Phoenix, AZ: Elephant Head
Tackle tricky terrain to gain a solitary alp.
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Even people who live in Arizona sometimes need reminding that the state has more to offer than canyons and deserts. Find one wake-up call next to Tucson and just a few hours south of Phoenix, in the Santa Rita Mountains. There, the hulking peak known as Elephant Head rises high above the cactus-covered lowlands. It demarcates the west end of the range, with steep granite walls guarding its summit on three sides. Scramble up the East Ridge to reach views of the rugged and bone dry Santa Ritas and Baboquivari Mountains.
From the Trail 930 trailhead, hike north .7 mile to a saddle at 4,700 feet, and continue north across the head of Chino Basin, where you’ll pick up the old roadbed leading to the Quantrell Mine, an early 1900s old gold and silver mine. As the Quantrell Mine trail begins to circle to the east, then south, look for an unmaintained trail to Elephant Head on the left; it drops steeply into the high desert of upper Chino Canyon before climbing to a saddle east of the summit. In April and May, catch the ocotillo forest in fiery redorange bloom. It’s a 600-vertical foot scramble to the top.
CONTACT: (520) 281-2296, fs.fed.us/r3/coronado
Trail Facts
- Distance: 9.8
Waypoints
EPH001
Location: 31.695383, -110.929041
From the Trail 930 trailhead, hike northwest, then north to a saddle at 4,700 feet.
EPH002
Location: 31.701042, -110.935371
Crest this 4,700-foot saddle, and continue north across the head of Chino Basin.
EPH003
Location: 31.70395, -110.93286
Turn right to pick up the old roadbed leading to the Quantrell Mine, an early 1900s old gold and silver mine.
EPH004
Location: 31.713698, -110.935478
When thhe Quantrell Mine trail begins to circle to the east, then south. Bear left onto an unmaintained trail to Elephant Head.
EPH005
Location: 31.716322, -110.935392
Cross a drainage, then climb north to a saddle east of
the summit. In April and May, catch the ocotillo forest in fiery red-orange
bloom.
EPH006
Location: 31.721779, -110.933719
At the crest of the ridge, turn left (northwest) for the final, 600-vertical foot scramble to the top.
EPH007
Location: 31.724444, -110.93919
Elephant Head (5,641 ft.) rises high above the cactus-covered lowlands. It demarcates the west end of the range, with steep granite walls guarding its summit on three sides. Take in views of the rugged and bone dry Santa Ritas and Baboquivari Mountains. Retrace your route to the trailhead.