Forest Service page for Humphreys Trail No. This is the route my wife and I chose to do a quick backpacking trip over Labor Day weekend, 2020. On a clear day you will see Humphrey's Peak on your right/East. 12,635 feet. On the San Francisco Peaks, there is no off-trail hiking to protect the endemic and endangered plant, the San Francisco Peaks Groundsel. Contrary to others, I encourage you to let your dog off leash. Then, follow the Humphreys Summit Trail for 1.0 miles to Humphreys Peak, which is the tallest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet. The location is in the Hart Prairie area just off of FR-151 at 8,434 feet elevation. Get to the top of Arizona. If you are coming from southern Arizona, hop on I-17 for 2.5 hours. The first mile of the trail is fairly smooth, with a few switchbacks that tease you into thinking, “this will be an easy hike” as it slowly snakes uphill. The highest peak in Arizona, Humphreys Peak, stands 12,635 feet tall and sits just 11 miles north of Flagstaff. To climb the peak, leave Hwy 180 at the well-signed Arizona Snow Bowl turnoff (waypoint ABJ180), a paved ski resort road. No matter which you choose, you'll be able to plan out each day with nary a distraction, surrounded by vast stretches of Arizonan nature landscapes without a single other person in sight. Reaching the top makes the hike worth the trip. Humphrey's Peak: Great campsite west of Humphreys Peak, AZ - See 169 traveler reviews, 149 candid photos, and great deals for Flagstaff, AZ, at Tripadvisor. It’s well worth the strenuous hike. Top Campgrounds near Humphrey's Peak If you've got an urge to hike the tallest mountain in Arizona, you're going to want to glamp at one of these top campgrounds near Humphrey's Peak. The mountain is located in Flagstaff which is about 2.5 hours from the Phoenix area and about an hour from Sedona as well. The trail has a 6 foot leash rule but 5 out 6 dogs I saw were not leashed. There was a port-a-potty near the trailhead... The trailhead is located at the north end of the parking lot (see photo). Humphreys Peak is the highest mountain in Arizona and resides in Coconino County, in the northern part of the state. Camping in a luxury cabin near Humphrey`s Peak, Arizona, adds a unique twist to the usual vacation. A few groups of well-over 30 college students made me realize the trail was going to be a lot crazier than I anticipated. Finally, continue down the Humphreys Summit Trail toward Snowbowl for the final 4.1 miles. Groups above treeline are limited to a maximum of 12 people. Your email address will not be published. Humphreys Peak is the king of the hills in Arizona. The last mile involves climing over a lot of boulders and loose scree - all uphill. If you have a dog follow the rules and keep it on the leash. Except for the campfire and open flame ban, perfect! LOUD hikers. It’s the pinnacle. No wind, no crickets, nothing. High-pointing each state is a goal for some adventurers, and if you’re interested in doing so in Arizona- Humphrey’s Peak will be your challenge. Top out on Arizona’s highest summit after pushing through this physically challenging, but nontechnical 9.4-mile out-and-back route up Humphreys Peak (12,557 feet). And, but for a few months a year, you will have to contend with snow. The trail can be very busy on the weekend but if you get an early start you'll be out in front. Humphreys Peak is sacred to virtually all Native American tribes of northern Arizona, with varying cultural stories about the mountain. 151; To hike this in winter, a free backcountry permit is required; As previously mentioned, lightning strikes are common, especially in the afternoon. ©  2020 The Ultimate Hang. At the end of the parking lot, closest to the ski lodge, you will see a sign for the Humphreys Peak Trail. Making it up and down is certainly something to be proud of, but, despite its stature, the Hump is not the most difficult hike in Arizona. Learn how your comment data is processed. The weekend of 24 May it got down to about 34f degrees at night, 72f as a high during the afternoon. This Humphreys Peak trail guide is a warning and an example of why you need to take this hike seriously and be prepared. It takes roughly three hours and can be extremely strenuous. The cool, breezy perch atop Humphreys Peak, a 12,633-foot extinct volcano, may feel like it belongs in the Cascades, but this is Arizona. Recommended experiences in and around Flagstaff. Access: From Flagstaff drive north on US 180 for 7 miles to FR 516, the Snowbowl Road. Required fields are marked *. Lots of rocks, roots, and elevation. Lots of folks on the trail in the summer but if you brave the winter you will be by yourself. This trip was pretty spartan, with no tarps and just simple systems. Online it says the trail to the summit is closed due to covid but I’m wondering if anyone has any updated information. 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. read more, Parking lot was fairly full by 11AM when I arrived. The hike was much more difficult than I remember. Here you can be just minutes from a myriad of wonderful trails and after a tiring day of hiking and adventure, return to your cozy cabin and put your feet up. USGS Map: Humphreys Peak Quad. Drive 7.4 miles on this paved road to the lower parking lot of the Snowbowl facility. Our 3 a.m. alarm clock consisted of a small group of hikers trying to make the summit before sunrise. And it’s volcanic (No, not active!). There are multiple trails to the summit, but the most common is the Summit Trial that starts near the parking lot of the SnowBowl ski resort, just a few miles northwest of Flagstaff. Protest continues regarding today’s high use, especially regarding artificial snow in the ski area. Bliss! Anyone who complains on this relatively remote trail is just a curmudgeon or a New York tourist. Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona, located within the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area of the Coconino National Forest. Humphreys Peak Camp and Hike. We squeezed our way through to find a place to sit and rest before we tackled the last mile or so to the summit. Since we were in Arizona last week visiting the Grand Canyon, we decided to take on Humphrey's Peak. My wife and I rolled into Flagstaff on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in July. more. General Notes: Rating: Strenuous I'm going down to AZ with a buddy to climb Humphrey's Peak next weekend. This was the first time I had done the hike in Winter. To stand on the roof of the state, take a short trip from Flagstaff up to the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort. We scrambled over the talus field, hunting with headlamps until we identified the right spot. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Sorry, but your pet is not above the rules. Parking lot was fairly full by 11AM when I arrived. My husband and I got into state high peaks a few years ago, so evertime we have an opportunity we hike (or drive) to a state high point. If you plan to summit bring supplies for 5 -7 hours. As a side note, the information we found on the trail said to start at the ski lift area. After soaking in the views from the highest point in Arizona, turn around and hike 1.0 mile back to Humphreys Saddle. It was a perfect spot for hammocks. At 12,637 feet with a prominence of 6,039 feet, the peak is an impressive site, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular destination for peak baggers and day hikers, as well as sacred to several native tribes. Is Humphrey’s Peak trail Open? Well, every mountain around Flagstaff is volcanic in origin. Humphreys Peak is the eroded remnant of an ancient volcano that was active more than 400,000 years ago. read more. After a few adjustments with our insulation, we were asleep. We set up our hammocks in a “V” formation, allowing us to be close but not collide. Now, it’s hardly the tallest peak in the continental U.S. (and I can see my Colorado friends rolling their eyes now), but consider what this hike is like for someone living in Phoenix. At 12,637 feet with a prominence of 6,039 feet, the peak is an impressive site, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular destination for peak baggers and day hikers, as well as sacred to several native tribes. Re: Camping on Humphreys Peak by lcarreau » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:41 am Alex Wood wrote: The Flying Dutchmen is a basalt scree field/avalanche chute visible just off the Humphreys Peak … About two miles from Hwy 180 you'll see a sign (at waypoint SPCAMP) that announces camping is legal beyond the fence. We started our hike after 8 p.m. after getting a late start to the trailhead. It was really fun to explain to passersby what were were doing and they all thought it was pretty amazing. No messy clean up. Ah, but once you reach the top the views are incredible! There was a port-a-potty near the trailhead... Hotels near Coconino Country Club Estates, Hotels near Grand Falls of the Little Colorado River, Hotels near CollegeAmerica - Flagstaff, AZ, Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Flagstaff, Observatories & Planetariums in Flagstaff, Game & Entertainment Centers in Flagstaff, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Flagstaff, Conference & Convention Centers in Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon National Monument: Tickets & Tours‎, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Tickets & Tours‎, Wupatki National Monument: Tickets & Tours‎, Coconino National Forest: Tickets & Tours‎, Grand Falls of the Little Colorado River: Tickets & Tours‎, Historic Downtown and Railroad District: Tickets & Tours‎, Museum of Northern Arizona: Tickets & Tours‎, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park: Tickets & Tours‎, Flagstaff Visitor Center: Tickets & Tours‎. The area is peppered with hundreds of cinder cones, but Humphreys Peak dominates the horizon in an otherwise flat expanse across the Colorado Plateau. The views from the summit are breathtaking. Fees: There is no fee to hike Humphreys Peak. I’ve camped on Humphreys before and knew how difficult it was to find a level spot along the steep terrain, so I wished him well, with an off-hand comment about our hammocks. An easy hike for peak baggers but a long day for a casual hiker. The Hopi call the peaks Nuva’tuk-iya … There are other trailheads around 9k (where you MIGHT be able to camp, but no signs say it's OK). Take US 180 north for 7 miles, then Snowbowl Road (FR 516) for 7.4 miles to the Snowbowl lower parking lot. In the summer you'll need to start very early and be off the summit by noon because of thunder storms. With several contacts in place, we packed up and headed down the mountain. His backpack was even smaller than my lightweight pack, but he confirmed he too was going to camp up on the mountain and catch the sunrise. Good day hike for summer or winter. 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. What can I see and do at Humphrey's Peak? Keep an eye on the weather and turn around immediately and head below tree-line if thunderclouds loom. This was the first time I had done the hike in Winter. The hike is steep and long, but the outstanding views at the summit make it well worth the difficulty. Flagstaff folks tend to walk their dogs off leash most everywhere. Built using WordPress and the Mesmerize Theme, Review – OneTigris Kompound Hammock and Night Protector Under Quilt. The parking lot was nearly empty, except for a few lovebirds cuddling after catching the sunset, and a lone car near the trialhead sign with a guy preparing a backpack. This means all your 10 essentials, water (couple liters), food, footwear (not flops), first aid and a good attitude. The plan: hit up Mother Road Brewing and waste away the afternoon sipping on IPAs before heading up Snowbowl Road to camp out at higher elevation and … Just spent the Memorial Day weekend at a great campsite just west of Humphrey's Peak in northern Arizona. The area is peppered with hundreds of cinder cones, but Humphreys Peak dominates the horizon in an otherwise flat expanse across the Colorado Plateau. We parked nearby and I struck up a conversation. 