Humphreys Peak Trail — Attraction in Four Corners States

My friends and I (mid to late 30s, not very physically active) attempted this hike on January 19th. First things first, contrary to the forest services website information, a back-country wilderness permit is no longer required to access this trail during the winter. We checked at the Snow Bowl Agassiz Lodge and were told it is no longer required. The folks at the lodge recommended we only attempt the hike if we had snow shoes and micro-spikes. We rented these from Peace Surplus in Flagstaff (great store and even better staff). The staff had mentioned to us that the conditions a week ago were pretty sketchy on the trail. Also recommended is having the gps trail map on your phone so you can follow and guess the general direction if you loose your way. Although the trail starts at the parking lot west of the Hart Prairie Lodge, during the winter time it is covered by the ski slope. You will have to walk Northeast across the ski slopes and walk a further 100 feet or so to see the first signs for the trail/Kachina Wilderness Area. We started at about 7:40 in the morning once the sun was up and soon realized that snow shoes were essential. The trail was easy to follow initially, since a few groups had hiked this trail over the past few weeks. Every half a mile or so you will find a ribbon tied to a branch indicating you are on the trail. A mile into the hike, you come up on the Forest Services Guest Book and signs pointing to continuing the Humphrey's trail. Its good to sign in and see when the previous group hiked, comments etc. About 2.5 miles into the hike we lost the trail. Our GPS pointed to where it should be, but there was so much snow it was impossible to see. We decided to hike up this steep slope in the general direction of the trail, hoping we would intersect it at some point and possibly get to the saddle. We did this for about a mile and it was very difficult because of how steep the grade was and the snow kept getting deeper. Eventually after hitting about 11,600 feet elevation we decided to turn back as the conditions were getting worse and we wanted to get back before the sun went down. Until we got back on the trail, getting down was very difficult and slow. We took several breaks on our way down and finally made it back by 5:30 PM. I would recommend doing this hike in the summer or early winter(November). If you do attempt it in peak winter, make sure you budget enough time get back before sun down. The afternoon sun makes the snow not as firm as it was during the morning, so you have to be careful. I couldn't imagine doing this hike with flashlights. We planned well, we were appropriately geared up, had enough food and water. Conditions and difficulty aside, we had a great time. We definitely want to come back and complete this trail...

I live in Phoenix. The elevation wasnt an issue until I passed the saddle and continued onto Humphreys Peak. Once you enter the forest, it's mostly steps and switch backs as you accend the mountain, and not much views (except seeing the snowbowl lift). You then hike higher than the ski lift and a few more tiny switch backs and you're at the saddle. At the saddle there are a few big rocks you can take a rest at and hide from the sun under. it is quite windy here so anyone who is staying behind should bring a windbreaker jacket. This is where my wife stayed while I finished the hike. Go right and you can hike to Agassiz Peak, go left there is a cluster of peaks before you reach Humphreys Peak. Notice there's no apostrophe in "Humphreys Peak." The elevation is what made this part difficult, I felt fatigued after going a few minutes and took several "catch my breath" breaks. You'll also notice the there are a lot of rocks and you'll have to keep and eye out for these sticks that have a white marking sticking out of the ground, those are trail markers so follow those. from the saddle it took me about an hour to reach the Peak, and about 35 minutes to get back to the saddle. I couldn't get good signal, enough that I couldnt use Google duo to call my mom or my wife. I just left a badass video voicemail, turned off my phone and waited until I got back into town. You can also see the Grand Canyon as soon as you pass the first peak after the saddle.

My wife and I aren't speedy hikers either. so it took us about 3 hours going to the saddle, 1 hour to the peak, 35 minutes back down to the saddle, and about 2.5 hours to the parking lot.

One thing I forgot to mention is count how many switch backs there are and take a picture of the trail at the trailhead at the parking lot... if you don't have Alltrails pro or a gps device, I didn't at the time, this definitely helps us tell where we were.

please use hiking sticks. this is a long trail. your knees will absorb 100% each and every step. hiking sticks will help distribute the shock and your knees will thank you. parking is free. Please keep pets leashed. Please follow the Leave No...

Trail Series, Part 41 Is there a bad time to go hiking in Flagstaff? Not that I’m aware of, but Fall is certainly a GREAT time for this!

Just as the days become shorter and the temperatures cool, the Aspen leaves adorn the forest with a glorious yellow hue that seems to first absorb, and then reflect, the sunshine.

While not the only location for getting your Fall groove on, we found “Humphrey’s Peak Trail” (and its surrounding environs) to be generous providers of the vibes we were seeking.

None of the trails that we traveled were paved and their difficulty ranged from easy to moderate. However, as you travel up the mountain you’ll find that the rocky outcroppings become more frequent and the hike becomes more strenuous. Before long you’ll find yourself at 10,000 feet, so you’ll be in much thinner air than you’re likely used to and your water/rest breaks should increase accordingly. Each trail we explored was well traveled, but the buddy system is still recommended (if for no other reason than to have someone to marvel at the beauty with).

Wildlife sightings are common, but it is the rare sightings of Big Foot that are the most cherished. 😉

Ample parking and portable restrooms can be found at the trailhead located at the end of Lot 1 of the Arizona Snowbowl Resort. For those interested in traditional restrooms and/or a restaurant, both are located at the resort and an easy walk from this parking lot.

If you visit Flagstaff in the Fall, please don’t find yourself “leaving” without experiencing the “leafing” all around you this time of year!

And that’s…Henry’s Take.

Photo credit @danavoros ...