The Mountains of Arizona
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Peak 6143 • Peak 6188 • Peak 5843 These three peaks lie on a straight line, emanating east of big Granite Mountain, northwest of Prescott. Being technical, the westernmost peak, Peak 6188, lies barely within the Prescott National Forest. The middle peak, Peak 6143, lies outside the forest on unincorporated county land. The eastern peak, Peak 5843, lies inside Prescott city limits. The peaks are accessible by trails, old roads, and some cross country, utilizing parts of the big Prescott Circle Trail network, which runs about 60 miles and encircles Prescott. I'd be accessing part of the trail at the Katahn Road Trailhead. However, all three peaks require off-trail hiking, through branchy brush that could be thick and cumbersome at times. I got the idea for these three peaks last week when I hiked Bixler Mountain, thinking that I could drive down to Prescott on my way back to the Phoenix area and grab one or more of these peaks. But that day, I was very tired and it was very warm, into the 90s in Prescott, so I saved them for another day, such as today. I already had maps printed anyway. Yesterday, I drove into Tempe to teach my classes, then headed north on Interstate-17 to camp. It was very hot in the deserts, still over 100° even at 8 p.m.. I drove onto the higher lands above Black Canyon City and stopped at a truck stop at Cordes Lakes, where AZ-69 splits off the interstate toward Prescott. It had "cooled" to about 85°. I needed a place to camp, so I drove north a few miles to the Dugas Road exit, where I camped a year ago when I climbed Tule Mesa. In the dark, I crept in about 3 miles and found some cleared ad-hoc camping areas a little east of Estler Peak. It was cooler, now about 80°. I sat in the front seat and ate a meal, then set up my cot in the open. The sky was cloudy, but the moon could still be seen and the clouds would part, showing the stars. I had a crescent moon until about 1 a.m.. It was dry with no breeze, but not uncomfortable. I was tired, but struggled to sleep. Any noise awoke me. I was hassled by mosquitoes. They'd fly close to my ear and I'd awake to their little buzzing noise. I did sleep, but not very much, but enough to get by for the day. I was up at 5 a.m.. The weather has been wet and stormy, but mornings have been calm and mostly clear. Storms were expected just about everywhere by noon. I figured I had about 4 hours to climb my peaks before it started to rain. I was on the move at 5:30 a.m.
Date: September 3, 2025
• Elevation: 6,143 feet ✳
• Prominence: 349 feet ✳
• Distance: 4.9 miles (loop, includes Peak 6188)
• Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• Gain: 700 feet (Peak 6143 only)
• Conditions: Cool, mostly sunny skies
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I drove back to the AZ-69 exit, then followed it into Prescott Valley, bypassing the main city by taking the Fain Road/AZ-89A bypass. This fed me onto Pioneer Parkway, which ends at Williamson Valley Road. I went south briefly, the followed narrow residential streets, following Katahn Road to its end at a forest service gate. There is a tiny pullout here, a trailhead for the Willow Trail (#347), part of the Prescott Circle Trail.
I rolled in about 6:30 a.m., the day sunny and cool for now, in the high 60s. There were a few clouds, and it was noticeably humid. But for now, it was comfortable.
From the trailhead, Peak 6143 (listed as 6129 on the map) rises directly north. It has three obvious bumps, the middle being highest. Peak 6188 (listed as 6182 on the map) is a rounded hill to the west. Both were visible from the trailhead.
I was walking at 6:40, the trail dropping a little, then angling left and up a drainage. It makes a couple drops along the way. A half mile later, I was at a junction. I went right (northish) on Trail #341.
This latter trail was in good shape and easy to follow. It gains gently and in about fifteen minutes, brought me to the saddle between Peaks 6143 and 6188.
I chose to tackle Peak 6143 first. Its westernmost bump is a rocky prow with a noticeable point. Off trail now, I followed lanes to a fence, which I squeezed under. I was able to keep to lanes most of the time, but the grade steepened, and the brush would close in. It was branchy brush but easily pushed aside or pushed through.
Now on the apron of rocks, I stepped upward until I was at the base of the prow's cliffs. I angled right and found a good chute and ledge system to ascend. The scramble was easy, but it had a little exposure so I was careful.
Now on top this prow, the other two bumps were visible. I walked atop this prow and descended about 30 feet, the down-climb being a little messy due to rocks and brush. It was an easy walk up the slope to the second bump. Its highest point was at the east end.
This point is clearly highest, the third bump to the east about fifteen feet lower. There is a cairn here with a stick, but I found no registers. Views were good, especially that of Granite Mountain. I snapped a few images, but started down quickly. It was already warming up. It had taken me about 45 minutes to get here, gaining about 700 feet.
Rather than deal with the first prow's rocks, I dropped off the ridge to the south and followed more open slope and paths, circling underneath the prow and eventually circling back to where I had come up, even scooting under the fence in the same spot. I was back to the saddle, now looking over at Peak 6188.
Elevation: 6,188 feet ✳
• Prominence: 325 feet
• Gain: 410 feet (Peak 6188 only)
• Conditions: Warming
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I followed a service road a little ways, intending to catch a ridge up to the peak. At first, the going wasn't too bad. I quickly came to a fence and scooted under it, and continued upward.