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. Many people will usually take day trips and be able to see both cities in one day. We're going to drive down on late on Thursday, and we'd like to find a place Camping near Humphrey's Peak trailhead? Haunted Downtown Flagstaff Tour by Segway... Humphrey's Peak Trail - San Francisco Peaks. A moderately difficult, 4.8-mile trail leaves from the resort and leads to the 12,633-foot summit of Humphreys Peak. Start hiking North across the green slope towards the treeline. I packed my portable radio and set up an operating position for a SOTA activation. Camping: The best areas to camp are on the road along to the trailhead. Visual proof: the distant Grand Canyon, shimmering like a mirage across the high-desert plateau below. The fact that I wasn’t testing any gear this go-around made choices easier: we picked gear we liked! The trail head for the Humphrey’s Peak hike can be accessed up a winding mountain road just a few minutes outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. The full trail is more than 9 miles (There and back) and gains over 3000 feet. That is the highest point in the state of Arizona and it’s located at the summit of Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff. Humphrey’s Peak is the tallest point in the state of Arizona at just over 12,000 feet (3600M). We continued until we hit a switchback that avoided a large rock slide. We had no intention of getting up that early, but it was a sign of things to come. Flagstaff makes for an excellent home base if you are planning to spend a day tackling the Humphrey’s Peak trail, or any other Flagstaff hikes. There was even a wooden bench at the top...how in the world did it get up there??! With no cloud cover, no wind, and no moisture in the forecast, we just set up our hammocks open to the sky. Humphreys Peak lies within 18,960-acre Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area. Title says it all. It’s the tallest mountain in Arizona. No sore shoulders. Finding your way to Humphreys Peak trailhead is as easy as putting “Snowbowl Flagstaff, AZ” in your GPS. Humphreys Peak Resources. Humphreys trail (the one that takes you to the highest point in Arizona) is 4.5 miles long each way. Sitting at 12,633 feet above sea level, Humphrey’s is the tallest peak in Arizona, and as expected, one of the most difficult to summit. It's almost 10 miles round trip to the top (12,637 feet) gaining over 3,300 feet along the way. In general though, this is not the GREATEST area to camp, but you can certainly make … Once near the summit, we stopped for a break. In fact, I think Flagstaff is home to all five different types of volcanoes. DIRECTIONS TO HUMPHREYS PEAK: Humphreys Trailhead is located 14.5 miles northwest of downtown Flagstaff, AZ at the San Francisco Peaks. Packing up our hammocks was quick and easy. The ridge to the summit is exposed rock and the climb is fairly tedious even without all the stopping, standing by, and averting as we passed or let pass all the other hikers. 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. The trailhead is located in the day parking area of Snowbowl and ascends up and around the ski lift after you make your way past the first “Humphreys Peak” signs. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. My wife held the antenna as I operated the Morse code. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I just love avoiding the ground! There is plenty to see and really only one thing to do at Humphrey's Peak: hiking! NF-522 in addition to some limited roadside camping spots. Your email address will not be published. When we got there, we found out that the trailhead no longer starts there. When we got to the saddle, it was a party of pedestrians. Humphreys Peak and the greater San Francisco Mountain is part of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area, which includes 18,960 acres. There's a parking lot before you reach the skilift which is clearly marked, so the round trip hike is closer to 10 miles. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Huge volcanic monolithic-looking boulders, expansive meadow and of course, fantastic Aspens and Pines. Up to the treeline, this is an easy -- though long -- tranquil climb. we started at 830am and plenty of parking... The highest point in the state. Humphrey’s Peak is located in north central Arizona. Hammock tips, illustrations, and reviews. The trailhead is at … This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Click on map thumbnail for larger view. It’s amazing. The trail cuts directly across the green/bunny slope of the ski area. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I have to admit it's not one of the easiest hikes. Over the treeline, more often than not, it is windy as all heck. By 6 a.m., we realized we couldn’t just lounge around forever, as the trail continued to fill with scores of hikers. Humphreys Peak Live Webcam & Weather Report in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States - See WorldWide Live Stream and Still Timelapse WebCams by See.Cam There is a sign which points to the parking lot on the left and the trail is very easy to follow all the way. The peak’s high elevation and cooler temperature makes it a great place to escape the scorching hot summer months in Arizona. The Humphreys Peak Trail begins at a parking lot located immediately before the entrance to the Snow Bowl ski area, and ends at Humphreys Peak. I don’t think I’ve ever been outdoors with such complete silence. There is no camping or campfires allowed above 11,400 feet. 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