Vulture Peak Hike

 

Climbing Vulture Peak is a hike we do every time we visit Arizona (click here for last year's Vulture Peak climb). And I am happy to say it never gets old.  It has a nice approach through the desert and then the climb up the peak itself is very dramatic.  And on top the view is stunning.

We've learned that it is best to climb up early in the day when it is still cool and the trail up is in the shade.  By the time we climb down the sun has usually shifted around and is shining on the trail.  Much much better to climb up in the shade and hike down in the sunshine!

I'll also add that Vulture Peak looks very daunting.  It is a spire of stone with huge cliffs.  It looks like it will be a very hard climb.  But it isn't anywhere near as difficult as it looks. I think it is because you can see all the rocks and cliffs that it looks more gnarly than it is in reality.  I bet if it was covered with trees it would look more like a hill with a few cliffs near the top.

Patrick