If you have a fear of heights, the road to Harquahala Mountain is not for you
Harquahala Mountain is a high peak at an elevation of 1,732m (5,681ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between La Paz and Maricopa counties in the U.S. state of Arizona.
Where is Harquahala Mountain?
The peak is located west of Phoenix, in the south-central part of Arizona.
Is the road to Harquahala Mountain unpaved?
The road to the summit, southwestern Arizona’s highest peak, is entirely unpaved. It’s called Harquahala Back Country Byway (Harquahala Mountain Summit Road).
How long is the road to Harquahala Mountain?
The challenging road to the summit is very rugged and steep in places. It’s 16.89km (10.5 miles) long. The road is graded and wide at the bottom, but the upper parts are narrow, steep, and rocky. This road is single lane only, and meeting another vehicle would truly put both drivers ‘between a rock and a hard place.’ This rugged drive to the top is not for the faint of heart. If you have a fear of heights, hairpin curves, steep drop-offs, and a lot of rocky jouncing and jostling that will bounce you around like a ping pong ball, you had better strike this destination off your list. 4-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicles are required.
Is the road to Harquahala Mountain steep?
The road to the summit is very steep, with a gradient of up to 30% through some of the ramps, and the elevation gain is around 4,000 feet.
What’s at the summit of Harquahala Mountain?
The summit hosts the Harquahala Smithsonian Observatory, built by the Smithsonian in 1920 to measure and record solar activity. It was abandoned in 1925 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The summit is the highest point in southwest Arizona, offering breathtaking 360-degree views. On a clear day, you can see the Four Peaks east of Phoenix, Hualapai Peak near Kingman, Signal Peak, and all the way down to Yuma, the Colorado River basin, and into California. The views are usually clear and free of air pollution. For history buffs, the drive features old mining debris, shafts, and stone houses from earlier miners.
Is the road to Harquahala Mountain open?
The rugged and challenging road is typically open year-round, with occasional closures in winter due to dangerous weather conditions. The best time to visit is in the fall, winter, or spring. It is very hot in the summer. Do not drive if snow has fallen on the summit or if lightning threatens.
Is the road to Harquahala Mountain challenging?
Do not attempt this trail in the summer, where temperatures of 100-plus degrees are the norm. The BLM warns of the risks of abandoned mines, rattlesnakes or other poisonous creatures, and sudden “violent and dangerous” thunderstorms. There are no facilities, so you must be fully prepared and self-sufficient.
Pic&video: Nomad Overland
