Arizona Mountains

The majestic 12,360-foot Agassiz Peak is the second-highest in the state, but is often confused for the first because of its lofty appearance. The mountain has the honor of being home to an endangered flower known as the San Francisco Peaks groundsel; because of this, hiking above the treeline is only permitted during the winter months when the ground is covered in snow. The summit offers views all the way to the Grand Canyon, and overnight accommodation is available on the mountain at Agassiz Lodge. Visitors should be aware that they will need to obtain a Kachina Peaks Wilderness Access Permit.

Also known as El Capitan, Agathla Peak is a sacred place for the Navajo people and was named for the animal hair that accumulated on the rock when it was used to clean animal hides. Consisting of an igneous type of rock known as minette, the mountain is part of the Navajo Volcanic Field and is actually an eroded volcanic plug that rises up quite abruptly from the surrounding flat terrain. Reaching the 7,099-foot peak is possible but requires technical climbing skills, and the best time to attempt it is in April, May, and September through November.

Only 50 miles away from Tucson, the Baboquivari Peak Wilderness offers some of the best backcountry rock climbing in the state. The wilderness area is 2,065 acres in size, and Baboquivari Peak itself has an elevation of 7,739 feet. There are several different routes to the summit, all of which include both hiking and technical rock climbing. The Forbes Route is often considered to be the easiest; it has a rating of 5.6. The mountain is of great importance in the creation story of the Tohono O’odham people, and climbers often leave trinkets at the summit for the god I'itoi.

Part of the western foothills of the Black Mountains, the Boundary Cone is an easily recognizable landmark located only 12 miles away from the Colorado River. The summit sits at 3,430 feet, and a trip up and down the mountain takes approximately 3-4 hours. Although not technically difficult, the ascent should only be attempted by people with some technical rock climbing skills and experience. The mountain is of great religious and cultural importance to several Native American tribes living in the area, and because of this, it is eligible to be included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Named for its resemblance to the humps of a camel, Camelback Mountain is one of the state's top hiking destinations. There are two main hiking routes: Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail. Both take between 1.5 and 3 hours but are very difficult and should only be attempted by experienced, well-prepared hikers when the weather is appropriate. The mountain gets quite busy, especially on the weekends, and visitors are advised to go early because the entry gates are closed once the park has reached capacity. Limited parking is available, but there are also plenty of bike lock racks.

Located in the Huachuca Mountain range, Carr Peak has an elevation of 9,229 feet. The most popular route up the mountain is the moderately difficult Carr Peak Trail, which can be easily accessed from both the Ramsey Vista Campground and the Reef Townsite Campground. To reach the summit, you'll need to take the short but steep Carr Peak Spur, which is located right off the main trail. In addition to offering excellent hiking, the area is also home to a wide variety of bird species, including 15 species of hummingbird and a number of species unique to the southwest United States.

Easily accessible from Tucson, Cat Mountain is a 3,852-foot peak that offers excellent scrambling and hiking opportunities. The mountain's proximity to the city means that many visitors choose to spend the night in one of the many accommodation options there, but 130 sites are available at the nearby Gilbert Ray Campground for anyone wishing to camp. Because of the mountain's relatively low altitude, visitors are advised to come during the cooler weather of the fall, spring, and winter; March and April are great for wildflower-viewing.

Formed by a tremendous volcanic eruption that occurred approximately 27 million years ago, the Chiricahua Mountains are named after the Chiricahua Apache Indians, who used to inhabit the area. The mountains have a vastly different habitat than the surrounding lowlands, and the range is home to some flora and fauna that cannot be found anywhere else. One of the most notable features is the Chiricahua National Monument, which is full of stunning hoodoos and eroded rock spires that reach heights of more than 100 feet. Plenty of campsites can be found all throughout the mountain range, including the convenient Rustler Park.

Visible from Phoenix, the Four Peaks rise up more than 6,000 feet from the desert and are one of the area's most notable landmarks. Only the northernmost peak is named; known as Browns Peak, it is the highest of the four but also the least dangerous to climb. The path to the summit involves easy hiking as well as class 3 scrambling, and once at the top, hikers will be able to see approximately 25% of the state of Arizona. It's also possible to traverse all four peaks, although the class 4 route is 10 miles long and quite exposed.

One of the San Francisco Peaks in the northern part of the state, Fremont Peak is the third highest summit in Arizona. The mountain offers better views of the surrounding area than any of the other San Francisco Peaks, but it is not often climbed because of its long approach. The 11,969-foot summit can be reached via the challenging Arizona Snow Bowl-Humphreys Peak Trail, but other popular routes include a trail that leads into the scenic Inner Basin and the Weatherford Trail, which winds its way to the saddle between Fremont and the neighboring Doyle Peak.