The Mountains of Arizona
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Peak 3863 • Peak 3760 (BM: ET1-WTB) • Peak 2032 Today I would be looking at two peaks in the Ninety Six Hills, a batch of hills about 30 miles southeast of Florence and northeast of highway AZ-79. The two peaks were in different parts of the hills, but not that far apart. I was here about three weeks ago when I climbed Peak 4339. On that trip, I had intended to climb Peak 3863, only because it was closer to the road. I skipped Peak 3863 but came back today to give it some love. Peak 3760 lies about eight miles on a straight line to the northwest, overlooking the old 96 Ranch. I was here in March when I climbed Peak 3626. Both of these peaks were climbed on my Tuesday Tempe drive, leaving little extra time to climb more than one peak. Today, with the whole day open, I would hope to get both. Earlier yesterday I found out my mother had passed during the night. She was 84 and had been in poor health so it wasn't a surprise, but it was still a punch to the gut to learn about it. I drove into Tempe to teach my classes, which I did but I was not really with it. My mind was elsewhere. I was sad but numb. Today, with a day open, I wanted to be nowhere near campus. I was up early and on the freeways before dawn. It was about an 90-mile drive to get to the Ninety Six Hills. I arrived about 7:30 a.m., the day sunny and clear, and very chilly for the moment but expected to warm into the 60s.
Date: December 3, 2025
• Elevation: 3,863 feet
• Prominence: 383 feet
• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 90 minutes
• Gain: 440 feet
• Conditions: Sunny and cold
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I eased off the highway onto Freeman Road, then drove a little over 10 miles to the parking area near where a track heads south toward Peak 3863. When I climbed Peak 4339 a few weeks back, I drove some of this track. Today, I just parked, choosing to walk it. It wasn't worth it to drive in just another quarter mile.
I got suited up and started walking a little before 8 a.m., following the track south. A little under a mile later, I could see Peak 3863 clearly, about a half-mile distant. I left the track and walked overland toward it, following lanes and dropping into and out of a few arroyos along the way.
The peak's long north ridge looked promising so I aimed for it. The lay of the land fed me onto this ridge not at its northernmost base, but a little more along its east-facing side. The slope from here to the ridgetop looked steep, brushy and rocky, but not difficult.
I started up the slope, making it up as I went along. I was able to keep to lanes most of the time, and push through the easy brush the rest of the time. It gets steep for a little bit, but I moved slowly, and in about ten minutes had gained the ridge.
Now I just turned south and aimed for the top. The brush was much lighter on the ridge and I made good time. Toward the top, the ridge steepened and there were more rock outcrops. I found it easier and safer to stay on the rock rather than drop to one side or the other.
These rocky segments weren't bad, and I did not need to scramble, only using the hands once or twice for balance. I had one more such rocky segment and then once that was over, I was near the top. I found a cairn on one lobe and tagged it, then walked over to the other lobe for images and to look around. It had taken me about 45 minutes to get here.
The day was cool but comfortable, temperatures in the low 50s, with a strong sun and no breeze. I sat briefly to relax and have a drink. I hadn't even brought a pack. I just wore a fleece jacket and stuffed my items in the pockets.
For the egress, I followed pretty much the same route, with variations when I'd follow a track for a ways, adding a little distance. But it went fast and I was back to my car about 9:30, a 90-minute round trip hike.
I was pleased to tag this little peak and add it to my collection. I was feeling pretty good overall.
Elevation: 3,760 feet ✳
• Prominence: 578 feet
• Distance: 2.2 miles
• Time: 75 minutes
• Gain: 600 feet
• Conditions: Sunny, pleasant
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I exited out back to the highway, then went north a few miles to 96 Ranch Road (at milepost 119). Then I followed this road in toward the hills about eight miles (I did not keep close track).
The road gets a little haggard as it gains an apex, then drops into a basin where the old 96 Ranch once functioned. It is still private property and there were postings on either side of the road, but it appears the road through is a public easement.
I passed through the main complex, the main ranch house to the south, and some outbuildings scattered about. These have been abandoned for many years. A caretaker apparently lives on site, as there was a kept-up camper propped up on stanchions slightly below the house, partly hidden from the road.
I drove until I passed one last small building and corral area, then passing a gate, where the posting notices stopped. It appeared I was back on State Trust land and outside the ranch boundary. I pulled into a small parking clearing immediately past the gate. Peak 3760 (3757 on the map) rose to the north, less then a mile away.
Since I was already dressed and ready to go, I was on the move within minutes. Two south-trending ridges come off the summit, and I'd be taking the one more to the east, or directly ahead of me from where I stood. The challenge for the moment was getting through the arroyos down low and onto higher ground where I could gather my bearings better.
Once above the arroyos, I could see what I needed to do. Just head north and walk uphill. The ground was rocky and brushy but never in very heavy abundance. When the grade was steep, the rocks rolled, like they always do.
