5 Tips You Must Know Before Hiking Picacho Peak Summit Trail
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. I may earn a commission by clicking these links, which helps me create more free travel content for everyone. For more information, check out my cookie policy.
Hiking the Picacho Peak summit trail is a staple if you’re in or around the Tucson area. When driving into the city from Phoenix, you can’t miss the staggering peak to your right.
Summiting this peak is like no other hike in Tucson. Along the trail, we had to climb up small crevices, cross wooden bridges and avoid an aggressive squirrel (really!).
All this to say that the views from the top were out of this world and worth the climb. The peak offers 360 panoramic views of farmland and other parts of nature.
Getting here is easy and you must pay an entrance fee as it is an Arizona State Park. There are some tips I wish I knew before embarking on this hike to Picacho Peak like what to wear and bring.
I’ll be going over all that and more in this blog as you prepare for one of the best hikes here in Arizona.
Is the Picacho Peak Hike Difficult?
The hike to Picacho Peak has over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in the span of just 2.8 miles, which might seem like a lot for some.
This much elevation gain in a short period means the hike is steep in certain sections. There are also other areas that you’ll climb down but it’s not easy terrain.
It typically takes people around three hours to reach the summit and to go back down. This can vary from person to person.
We stayed at the top for 30 minutes, ate lunch, and took in the views. You can also check out Wasson Peak and Seven Falls if you want something not as technical.
Hunter Trail
The trail you’ll be taking all the way up to the peak is Hunter Trail.
This trail gives me Piestewa Peak vibes but is far less crowded. There’s no need for maps as the trail is very easy to follow.
There will be another trail connecting to it (the low point between both peaks) but just keep hugging the mountain and you’ll be good.
Hiking in June
We hiked the Picacho Peak summit trail the first week of June. It was hot. But that didn’t stop us from having a great time.
If you’re looking for a hike that is shorter and easier to access during the hotter months, then check out Brown Mountain Trail in Western Tucson.
I tried to round up the troops as early as possible to start the hike. I believe we arrived at the trailhead around 9:30 am.
I’d suggest starting this hike in the early morning hours to avoid the heat. With that being said, there will be a few shaded areas depending on the time of day you go.
There will be no cover at the top so be prepared for that.
Tips & Things to Know Before Hiking
Tucson as well as the entire state of Arizona is a unique hiking destination. The climate is much different and you have to prepare for that.
What you should bring will depend on the time of day and year you hike this trail.
In the morning of the winter months, it could be freezing temperatures and mid-day during the summer months will be extremely hot.
1. Bring Gloves
Bringing gloves when attempting to reach the summer of Picacho Peak is one of the top tips everyone mentions. If you have them, it doesn’t hurt to bring them but they aren’t 100% necessary.
The gloves are mainly for the cables which can be slippery and sometimes hot. When we did this hike in the late to mid-morning, the cables were only warm and not hot.
If you want a good grip while going up the cables but don’t want to spend a lot of money, I’d suggest checking out the Talon 3/4 Belay Gloves.
2. Visit in the Cooler Months
The best months to complete this hike would be during late January and into February. The sun isn’t unbelievably hot and will be around 75 degrees or a tad hotter during the day.
Now we hiked this in June and we had no issues with it but you have to be prepared for the extreme heat in that situation.
During these months, you can hike at any point during the day and you’ll be fine but I suggest going early if you go in the summer months.
Hike to Sabino Canyon’s Hutch’s Pool if you’re looking for a hike in Tucson that is a bit cooler.
3. Bring Snack for the Top
This one is probably pretty self-explanatory. The best lunch in the world is on the top of any peak with views for days. Everyone knows this. I’m sure you know this.
The main reason I bring a backpack is to stuff as many snacks in it as possible. And maybe a sandwich or two.
4. Bring Cash for Parking
This is an Arizona State Park which means paid parking. On the off chance that no one is at the gate when you arrive, you can leave cash instead.
It costs $7 per vehicle to park here. Arizona takes great care of these parks and this money can go a long way.
There’s also some construction going on during the time of me writing this (2/15/2025), so be wary of that.
5. Stay at the Picacho Peak RV Resort
Located right next to the trailhead is this RV Resort. Here you can pay $50 per night if you have an RV or buy a monthly/annual pass.
There are some great amenities at this resort other than hiking trails. You can swim in their pool, and jacuzzi, visit the library, and the clubhouse.
My Experience Hiking (in June)
Visiting Picacho Peak State Park is an amazing experience. Not only are the views sensational, but it’s also a historic landmark.
The biggest Civil War battle took place here on April 15th, 1862.
Arriving at the Trailhead
We arrived at the trailhead around 9:30 in the morning, paid for parking, took a quick pee break, and headed on up.
The heat was strong in the morning and we knew that we had to keep a good pace if we wanted to finish before the hottest part of the day.
Continuing on Hunters Trail
The trail continues to be mainly gravel as you hit some switchbacks up to the middle section. Around here we took a water break and took in the views.
There’s even a bench if you want somewhere to sit down. You’ll want to follow the trail around the mountain and start to head down. This is where we ran into an aggressive squirrel. Be careful!
There’s a cable handrail that helps you go down this steep section. It might not be necessary to use but it’s something you’ll see more here in a little bit.
The Saddle Leading to the Peak
After this downward incline, the trail became flatter. I thought we were closer than we were. The fun had yet to begin.
On our right was a vast openness of land, which was stunning to see while on the side of this mountain.
Not much further along we encountered more cables that we had to use to climb through narrow areas or to go up rock faces.
This section is where the gloves will come most in handy though I don’t think they are completely necessary. They do help if you have them though.
This mixture of terrain and obstacles made the hike that much more fun than any I’ve done in Arizona up to this point.
Don’t let this section scare you. It might be hard but it’s well worth it when you see the views from the top of Picacho Peak.
Final Thoughts
There’s another small peak that you can visit if you have time. Instead of going to the right to reach the true peak, you can hook a left to get a different perspective of this park.
Picacho Peak State Park is an adventure no matter what month of the year you visit. Going during the flower blooming season is when I want to go next.
This hike is considered hard, and it is don’t get me wrong. But it’s very doable for most hikers that I come across. It’s an adventure that you must add to your Arizona bucket list!
