Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet and one of the most scenic viewpoints in the San Francisco Peaks. Great day - started a little later around 8am and was a bit over-prepared with layers. The view is incredible, the trail was crowded, and she said yes at the top! Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty System Explained, Season: Late June – Late November – Expect snow & SEVERAL more miles outside of this period. Your email address will not be published. Like Lockett Meadow and the Inner Basin Trail, these woods are full of beautiful aspens and, if you’re hiking in the fall, golden autumn leaves. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. There is ice underneath. NF-522 in addition to some limited roadside camping spots. Unrelenting ~60mph gusts for the last probably mile and a half or so. Trail was very easy to follow. Sunny, no wind, and I could see Grand Canyon. Because of the elevation gain and altitude, this hike can be categorized as moderately strenuous. It’s one of the easiest summits to reach among the highest peaks in the western states. You can also take a side trip and see the remains of a B-24 crash site from 1944. What is the length of the Humphreys Peak Trail? This is not an easy hike by any standards, but if you can make it to the top of Mt. The alpine forest trail is located just north of Flagstaff. The trailhead borders a large, open pasture, full of native wildflowers and encompassing views! It’s a 3,300-foot climb to the summit and close to 10 miles round trip and although not technical, the high altitude and steepness makes it a difficult hike. Started at 8 and only passed a few groups on the way up, were the second to summit and got it to ourselves. Unless you bring a flashlight. The summit can be most easily reached by hiking the 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long Humphreys Summit Trail that begins at the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort in the Coconino National Forest. A bit icy in sections. Quite a bit of snow/ice. Humphrey's Peak, Weatherford and Kachina Trail Loop. Getting There Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet and one of the most scenic viewpoints in the San Francisco Peaks. As you gain elevation, the already rock-studded trail (shown above) loses its soil leaving uneven, foot-chewing scree. But once we got back into the trees, the sun came out and it was still a beautiful hike and we would do it again on a less windy day. Not only are the temperatures cooler which will make for a much more enjoyable hike but you will also get to enjoy the beautiful aspen trees that cover all sides of the mountain. Four stars not because the trail sucked (it doesn’t suck at all! The wind was brutal and cold once we got up over the saddle and we ended up turning around about 0.5 mile from the peak. Great hike, good trail. Afternoon storms are common in the late summer. Hiked the trail a few days ago 11/26. On a super clear day from the summit you can even see the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Humphreys Trail is steep and long and extremely rocky in its higher reaches. The route is 99% trail (smooth to rugged) and 100% beautiful. Humphreys Peak is the highest of a group of dormant volcanic peaks known as the San Francisco Peaks. G.K. Gilbert, in 1873 named the peak for his superior officer, Brig. A day hike to Humphreys Peak from the Arizona Snowbowl – stand on top of Arizona at 12,633 feet above sea level and retrace your steps back to the parking area. We hiked with micro spikes and trekking poles. On a clear day you will see Humphrey's Peak on your right/East. Humphreys Peak Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Humphreys Peak is: Mostly dryTemperatures will be below freezing (max -2°C on Mon afternoon, min -9°C on Wed morning)Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Mon afternoon, gales from the W by Tue afternoon). Just one hill! Make note once you’re out of the forested area and in the barren, mountain top area the trail markers are wooden posts sticking out of the ground. Recommend micro spikes as it’s icy for a good portion of the hike. Is Humphrey’s Peak trail Open? Make sure you carefully plan and prepare for your hiking or backpacking trip on the San Francisco Peaks before you take off for your adventure. Highly recommend! After spending a beautiful day hiking at the Grand Canyon, I was ready to explore more of Arizona. Arizona Office of Tourism, 2702 N. 3rd St., Suite 4015 , Phoenix, AZ, 85004, Phone: 888-520-3434, Fax: 602-240-5432, mfioritt@pni.com. At only 10 miles round-trip it truly shouldn’t be as hard as it is but with the weather, wind, shale rocks near the top and maybe getting off trail here or there… it can be an adventure. Highly recommend carrying micro-spikes. 4) start early. NF-522 in addition to some limited roadside camping spots. Finally, continue down the Humphreys Summit Trail toward Snowbowl for the final 4.1 miles. In winter this meadow is the beginner’s slope. Humphreys Peak and the greater San Francisco Mountain is part of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area, which includes 18,960 acres. The popular 4.75-mile-long trail is moderate but can be strenuous for lowlanders. It is one of three peaks forming a rough U shaped valley known as the Inner Basin or Interior Valley. The summit had beautiful views of the fall colors to the east and west with the Grand Canyon’s south rim veiled in smoke. Here, the Weatherford Trail comes in from the south, but the peak trail turns north to skirt the west side of the ridge. Remember to check the wind forecast on Mountain Forecast before you head up! Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram! It’s the pinnacle. Check wind/ weather conditions before. Make it a Loop: Humphreys Peak is an out and back hike. Camping: The best areas to camp are on the road along to the trailhead. Ok so a few tips from someone who is not a pro and just completed this: Parking: Humphreys Peak has a large parking lot that can fit 30+ cars. The hike does start with a lot of exposed roots so be cautious. Humphreys is Arizona’s premier high-altitude hiking experience. This is a strenuous rocky trail with over 3,000 feet elevation gain. Your hike begins and ends at approximately 8,000 ft elevation and reach over 11,800 feet at the highest point on the trail. 2) Take breaks! Overview 3.7 miles on the Inner Basin Trail #29 to the Weatherford Trail #102.Follow the Weatherford for 2.45 miles to the Humphreys Summit Trail. Humphreys Peak is the eroded remnant of an ancient volcano that was active more than 400,000 years ago. Chances are, if you are hiking Humphreys Peak, you might not be used to thin air at high elevation. Parking: Humphreys Peak has a large parking lot that can fit 30+ cars.As of 2020 there are a handful of porta potties at the TH. Humphreys Peak. Pretty quiet on a Friday. Best Views: Humphreys Peak has the best views once you crack treeline. We hiked 12/23/2020 and the wind was BRUTAL. Discover Humphreys Peak B-24 Wreckage in Flagstaff, Arizona: The wreckage of a deadly bomber plane crash can still be found near an Arizona peak. The hike starts just north of 9,000ft and picks up consistent elevation until you arrive at the summit. *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. Online it says the trail to the summit is closed due to covid but I’m wondering if anyone has any updated information. I started at 10am and got out of the trail right when the sun was setting. The alpine forest trail is located just north of Flagstaff. Since the snow cover and lack of signage can make navigation difficult, it is recommended that you use the app's recorder feature to avoid getting lost. Humphreys Peak is the king of the hills in Arizona. Up past the treeline is usually very windy and exposed, use sunscreen. Start hiking North across the green slope towards the treeline. Trail Summary:  Humphreys Peak is the highest mountain in Arizona at 12,637ft. Chances are if you have been near Flagstaff, Arizona you have seen a portion or the summit of this mountain. Pick a day when it isn’t windy to summit this one during winter conditions. 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. Hiking Humphreys Peak The Humphreys Peaks Trail begins from the Arizona Snowbowl parking lot at an elevation of 9,300 feet. I wore micro spikes for the first time based on All Trails reviews, and I was really glad I had them about 40% of the trail since it was steep and icy. Required fields are marked *. Up on the ridge to the summit, the snow varies between nine and up to two feet. This epic, out-and-back route starts at Heritage Square (at the heart of historic downtown Flagstaff, AZ) then (about 20.5 miles later and about 6,000 feet higher) goes to Humphreys Peak (highest point in AZ at 12,633 feet in elevation) and then back to Heritage Square. Only saw 6 people all day. Out of all the western states high points it is the easiest summit to hike. Take a right here and continue to the end of the road (about 6.5 Miles). Snow is around three inches for most of the trail. 1) the trail is very icy. The trailhead is located at the north end of the parking lot. Getting Here: From Flagstaff, take US-180 for 6.6 Miles to reach the entrance of Arizona Snow Bowl. How long does it take to hike the Humphreys Peak Trail? When you hit the 11,400’ sign, that’s when things get pretty tough. Took almost 5 hours to descent. Title says it all. The highest point in the state. Your lungs may be feeling it at the start, but once you get north of 10,000ft you will really be breathing heavy. To stand on the roof of the state, take a short trip from Flagstaff up to the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort. Humphreys Trail is open year round but snow can make the hike difficult during the winter months. It was noon. I wish I had spikes cause there is snow/ice covered on most of the trail but even without them I still completed the hike just fine! You'll be hiking the Weatherford, Humphreys Peak and Kachina Trails. On a typical hike you will get a great perspective of the other San Francisco Peaks. 3) Don’t get too excited when you start hiking on the mountain rims- I though I was “almost there” for about 1 hour- this part is super hard, but again, take breaks and enjoy the beautiful views!! You could manage without, but makes things easier. If high-pointing Arizona is on your bucket list, then Humphreys Peak is the trail for you! Hike Tip(s): I would highly recommend hiking Humphreys Peak in the fall. We did summit, but considered turning around and it would have been warranted. Since the snow cover and lack of signage can make navigation difficult, it is recommended that you use the app's recorder feature to avoid getting lost. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. First section in the woods is all rocks and roots, watch your knees and ankles on the way down (hiking poles highly recommended). On clear days hikers can see the Grand Canyon from the summit. I was very happy I had my spikes and poles with me. Then, follow the Humphreys Summit Trail for 1.0 miles to Humphreys Peak, which is the tallest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet. I arrived to the trailhead on an early October weekday and was greeted with the cool desert temperatures. This Humphreys Peak trail guide is a warning and an example of why you need to take this hike seriously and be prepared. There are just a few things I ran into along the hike: At the top there are several false summits and a decent amount of loose rock. Humphreys Peak starts off pretty mellow. Fees: There is no fee to hike Humphreys Peak. If you wanted to add more hiking there are some other trails at the start of the hike that could be added on. The first part of the ascent is pleasant with a steady incline. Humphreys Peak is the highest peak in Arizona at 12,637 feet(3,852 meters) within the volcanic San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. Photo credit: Nathan Hillman Humphreys Peak. Drive 7.4 miles on this paved road to the lower parking lot of the Snow Bowl facility. Not super windy at the top which made the last mile a little easier. The trail gets harder to follow, more rugged, and lot steeper. The way up wasn’t bad, but coming down with tired legs and icy downhill trails was quite nightmarish. The remnants of a dormant volcano, the peaks are home to some of the most spectacular hikes in the state, including a trail that leads you to the summit of Humphreys Peak, with an elevation of 12,633 feet. Our dog did well on the trail as well. Your email address will not be published. An extinct volcano, Humphreys Peak, is the highest in Arizona. The trail leading to Humphreys Peak begins in the Snowbowl parking lot and ascends 3,343 feet up to a total elevation of 12,635 feet. Views don’t start until the saddle. It’s quite the experience to be hiking next to yellow and orange aspen trees one hour and then next to cactuses the next. I was down at the bottom at 5:15pm, and since the ski hill was closed by then, I just walked down the most direct route which was down the middle of a ski run! The trail became very icy, very icy! A side trip to Humphreys Peaks at over 12,000 feet is possible. There is no additional charge to you. Climbing Humphreys Peak . Hiking Humphreys Peak Start your hike from the trailhead at the northeast corner of the parking lot. Was definitely icy on the way down and busier. It’s definitely doable without micro spikes but prepare to fall at least 5 times like I did. Looking south from Humphreys Peak 12,633'. As you can see in the photo at the top of the post, it’s a wide open grassy field leading to a grove of aspen and conifers. Hiking the Humphreys Peak Trail is like getting on a StairMaster, setting it to the highest setting and handcuffing yourself to the handles. (Note that the Forest Service prohibits off-trail hiking here above 11,400 feet, so stay on the trail.) Trail has a decent amount of ice. I’ll be completing it again! I didn’t have trekking poles. The trail cuts directly across the green/bunny slope of the ski area. On clear days hikers can see the Grand Canyon from the summit. Humphreys Peak – Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering. You could certainly tell by the unique rocks that almost looked like lava. To get to the very top, hikers should expect about 10 miles out and back before returning to the parking lot. Humphrey's Peak, at 12,633 feet, is the highest point in Arizona. In late summer monsoon storms can set the high country snapping with lightning. I would highly recommend this hike in the fall when the leaves are changing to add to your views. I went 11/21 and it was a beautiful day! The length of the trail is 5.3 miles (8.5 km) or 12,010 steps. Mt. About 4.5 hrs moving, 5.5 hours total. I started at 8 and finished at 4:30. not a bad hike. After soaking in the views from the highest point in Arizona, turn around and hike 1.0 mile back to Humphreys Saddle. Great hike, very windy up top. As of 2020 there are a handful of porta potties at the TH. Elevation gain is 3,313 feet. I decided to jog down and ended up car to car in just over 4 hours. The descent was a nightmare. Yes, and it's free! After we came out of the forested area I found the hike more challenging because it was a bit more rocky and higher elevation than we’re use to (Midwest folks here). Hike On likely one of the hotter Saturday's of the summer I'd guess a hundred hiked Humphreys via the popular summit trail. Hiking through the aspen groves and green pastures on the neighboring Aspen Nature Loop trail is not a bad add-on if you are looking for a warm up or cool down hike to your Humphrey’s Peak hike. If you are used to high elevation hiking, this one will not be a problem for you as it only tops out in the 12,000 range. If you can make it to the summit, which tops out at 12,633 feet, you’ve conquered all there is to conquer — from a hiking perspective, anyway. The Humphreys Trail, starting at 8,800 feet at the Arizona Snow Bowl ski area on the west side of the mountain, is the standard ascent route. At the end of the parking lot, closest to the ski lodge, you will see a sign for the Humphreys Peak Trail. I have good hiking boots and poles but micro-spikes probably would have been much more comforting. Humphreys Peak. Hiking consists of a dirt trail with some extremely minor class 2 as you get above treeline. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Humphreys Peak. The trail offers a number of activity options. In general though, this is not the GREATEST area to camp, but you can certainly make it work. Decided to turn around. We happened to go with 60mph winds. 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