Route: Humphreys Peak (AZ)

Humphreys Peak via Humphreys Trail No. 151:

This steep mountain trail leads to the highest point in Arizona. If you consider it merely as a means to that end, however, you'll miss much of the reason to come here. The trails runs approximately 5 to 5.5 miles in length one way, so make sure you start early in the day if you are planning a roundtrip day hike.  Along its course, a thriving alpine forest streaked with huge rock slides and avalanche tracks hugs the mountain's slopes. Scenic Hart Prairie stretches out the base of the incline and the Grand Canyon is easily visible on the horizon.

As the elevation increases, trailside vegetation shows more and more evidence of the extreme harshness of this environment. Near tree line what's left of the forest consists entirely of bristlecone pines bent and twisted by wind and frost. This hardy tree manages to live one of the longest lives on earth in one of the planet's most inhospitable environments. Above tree line the only plants that can survive are small tundra shrubs and wildflowers that huddle for shelter among the rocks. Some are found nowhere else in the world. Overhead, above Arizona's highest ridge, white-throated swifts dive and flash like miniature fighter planes as they feed on nearly invisible insects borne on the wind.

Humphreys Trail is steep and long and extremely rocky in its higher reaches. Above treeline it exposes you completely to the whims of nature. Here it may snow during any month of the year. In late summer monsoon storms can set the high country snapping with lightning. Be prepared to turn around and head for lower ground if a thunderstorm is brewing!

Once you do reach the summit ridge you'll feel like you're standing on top of the world. Off in the distance, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the mesas that are home to the Hopi Indians the Verde Valley and Oak Creek Canyon form a 360 degree panorama. And after you've seen it you'll be able to say you've been as high as you can get in Arizona.

Note that Humphreys has a Strava segment where times for the ascent have been recorded.  You can add your ascent and/or car-to-car time here or on Strava.

Up & back from Flagstaff (aka H2H2H):

This epic, out-and-back route starts at Heritage Square (at the heart of historic downtown Flagstaff, AZ) then (about 20.5 miles later and about 6,000 feet higher) goes to Humphreys Peak (highest point in AZ at 12,633 feet in elevation) and then back to Heritage Square. The route is 99% trail (smooth to rugged) and 100% beautiful. Just one hill!

Details: From Heritage Square, take a right (west) onto Aspen Avenue for 2.5 blocks; take a right onto N Humphrey Street and follow for 2 blocks; take a left onto W Cherry Avenue and follow for 1+ blocks; take right onto the dirt trail of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) and follow for 3+ miles to the traffic light on Fort Valley Road (Route 180); take a right onto Schultz Pass Road and shortly thereafter, bear left at fork (4 miles from start), staying on Schultz Pass Road; after about 0.2 miles, just as the road turns to dirt, take a right down into dirt parking lot to the trailhead of Schultz Creek Trail; follow Schultz Creek Trail for about 4+ miles to its end (in dirt parking lot); bear left to pop out on Schultz Creek Road where you take a right and follow for 0.2+ miles (the only time on a dirt road the entire route) to the trailhead of the Weatherford Trail (about 9 miles from start); take a left onto Weatherford Trail and follow for 10+ miles to its end; from there, take Humphreys Trail up for about a mile to Humphreys Peak; take in the 360 degree views and then follow your footsteps back to Heritage Square.