited before, but there are a number of good trails here and a few good trailhead options. There are other hills nearby, but I had time for just one.

I left Bisbee at 6:30 a.m. and was in Tucson by 8:30, traffic slowed due to some cop situation at the Craycroft exit. It was chilly when I left, in the 50s, and only in the low 70s once in Tucson. It was sunny, dry and very lovely outside. I was not racing the heat and did not need to be hiking at dawn.

I exited the interstate at the Ruthrauff/Camino del Cielo exit. I went west on Cielo a couple miles. The road narrows and enters into some low hills and wealthy homes. Eventually, I got to near the road's end and then pulled into the Camino del Cielo trailhead parking lot.

The day was stunning, and although pushing 80° now, it was calm and so dry, the warmth was barely noticeable. I got my boots on. There was one other car here, and its occupants were emerging from their hike as I started in. I started walking a little before 9 a.m.

I started in on the Sweetwater Trail. This goes in west for 0.2 mile, then it swings south. I went right (north) onto the Thunderbird Trail. Peak 3022 was visible, a little over a mile to the north. The trail was wide and in excellent shape. I was high enough to feel a breeze, which was welcome.

The trail then drops about 190 feet going by the maps. It drops into an arroyo, then levels a little, bypassing the Gila Monster Mine. It then angles left and starts upslope, aiming for a low ridge that comes off Peak 3022's southwest flank. I had hike about a mile to Gila Monster Mine, and maybe another 0.2 mile to the ridge.

The top was close by, another 300 feet higher. I started walking through the desert scrub. It was mostly open with plenty of lanes and I could almost always see my feet and the ground. Snakes could still be out, so I was watchful.

I hiked up the slope, bypassing one large rock formation on its left, and also an old National Park boundary stick. The current boundaries are to the east and north, so this may be an old boundary and they forgot to remove the stick.

The climbing was simple and easy. Brush was never a problem. I did have to walk carefully around a few cholla plants and at one point, got a thorn embedded in my boot that was poking my footsole. I had to remove everything and ease it out.

The top 50 feet gets a little sloppy because this is the caprock's apron, and a lot of these rocks are not consolidated. They just lie loosely atop one another. I moved carefully and had no problems, and was soon on top of the peak. The one-way hike had taken me about 45 minutes, covering a mile and a half.

The summit was a nice one, with a rock outcrop as its highest point. I could not find a cairn or register, no doubt these things removed by the National Park people on occasion. With the dry clear air, the views were excellent in all directions and I spent a few minutes taking images and having a brief break.

I hiked down the same way, moving slowly on the loose rocks, but never once needing hands. My hiking poles were sufficient and very useful to manage the loose slopes. Down lower, I made better time, and was back on the trail. I followed it out, stopping briefly at the Gila Monster Mine. It is marked by a tall rock outcrop and two metal grates covering two shafts. There was not much else, no old machinery or tools lying around. I am not sure when it functioned but it seems not in my lifetime.

The remaining hike out went quickly, the whole round trip taking about 90 minutes. Including that 190-foot frop and regain, I put in over 600 feet of elevation gain today. This was a short hike and it did not disappoint. I would have stuck around longer but still had my drive to do.

I'll return, certainly. There are more peaks to hike and trails to follow. Like I said earlier, I had never been to this part of the range or park before. But now having been here, I liked it a lot and will come back.