On the final day of our winter trip to Gold Canyon, AZ, we did the 8.9-mile Picketpost Mountain Loop hike (sometimes spelled “Picket Post”) with my husband’s Minnesotan aunt and uncle. In less than 30 minutes of drive time from Gold Canyon, we arrived at the Picketpost trailhead in Tonto National Forest, near Superior, AZ.

Trailhead for Picketpost Mountain Loop Hike

It’s a popular destination, particularly on weekends, so the main/closest parking lot fills up quickly; thus, we ended up grabbing a spot in a makeshift overflow area along the forest road and then walking a short distance to the trailhead.

As we parked and got geared up, another vehicle, with a mountain bike mounted on the back, came looking for a parking spot. As he got out and began to unload, putting on his helmet and shin guards, we learned that he’s in his 70s and his wife thinks he’s crazy because he rides too fast on the trails for his age. His compromise to ease her concerns is not slowing down, but rather wearing a bunch of protective gear so that he doesn’t have to give up his mountain biking hobby. And then he told us he thought we were the crazy ones for hiking the trail he was going to ride.

We aimed for the trailhead, which had pit toilets, as well as two older gentlemen who were quasi park rangers posted here to ensure everyone was carrying enough water and knew where they were going. We had experienced a similar setup while hiking in the Grand Canyon. Evidently, it is common for people (especially tourists) to underestimate the need for water when hiking in the desert and/or overestimate their own physical fitness to complete a particular hike.

It is also worth noting that another popular route from this trailhead leads hikers to the summit of Picketpost Mountain, which AllTrails describes as a short, intense, and strenuous scramble that ascends up a steep, exposed chute that requires sustained Class 3 scrambling over loose slick rock. The hike is only 4.3 miles round trip, but it brings 2,000 ft. of vertical and is on the list of many “peak-bagging” hikers.

Needless to say, it is probably wise to have rangers present to inform and warn people, so they end up with fewer search-and-rescue endeavors. We chatted with these volunteer rangers for a bit, confirmed our intended route around the mountain, and then we hit the trail under the warm sun.

Brief History of Picketpost Mountain

Picketpost Mountain gets its name from a military encampment that was located at its base during the Apache Wars, fought between 1849 and 1886 under the direction of General George Stoneman. Soldiers climbed the mountain to use its summit as a lookout (“picket post”) to spot Apache raiders and protect the area.

The mountain is composed entirely of roughly 18-million-year-old volcanic rocks. Silver was discovered in the area, launching the Silver King Mine in 1875. In fact, deep wagon wheel ruts left in the volcanic tuff by the old silver ore teams can still be seen today.

Picketpost Mountain Loop Hike Trail

The moderate loop route circumnavigates Picketpost Mountain, taking us through washes and canyons, passing by numerous different types of cacti, like teddy-bear chollas and saguaros, and other desert plants, some of which were on the verge of blooming.

Between the washes and regular terrain, the entire trail was fairly rocky, with some sections rockier than others.

Oddly, after navigating through miles of dry, dusty desert terrain, we suddenly found ourselves in a lush, green oasis.

We stopped in Arnett Canyon, seeking shade beneath a massive boulder, to take a break and have some snacks before finishing out the remainder of the hike.

After going through Arnett Canyon, it was obvious this side of the mountain (east) had very different terrain than the other side (west), where we started.

After a couple of miles meandering through the “meadow,” we reached this fork in the road and decided to take the slightly shorter route back to the trailhead. Well, of course, because it was shorter in distance, our fatigued legs had to hike up a steep section, then cross through a gate to get back to the trailhead. 😂

Upon approaching the trailhead, we noticed law enforcement and Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicles and personnel had gathered in the parking lot. Concerned, we watched as they offloaded a stabilization board and other gear, assembled their team, and began their trek up the trail.

One of the volunteer rangers was still at the trailhead, as well as a few other hikers. We grabbed our tailgate lunches from our vehicles, along with our camp chairs, and decided to have lunch under the shade of the small pavilion before heading back out on the road.

While sitting there, we overheard details about the SAR situation. A 50-something man was hiking up to the Picketpost Mountain summit with his wife, and he injured his ankle badly enough that he could not continue or return on his own, so SAR was hiking up to get him.

His wife was one of the hikers under the pavilion with us. She shared that she and her husband were avid hikers from Montana, and he, himself, performs search and rescue operations. So, even experienced people can find themselves in predicaments out on the trail. Thankfully, it was just an ankle injury and nothing worse, but that would sadly put an end to their Arizona vacation fun.

Picketpost Mountain Loop Hike Stats

Picketpost Mountain Loop hike
Total Distance	8.91 mi
Total Time	3:43:51
Total Ascent	899 ft
Max Elevation	2,902 ft

After a bit more Jeeping in the area, we headed back to Gold Canyon to get cleaned up for dinner in Gilbert, AZ, at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in downtown. For dessert, we waited in line (for a very long time) outside Topo to try their renowned prickly pear soft serve.

The next morning, we got up early, loaded up our Jeep, and hit the road back to wintry Tahoe.