Where is Aztec Peak?
Usa, north-america
160.9 km
2,361 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, let's talk about Aztec Peak in Arizona's Gila County! This beauty tops out at 7,746 feet in the Tonto National Forest, the highest point in the Sierra Anchas.
Heads up, the road to the top, Forest Service Road 487, is all unpaved, kicking off from the Arizona 288-Globe Young Highway.
Keep in mind, this route usually shuts down from mid-December to the end of March due to snow, but it's all weather-dependent, so check conditions before you go!
Now for the nitty-gritty: you'll need a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle for this one. Past the waterfall, FR 487 gets steep, narrow, and a tad nerve-wracking if you're not a fan of heights. The final stretch is a single-track forest road that's both steep and a bit rocky. If you're lucky and the gate's open, you can drive all the way to the summit!
A word of caution: this area has naturally occurring uranium and radium-266. Translation: low-level radiation. Seriously, DO NOT go into any of the mines; some have radiation levels so high, they'd recommend evacuating the area!
But here's the payoff: the views! Perched at the top is a fire lookout built in '56, and the 360-degree panorama is breathtaking. You'll see for over 100 miles in every direction. Tucked in the Salome Wilderness, it's a view you won't forget!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 160.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,361 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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