Weather: 82ยบ, dry, sunny, windy
About this Hike: Since joining Arizona Hiker's Facebook group I've seen more pictures of hiking to Brown's Peak in the iconic Four Peaks. This hike is accessed via the Lone Pine Trailhead which is over miles of dirty, dusty Forest Service road.
My research indicated that above 7,000 feet Four Peaks turns into a sky island with cooler temps, pine trees, and phenomenal views of Roosevelt Lake just on the other side of the Matazal range. I was sold.
A few years back a co-worker offered to let me borrow his Xterra so I could hike in Four Peaks Wilderness. While I was humbled at his generous offer, I'm not one to take on such liability. Fast forward to 2018 and I have an Xterra of my own...
Research indicated that Forest Road 143 to Lone Pine Trailhead may be a challenge for the Xterra, but my gut instinct said it wouldn't be too bad. Let me preface by saying the Xterra survived unscathed. FR 143 has it nerve racking moments. The worst comes when you're about 3 miles from Lone Pine Trailhead the road turns very rocky. Coming down from elevation is no picnic either, as there are no guard rails to protect from some steep drops. Other than that, slow and steady is the key to navigating this packed, but sometimes rutted, dirt road safely.
Being the over-cautious driver that I am, I frequently pulled aside to let Jeeps, ATVs, and the like pass by. Most obliged and passed with a wave (all five fingers extended). People generally are friendly in nature I find....
An intense journey of two hours carried us 18 miles to the Lone Pine Trailhead. For an additional 40 miles, you can bypass Four Peaks Road, continue north on AZ-87, and then head south on AZ-188 to El Oso Road. El Oso is unpaved, but reports say it's in much better condition and is only 11 miles to the trailhead. The fuchsia Mitsubishi Mirage parked at the trailhead was likely testament to this. I venture to say that even with 40 extra miles on the odo, you'd probably do this trek in similar, or even better, time.
The hike along Lone Pine took us through high-desert scrub including manzanita, gamble oak, and ponderosa pine. The vistas overlooking Roosevelt Lake were all that they promised to be. We did see some interesting wildlife including a scrawny doe mule deer. Not only was she not bothered by our presence, but she was stripping the foliage like there's no tomorrow—which may have been the case as she looked sickly.
When you approach the final stretch to the summit of Browns Peak the trail turns very steep and very rocky. The final incline is infamously called 'the scree chute.' An acute fear of heights has plauged me since I was a child. The wind at this elevation was relentless. These factors combined, I made the difficult—but necessary—call that I would not be going up the scree chute.
From the photos I've seen, I didn't miss much by not officially touching the top of Browns Peak. The vistas from near the top are already breathtaking. Canyon, Apache, and Saguaro lakes come into view. Superstition Mountain seems but a short jump away from atop Four Peaks. And while the air quality was thick as soup yesterday, Camelback Mountain way down in The Valley could be seen poking through the mire.
Additionally, the Four Peaks appear to have little surface on their summit. That would've done wonders for my fear of heights. And that's another interesting point—as impressive as Four Peaks are from The Valley floor, up close they're surprisingly small.
I'm glad to check Browns Peak off my bucket list. I'm not sure I'm in a rush to return to Four Peaks. The drive is long and tiresome for relatively little hiking that you get to do. If one day I do return it may very well be via El Oso Road. I would like to explore the Amethyst Mine / Mother Lode trail one day.
Epilogue: On the drive down we encountered the biggest diamondback I've ever seen. He/she was sunning in the middle of the road. I hate snakes, but resisted my urge to use said diamondback as a speed bump and in fact was glad to observe this creature from the safety of my vehicle.
About this Hike: Since joining Arizona Hiker's Facebook group I've seen more pictures of hiking to Brown's Peak in the iconic Four Peaks. This hike is accessed via the Lone Pine Trailhead which is over miles of dirty, dusty Forest Service road.
My research indicated that above 7,000 feet Four Peaks turns into a sky island with cooler temps, pine trees, and phenomenal views of Roosevelt Lake just on the other side of the Matazal range. I was sold.
A few years back a co-worker offered to let me borrow his Xterra so I could hike in Four Peaks Wilderness. While I was humbled at his generous offer, I'm not one to take on such liability. Fast forward to 2018 and I have an Xterra of my own...
Research indicated that Forest Road 143 to Lone Pine Trailhead may be a challenge for the Xterra, but my gut instinct said it wouldn't be too bad. Let me preface by saying the Xterra survived unscathed. FR 143 has it nerve racking moments. The worst comes when you're about 3 miles from Lone Pine Trailhead the road turns very rocky. Coming down from elevation is no picnic either, as there are no guard rails to protect from some steep drops. Other than that, slow and steady is the key to navigating this packed, but sometimes rutted, dirt road safely.
Being the over-cautious driver that I am, I frequently pulled aside to let Jeeps, ATVs, and the like pass by. Most obliged and passed with a wave (all five fingers extended). People generally are friendly in nature I find....
An intense journey of two hours carried us 18 miles to the Lone Pine Trailhead. For an additional 40 miles, you can bypass Four Peaks Road, continue north on AZ-87, and then head south on AZ-188 to El Oso Road. El Oso is unpaved, but reports say it's in much better condition and is only 11 miles to the trailhead. The fuchsia Mitsubishi Mirage parked at the trailhead was likely testament to this. I venture to say that even with 40 extra miles on the odo, you'd probably do this trek in similar, or even better, time.
The hike along Lone Pine took us through high-desert scrub including manzanita, gamble oak, and ponderosa pine. The vistas overlooking Roosevelt Lake were all that they promised to be. We did see some interesting wildlife including a scrawny doe mule deer. Not only was she not bothered by our presence, but she was stripping the foliage like there's no tomorrow—which may have been the case as she looked sickly.
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| Scree Chute on the left |
From the photos I've seen, I didn't miss much by not officially touching the top of Browns Peak. The vistas from near the top are already breathtaking. Canyon, Apache, and Saguaro lakes come into view. Superstition Mountain seems but a short jump away from atop Four Peaks. And while the air quality was thick as soup yesterday, Camelback Mountain way down in The Valley could be seen poking through the mire.
Additionally, the Four Peaks appear to have little surface on their summit. That would've done wonders for my fear of heights. And that's another interesting point—as impressive as Four Peaks are from The Valley floor, up close they're surprisingly small.
I'm glad to check Browns Peak off my bucket list. I'm not sure I'm in a rush to return to Four Peaks. The drive is long and tiresome for relatively little hiking that you get to do. If one day I do return it may very well be via El Oso Road. I would like to explore the Amethyst Mine / Mother Lode trail one day.
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| Look close. From near the top of Browns you can see the lower Salt River lakes |
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| One of many Roosevelt Lake vistas |
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