58 QUARTZ PEAK TRAIL

KEY AT-A-GLANCE INFORMATION

LENGTH: 6 miles

ELEVATION GAIN: 2,472 feet

CONFIGURATION: Out-and-back

DIFFICULTY: Difficult

SCENERY: Pristine desert, Sierra Estrella, Butterfly Mountain, Quartz Peak, panoramic views

EXPOSURE: Mostly exposed

TRAFFIC: Light

TRAIL SURFACE: Rock, gravel, some easy scrambling

HIKING TIME: 5 hours

WATER REQUIREMENT: 3–4 quarts

SEASON: Year-round; hot in summer

ACCESS: Sunrise to sunset; free parking

MAPS: USGS Montezuma Peak, trailhead plaque, Bureau of Land Management trail map

FACILITIES: Toilet, picnic table, no water

DOGS: Yes

COMMENTS: For more information, visit www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/hiking/quartz.html, or call (623) 580-5500.

GPS Trailhead Coordinates

UTM Zone 12S

Easting 0384483

Northing 3673837

Latitude N33°11.940'

Longitude W112°14.402'

Directions

Drive west from Phoenix on I-10, and exit onto Estrella Parkway. Drive south on Estrella Parkway 8.3 miles, and then turn right onto Elliot Road. Take Elliot Road west 2.6 miles. Turn left onto Rainbow Valley Road, and follow it south 9.3 miles to Riggs Road. Turn left onto Riggs Road, and drive 4 miles east to the intersection with Bullard Avenue. Turn right, but make an immediate left onto a dirt road under the telephone poles. Follow the dirt road east 5.3 miles until it ends. Note that the last section of this road past Rainbow Rancho is narrow and sandy. At the end of the road under large power lines, look for a small “Trail” sign and turn right. Continue under the power lines 1.9 miles. Turn left at another “Trail” sign, and drive 1.9 miles farther to the trailhead.

Sections of the dirt roads are rough and sandy, crossing several eroded washes. High-clearance vehicles are required.

IN BRIEF

The pristine wilderness, a classic ridge walk, and expansive views from atop Quartz Peak provide plenty of reasons and rewards for those who tackle this challenging hike. This trail’s remote location also ensures an absence of crowds.

DESCRIPTION

Sierra Estrella, a large mountain range southwest of Phoenix, can be seen from nearly anywhere in the Valley of the Sun and captures the fancy of many hiking enthusiasts. Sierra Estrella means “mountain range of stars” in Spanish. From the top of Quartz Peak, it certainly feels like you are gazing down from the stars. There is only one established trail in the entire mountain range–—Quartz Peak Trail. However, the Estrellas make up in quality for what they lack in quantity. Superbly managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Quartz Peak Trail is one of the finest desert hikes in the Phoenix area. This hike captures the rugged beauty of the 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness and offers stunning views from high mountain ridges. The 4,052-foot Quartz Peak provides even grander panoramas of the sprawling metropolis.

Volcanic in nature, the Sierra Estrella mountain range is rich in minerals. The remains of Crusher Mica Quarry lie in a small hill near the trailhead. Large white boulders cap the summit of the aptly named Quartz Peak, while flaky mica crystals can be found embedded in rocks along the trail, especially near the peak. If you happen to see a bright light near the summit as if someone’s shining a mirror at you, it’s likely sunlight reflecting off the shiny surface of a mica crystal.

Even though the Estrellas sit only 15 miles southwest of Phoenix, approaching the Quartz Peak Trail can be an adventure that necessitates an extended drive through sandy desert terrain, since the only sanctioned access point to the trail is on the mountain’s western side. Once there though, hikers have the pristine desert all to themselves. The trail takes visitors up the spine of a long ridge to a quartz-covered summit 2,500 feet above the desert floor in just 3 short miles. Though very steep, Quartz Peak Trail is surprisingly manageable because it distributes the elevation gain fairly evenly over its entire length. Only the last half mile requires some scrambling and route-finding skills.

Like most trailheads under its management, the BLM maintains Quartz Peak facilities very well. A large parking area and a clean toilet are available, but there’s no water. Always take plenty of extra water into a remote desert area like this. An informative plaque at the trailhead explains wilderness etiquette. Take note of the elevation profile and topographical map posted on the plaque to prepare mentally for the challenge ahead.

Begin by walking northeast straight toward the twin peaks of Butterfly Mountain. Pass fields of teddy bear cholla, and admire stands of saguaros in the foothills. The trail initially follows an old road on the flat desert floor but soon turns left and begins to climb a straight, rocky path uphill. In spring colorful blossoms of brittlebush, phacelia, and filaree adorn the landscape, while tall saguaros stand guard like sentries posted on either side of the trail. Keep an even pace on the steep slope here because most of the hike requires the same level of effort.

Most of Quartz Peak Trail lies atop sharp mountain ridges. Ridge hiking is especially rewarding because it offers open views to either side as you trace the mountain’s spine. Attain your first ridge at 0.6 miles, and then follow the trail as it slides over to the left side of the hill. A large boulder outcropping blocks the path at the end of this short ridge where the trail turns left and ascends steep switchbacks in a generally northern direction. Just beyond 1 mile you’ll reach the second ridge and turn northeast. The slope tapers off slightly for the next half mile or so, giving you ample time to enjoy the classic ridge walk. Steep drop-offs into deep ravines flank this much longer ridgeline, while sharp peaks loom in the distance. Behind you expansive Rainbow Valley stretches out westward from the base of the mountain. On a cold day you might even see a giant mushroom cloud in the distance. Don’t worry; it’s only a plume of steam from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the most productive nuclear power plant in the country.

Near 1.7 miles into the hike, resume the cruel steep ascent. Ridge after ridge, crest after crest, the trail climbs ever higher. The first sighting of Quartz Peak pops into your peripheral vision as you reach a vista point at 2 miles from the trailhead. The unmistakable white cap on the mountaintop resembles unsightly bird droppings from a distance but trust that it will be quite spectacular up close. The trail once again tapers in slope and reaches a small flat meadow on top of the ridge at 2.5 miles.

The last half mile of Quartz Peak Trail is noticeably faint and may be rough in spots. However, strategically placed rock cairns mark the way. To complicate matters, there’s a fork in the trail where one route heads for the top of the ridge while another skirts the hill to the left. When in doubt, just head for the ridgeline. The two paths converge later. At certain points, you’ll need to scamper up the rocks, but no technical climbing skills are necessary. More and more white quartz and shiny mica crystals appear next to the trail as you near the summit.

The trail seems to end at a narrow saddle between two large boulder outcroppings just shy of 3 miles from the trailhead, and a sheer drop-off faces you. If you have been watching your feet on the rough trail over the last 0.2 miles, you might not realize that Quartz Peak is just above your head to the left. Back down the trail about 15 feet and turn left up a rocky slope. Then scramble another 20 feet to the top.

Seemingly chiseled out of blocks of snow-white stone, Quartz Peak is unique among summits near Phoenix. At an elevation of 4,052 feet, it also provides an impressive panorama. The urban sprawl of Phoenix stretches out for as far as the eye can see across the Gila River Indian Reservation. From this vantage point South Mountain appears diminutive in the distance. The twin peaks of Butterfly Mountain lie directly east, while Montezuma Peak, the tallest point in the Estrellas, can be seen to the southeast. After soaking up the scenery, retrace your steps to return to the trailhead.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

Estrella Mountain Regional Park, approximately 7 miles south of I-10 on Estrella Parkway, offers many hiking trails including Rainbow Valley and Toothaker. White Tank Mountain Regional Park, farther north, also provides excellent trails such as Ford Canyon and Goat Camp.