I scampered up one steep slope, a gain of about 40 feet. I was now on the long ridge I mentioned, and the grade was very gentle. I made excellent time, as the rocks here were less apt to roll. Shortly, I was near the top of this ridge.
I angled left and found a way up to the proper summit ridge, from which it was another gentle slope to the top. This had been a fast and efficient hike, a 35-minute one-way ascent time.
The top is fairly broad but finding the highpoint was easy, with a cairn built atop it. I tagged a few nearby rocks to be safe. I signed into the register. It was damp and the pages were rotting, but I was able to add my name. Nearby the cairn is a benchmark stamped ET1 WTB. I have no idea what it means and a web-search comes up with nothing. The benchmark is not in the USGS database.
Views were very good. I could see Newman Peak and Picacho Peak to the west, Picacho Peak looking like a resting cat from a distance. To the northeast, Pinal Peak rose high, with some cloud cover. Black Mountain rose to the southeast. I spent about ten minutes up top.
Going down, I followed the same routes. I could see the ranch buildings easily, taking me directly back to my car. The round trip only took an hour and fifteen minutes and had gone much better than I was expecting. I was pleased.
Elevation: 2,032 feet ✳
• Prominence: 313 feet
• Distance: 2 miles
• Time: 1 hour
• Gain: 470 feet
• Conditions: Very nice
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I was soon back to the highway, the time about noon. I drove into Florence and parked at the gas station across from the prisons, but I never got out. I just sat there, answered a few emails, read some texts and relaxed. I did not want, or need, to be back to my hotel in Scottsdale for a few more hours. I wanted something to do to occupy my time.
Peak 2032 is just a little bump of desert that rises above some homes near the new city of San Tan Valley (incorporated two months ago). I've been here twice now in past years and either gave up after a short hike, or never got out of the car. I figured today, with time to kill and a brain to keep distracted, this would be a good chance to tag this humble bump.
I drove north out of Florence to Arizona Farms Road, then that west toward San Tan Valley. This fed me onto Hunt Highway, which I followed with suddenly dozens of other cars, now in the heart of the city. I drove until I got to Gary Road, then followed that south to ... Gail Road. That was my mom's name :(.
This area is outside the city limits and appears to be some "nicer" homes on larger properties, with garages big enough to house an RV. Where Gail Road turns into Royce Road heading north, there was a potential let-in point toward the peak. But it was gated and negatively signed, and too close to homes to stash a car.
I took Royce to Phillips, then that to Thompson going south. It makes a turn, now called Brenner Pass Road. I was now west of the peak. The peak lies on a patch of desert about a square mile in area, part of the San Tan Regional Park, but not developed.
A couple years ago I parked west of the hills in a small turnaround used by trash dumpers, and tried to hike to the peak from this way. I scampered up a steep hill thinking I could follow the ridge to the top but once atop that hill, saw this would not work. I was looking at more drops and intervening hills. There really is no summit ridge. It's just a bunch of small hills of which one is the highest.
I parked hidden behind a palo verde, and started walking, scaling a fence along the way. This time I would do an end-run arund the hills, going south then cutting east mostly along the desert flats until I was near a ridge that went to the top. I had one good omen: a golf ball was just lying there. It was a yellow one. I picked it up and kept it. I knew now I would be successful with this adventure.
When I identified the highest hill, I got onto its southerly ridge. It was steep and rocky but safe as long as I went slow. The rocks here just lie atop one another and move easily. I had to scamper up one rocky hill, then down about 40 feet, then up another steep rocky segment aiming for the top.
I got to the top, relieved to see it really was the top. A simple cairn sits at the summit, but there was no register. Views were nice but I did not want to stick around. I got what I came for and had some concern about leaving my car where I did.
For the downhill, I followed some different slopes, but was soon back to my ascent route as I could see my own bootprints. I hustled back to my car and got in, just as some lady was driving through this little area. What she was doing here, I'd like to know. She probably thought the same about me and my presence. The area is disgusting with mattresses, furniture, bags seeping motor oil, drywall, glass and stuff like that. I changed, then got going.
I was feeling good about the day. This third peak was nothing special but I was happy to tag it and never have to worry about it ever again. It was closer to 2 p.m. now and time to get back to town.
I got back to Gary Road then Hunt Highway, then went south to Gantzel Road, which goes north about ten miles to the future freeway AZ-24. These days it's just some connectors to the Loop-202, the actual freeway won't be built for many years. I noticed the lights here in San Tan Valley and in Queen Creek are long, one rotation taking minutes at a time.
Once on the 202, I followed that into Tempe and stopped in at the Tempe Marketplace to waste some more time. I got a chicken shawarma meal from the Greek place, then went back to my hotel to clean up and nap. It had been a good day in the desert with three peaks in the books.
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