PICACHO PEAK — This blade of stone, stabbing at the sky along Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix, all but cries out to passing motorists:
Climb me!
Those who answer that call are in for a short, steep satisfying ascent — and summit views as dramatic as you'd get from an aircraft.
Greg Childs confirmed that part about the views as he peered down from the 3,374-foot top of Picacho Peak one day recently. He's a military helicopter pilot who's flown near the summit on training missions.
"Just had to climb it," Childs said. "And it really is a great view from up here."
Another summit hiker, Sarah Eastman of Prescott, scanned the vista — from faraway mountain ranges to busy I-10 at her feet — and summed it up in a word: "Awesome!"
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Two trails lead to the summit — the 2-mile Hunter Trail and the 3.1-mile Sunset Vista Trail. The Hunter is quicker, but the Sunset Vista takes hikers to the scenic "back side" of the mountain and away from the sights and sounds of the interstate.
Both routes, which join up for the final stretch to the summit, traverse steep terrain guarded in several places by steel-cable handrails anchored in the rock.
It's possible for anyone in good condition to reach the top with the help of the handrails. But if you're seriously troubled by heights, you might hike just the first two miles of the Sunset Vista Trail and enjoy views of the peak from below.
Good to know
● Winter, spring and fall are the best seasons for a Picacho Peak climb. Summer temperatures commonly soar into the triple digits and increase the risk of dehydration.
● Take gloves to protect your hands while climbing the handrails. This is especially important in warmer seasons because the steel cables can get very hot.
● Show courtesy to other hikers on the cable-protected sections of the climb. Keep a distance between hiking parties to limit the risk of being hit with dislodged rocks.
The Civil War connection
According to the Picacho Peak State Park Web site: The most significant Civil War battle in Arizona took place near Picacho Peak on April 15, 1862, when an advance detachment of Union forces from California attacked a Confederate scouting party.
Climbing Picacho Peak
Drive: From Tucson, follow Interstate 10 northwest about 40 miles to the signed exit for Picacho Peak State Park. Drive to the park entrance station and pick up a map that will direct you to the trailheads.
Cost: $6 per vehicle entrance fee.
Gear: Wear sturdy boots and clothing appropriate to the season. Carry plenty of water — a quart or two in cool seasons, more when it's hot — and sun protection. Bring leather or fabric gloves that won't slip when gripping the cables.
Rating: A park handout rates the Hunter Trail as "Difficult." The first 2-mile stretch of the Sunset Vista Trail is "Moderate" but the rest is "Difficult."