The brush was much denser on this hill and I spent a lot of time going up a way, then getting blocked and having to back out and try a different way. It was mostly waist-high mountain oak and holly and who-knows-what. When out of ideas, I would just bust through it and deal with the scratches.
There was much more prickly-pear cactus on these slopes. They would form barriers that I simply could not cross. At one point, I carefully tried to sidle by one, only to brush it barely with my right index finger and right hip. And just like that, I had a whole bunch of those tiny hair-like spines called glochids in my skin. I pulled out what I could but there's no way to pull them all out.
The rest of the climb was like this, a slow and convoluted path through the brush and cactus until I was finally on top the darn thing. I took a photo of the summit trees and rocks, but views were limited due to the growth. I stopped for about five minutes to eat and drink. This was a short but tiring hike.
Going down, I made no effort to retrace my ascent route. I just followed any lane that looked open, regardless where it led to. This wasn't much better. It would be hard to get lost anyway. A set of power lines is visible the whole way, and I would hit the road no matter what.
As things turned out, I ended up back at the fence at exactly where I had crossed it. I even recognized my butt prints on the dirt. I squeezed under the fence again, thought to myself I'm too old for this shit, got up and walked back to open road.
From here I just hiked the trail out to my car, arriving there a little after 9 a.m.. I had seen no one and there were no other cars there. This had been a good hike and I enjoyed the scenery, but it had been tiring too for reasons stated above. And damn, those little spines itch.
I had one more peak on the agenda. It was close by and I would be there in about ten minutes.
Elevation: 5,843 feet
• Prominence: 351 feet
• Distance: 1.2 mile
• Time: 45 minutes
• Gain: 325 feet
• Conditions: Much warmer and humid
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Back on Pioneer Parkway, I pulled into a small lot set aside for a scenic viewpoint. Peak 5843 rises to the southwest, with a water tank about half way up the slope. The peak lies on State Trust land.
I went under yet another fence, but here the strands were loose so getting through was easy. I aimed for the peak, going up the gentle slopes through moderate brush and grass. I bypassed the water tank.
Beyond it, there was more brush, taller than me, but with lanes and I was soon nearing the top. It was warm now and I was beat. Up ahead I saw what I thought was a rock outcrop.
As I got closer to it, it turned out to be some substantial walls about five feet high, stretching about sixty feet, with rooms and other walls jutting off of it. I had absolutely no idea there would be Indian ruins up here.
I clambered up one wall and down the other side, checking out the other structures and snapping a few images. I was delighted to see these walls as it was unexpected, and I always enjoy some random archaeology.
I descended the same way and was back to my car, this hike taking less than an hour. It wasn't even 10 a.m. yet, but I was done. It was getting warmer now, and very humid. Clouds were building already.
I looked online later, to see if there was any information on these specific ruins. I couldn't find anything. This peak has no name so it makes the search more difficult. I found references to the fact that the ancient Indians in the region often built fortifications atop the various hills. These particular ruins, while interesting, likely have no special significance in the bigger picture.
I changed into less nasty clothing and debated what to do. I did not have to be in the Phoenix area until late afternoon. So I followed some main roads (Willow Creek Road mainly) south into town. I rarely go into Prescott proper, and the road layout confuses me. But I had no desire to go the Interstate-17 route again. I'm tired of that route.
The road aims for downtown Prescott, so when I got to the city center at Whiskey Row, I parked and decided to rest here for an hour and walk the grounds.
I visited downtown Prescott when I first moved to Arizona in 1992 with my father. We had a beer at the St. Michael's hotel saloon. I came here once on my motorcycle in 1996. I think my wife and I visited once, this would have been around 2003. Other than a couple other times passing through, I haven't stopped in, probably in 20+ years.
I walked the sidewalk and popped into a couple shops, then crossed the street and wandered the grounds around the courthouse, reading the historical signs. I had parked in front of an ice cream and candy store. Suddenly, I wanted ice cream.
Just about this time the rain started and came down hard, with some lightning and thunder. I got a small "cookie monster" scoop, vanilla colored blue, with oreo bits in it. Then I sat and ate it on one of their outside chairs while the rain fell. This was a good way to waste an hour.
I left Prescott by following AZ-89 south and taking the scenic mountainous route south, then stopping again in Yarnell for a couple cold drinks. I stopped again at the overlook where the highway drops down the Yarnell grade. Then I stopped again a few miles later in Congress, checking out Tenderfoot Hill, which I considered hiking but only if there was a trail. There wasn't, so I skipped it. I was trying to waste more time.
Back on the highway, I followed the routes into Wickenburg, then across AZ-74 toward the Carefree Highway and then Scottsdale Road south into town. It was hot now, about 107°. I shopped for groceries and got into my hotel at 3 sharp to shower and take a long nap. It had been a good day, but tiring.
When I got to my hotel and checked my emails and forums for my online class, there was nothing. No activity. I hadn't missed a thing, so I felt good about goofing off for most of the day.
Those glochids in my skin continued to drive me nuts. At my hotel, I had some duct tape in my car, so I put a strip on my skin over the glochids and peeled, and it worked. I got about half of them on each peel, to where they didn't bother me any more.
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