Date: May 12, 2025 • Elevation: 7,152 feet • Prominence: 901 feet • Distance: 3.4 miles • Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes • Gain: 1,170 feet • Conditions: Sunny and very warm

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

This peak is the highest peak in the Big Lue Mountains in far-east Arizona. The Big Lue Range is an escarpment of peaks that rise over 3,000 feet from the San Francisco Valley below in southern Greenlee County, with cliffs facing south and west. However, on its northern and eastern sides, the slopes are far gentler, allowing for relatively easy access as long as one doesn't mind hiking through heavy forest at times.

The Big Lue Range seems to "end" at the pass where state route AZ-78 crosses through the range. This seems arbitrary in my opinion, but that seems to be the accepted demarcation. Were the range's designation to extend farther southeast, then Maverick Hill would be the range's highest point, which I hiked fourteen years ago.

I had some free time now that the semester at ASU had ended, and wanted a couple days of exploring peaks in and around Greenlee County. I was here a year ago on a similar trip, but had placed this peak at the end of that trip. When I arrived, it was breezy and warm, and I was tired and not enthusiastic about camping in warm breezy weather, so I skipped it. This time, I put it as the first peak on the agenda.

I planned to leave at 3 a.m. from Bisbee, to be at the trailhead just after the sun had risen. I did not sleep well the night before, only getting a couple hours of sleep. I was up at 2:30 a.m., so I got up, got my stuff packed, had a breakfast, and left a little after 3 a.m. anyway.

The drive went well, being dark the whole way. The sun rose when I was nearing Safford, where I topped the gas. I then followed US-70 east to the US-191 split, then that up and over the northern Peloncillo Range (where Guthrie Peak lives), coming to the intersection with highway AZ-78 at the community of Three Way. After dodging some construction equipment, I drove up this steep road to get myself into the highlands near Big Lue Mountain.

I drove a couple miles to Forest Road 212, going northwest on it a little less than a mile, going past a small ranch. I parked at a sharp turn in the road, where a tiny cleared spot allowed me room to stash my car. This is at the mouth of Seep Spring Canyon, which heads into the hills on a direct bearing to the peak, which was invisible for now. Scott Peavy followed this route years ago and I used his GPS track as my guide. Other routes follow the ridges hemming in this canyon, but appeared longer.

It was cool when I parked, my car reading about 55° outside. The day was sunny with a few high clouds. I got properly dressed and my pack situated, and was walking at 6:40 a.m., following an old vehicle track into the canyon.

The track actually went in a ways, there being some evidence of bulldozers such as berm piles, probably from a hundred years ago. These days, it is undrivable, but a good footpath runs through the center of this ancient track.

The path crosses into and out of the rocky canyon bottom numerous times, and I tended to follow what looked easiest, so I walked a lot within the rocky drainage too, which wasn't too bad. There was minimal brush that could easily be avoided. I kept at this for about a half hour, covering about three-quarters of a mile.

The track seemed to re-appear conveniently and head up the toe of a ridge, this being where the canyon itself splits. The grade steepened but was never too steep. The track was faint and full of rocks, with some grass and brush encroaching onto it. Then the track disappeared, but it did not matter. I had mostly-open slope and could see my way up just fine. To be safe, I ribboned a couple strategic turns for when I descended.

This initial slope gained about 250 feet to top out on a rocky knob, where the track then bends a little more to the right (looking up). By now, I had full view of Big Lue Mountain's mass, but not yet of its highest point. The route would angle right, then curl left and up to the top.

The track seemed to reapper briefly in segments, then after a forty-foot drop into a clearing, it ended. Cow poop indicated they get up to about here, but no higher. I saw no such beasts today. The grade steepened and slowly, the tree cover thickened. I started ribboning a few spots just to be safe.

The remainder of the hike was just a steep trudge up through moderate forest cover (junipers, oaks) until I could sense the highpoint somewhere. The grade lessened to near flat and I could see the rim of the range ahead. Shortly, I was at the summit area.

Finding the actual highpoint took a few minutes. It's flat here with about four good rock outcrops as candidates. I tagged each one and snapped some images of the valley below and the distant ranges across the way. It had taken me an hour and twenty minutes to get here.

I found the cairn and register abutting a rock tucked within a small tree, and signed in, the first for 2025. I also took a decent break and enjoyed the views. The temperature had shot up about fifteen degrees, into the lows 70s. In the sun, it was warm, but in shade, very pleasant. I had mostly shade where I sat.

Going down, I followed my route out, untying the ribbons as I found them. My main concern was missing a turn and going down a wrong slope. It was probably overkill on my part, but hiking through dense forest has gotten me lost twice now in the past.

With gravity pulling me down, I made better time, descending off the ridges and back into the canyon bottom in about a half hour. Now I had flattish easier terrain to walk out, following old footpaths and the canyon bottom out back to my car.

Then I tripped and fell hard. My foot caught a downed branch and before I knew it, I was going down. I fell into a small grouping of rocks, each just a few inches high. My upper right thigh took the brunt, falling flush onto one such rock, just a little guy about 4 inches off the ground. But I slammed it hard and hurt badly at first. As usual after such a fall, I lay there, equally stunned and annoyed, and made sure I was going to live. Other than my right thigh, I felt fine, just a few other scratches. I cursed at myself briefly then got up.

I was able to walk on the leg but it hurt. It wasn't busted, which I was grateful. I likely gave it a deep bone bruise. I rubbed it to get the blood flowing, then slowly walked out the remaining half mile, now being more attentive. I was back to my car a little after 9 a.m., much warmer by now.

I was happy to tag Big Lue's summit, and glad to finally get it done after skipping it last year. This is a pretty area, likely frequented by hunters more than hikers. It's a little too far and remote to attract the hordes of hikers.

My plan now was to drive into New Mexico and catch US-180 and follow that north toward Luna, angling eventually back into Arizona. I had one peak on the agenda in New Mexico, called Prairie Point Peak. I found the road to it just fine, but gave up on it immediately.

My thinking was that the remaining peaks I had on the docket today were short hikes and probably better to do now that my leg had a brand-new owie. I could also save this peak for a future trip to concentrate in this area of New Mexico.

I passed back into Arizona and through the town of Alpine, stopping briefly at the main gas station and general store. Here at over 8,000 feet, it was cool, in the high 60s, and very green. Walking on my leg was painful at first, but after a few steps, not so bad, which was encouraging. I stocked up on a few drinks and snacks and heading toward Peak 9509 — Noble Mountain West, where the rest of today's tale picks up.