Date: March 4, 2025 • Elevation: 2,165 feet • Prominence: 345 feet • Distance: 1.8 miles • Time: 1 hour • Gain: 435 feet • Conditions: Sunny and clear

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

This peak is just a hill that appends to one of the ridges coming off of Newman Peak in central Arizona. The Picacho Pumping Station, part of the Central Arizona Project canal, lies at the foot of the hill. Here, the canal runs alongside the east base of the mountains, then disappears underground for about a mile as it heads south.

I was on my weekly drive to Tempe, and this peak would be a good excuse to stop for an hour and get a hike in. It's not a peak I would drive all this way for specifically, but as a short detour, it would work well.

From Interstate-10, I got onto northbound AZ-87 on the eastern outskirts of Eloy, then north on that for 3.5 miles, turning east onto Houser Road. Five miles on Houser, I had left the farms behind, now in the undeveloped desert at the base of the hills. I turned right (south) onto Brandy Pump Road, going a mile, then veering onto a dirt track that bypassed the main facility.

The track bent around the lowest of the hills, then veered back toward the facility's back side. A van was parked on a side road I wanted. I could not tell what it was, but I did not want to chance meeting a worker or security guy and being told to scram. So I drove on the main track another half mile south, parking alongside the road, partially hidden by a big clump of palo verde.

The land here is State Trust, including the peak. A tiny sliver of public (BLM) land is nearby. The nearest private land was a mile to the west. I was not concerned about trespassing. There were no substantial fences except at the facility itself, and no prohibitive signage.

It was a sunny day with a breeze, the temperatures in the high 50s after a brief February warm spell, a drop of nearly 30 degrees compared to last week. I went light, wearing a vest and stuffing my things into the pockets. I walked on an angle toward the peak, crossing an old livestock fence early on by stepping over it. The terrain was open, mainly grass, palo verde, creosote, barrel cactus and a few saguaro.

In about ten minutes I was at the base of the hill. Above me was a notch about 125 feet above. The ridge is rocky, mainly granite, while the lower slopes were more open, a few big rocks, a lot of smaller rocks, and everything resting on gravel. Fortunately, the grade was lenient. Footing was generally good. I hiked up to this notch without any issues.

Next up was a steeper slope of bigger rocks mixed with moderate brush. The rocks held together well, forming steps. I still moved carefully, as any one could slip without warning. The grade then lessened, and I could then see the remainder of the ridge and the highpoint.

This last segment went quickly, too, more of the same big rocks and jumbles and brush. The very top is a heap of large boulders, the only time I needed hands in a couple spots. I was soon on top the peak. The remains of a wooden cross lay on the rocks. A cairn was on the topmost rocks and a register therein. I signed in, just the fourth signature in 5 years.

Views were good. The sun was intense to the south and glared everything that way, including Newman Peak. I could see the canal and the buildings, the desert, then the farms looking west. The air was hazy due to some persistent winds. It had taken me just under a half hour to get here. I took about a five minute break. Not a bad peak.

Going down, I retraced my route, going slowly down the rocks, then once back onto the desert flats, making little better time. The flats weren't that flat. Every twenty feet was an arroyo to cross. These were easy but would slow me due to the brush. I was back to my car soon, a round trip of a little under two miles in just a shade under an hour.

I was pleased with this outing. On a map, this peak doesn't look so sexy, but when close to it, it's an enjoyable hike and certainly something to do if in the area. Access is not prohibited, and seeing anyone else, except for a canal worker, is unlikely.

From here, I drove back out via Brandy Pump and Houser Roads to AZ-87, and went north a few miles, catching Florence Boulevard (AZ-287) westbound into Casa Grande, where I picked up the Interstate again. Tonight was double integrals night and I wanted to be fresh and rested for it.