Picketpost Mountain — Local services in Florence

If you've ever hiked the Siphon Draw Trail up to the Flatiron, this hike would be Flatiron’s younger brother. If you’re a fan of the Superstition Wilderness, this mountain will not disappoint you. Best time for hiking this is from February to April because of the spring flowers in bloom everywhere. This hike quickly became one of my top 3 favorite hikes to do in the valley because of the amazing and unique scenery it offers and because of the challenge it involves. This hike requires some scrambling/climbing, and route finding skills. It’s a tough hike that will test your endurance, however, people of most physical conditions and ages can, and have, achieved this and I’m sure most would agree it is completely worth your while.

The hike to the summit should take about 3.5 hours at a calm pace giving you time to enjoy the scenery from the summit while visiting the famous red mailbox that sits atop.

TRAIL STATS: • Length • 4.3 miles round trip • Hiking Time • 3.5 hrs. • Trail Type • Out and Back • Elevation Gain • 1990 feet • Difficulty • Difficult (some scrambling) • Kid Friendly • Yes • Dog Friendly • Not recommended due to scrambling but dogs are allowed (leashed). • Water • 3...

First thing's first. This is not an easy hike!!! Please do consider this as a Hard and strenuous hike despite the short 4 mile round trip in distance. 70% of the hike is within unmarked trails with less to none markings here and there. Be prepared for rock climbing (Basic 10-15 ft climbs) as you go higher up towards the peak. The first 0.5 miles and the last 0.2 miles are mostly flat and easy to walk through. The view from the top is totally worth it. Some tips from personal experience: Do not hike alone ( Which I did ). You will find handful of people hiking this usually so I would recommend hiking in groups to help each other out ( Hiked down with people I met at the peak :P). Make sure to have an offline map before heading out to the hike ( Was lost multiple times even after having this) #alltrails is free. Carry at least 2-3L of water as there are no filling stations anywhere and not a lot of shade during the hike. Wear really good hiking shoes with anti slip and toe support due to a lot of loose gravel on the trail.

FYI: The pain of going to the peak is worth...

I am used to long, hard hikes and this relatively short hike (4 miles roundtrip and 2000 feet of elevation gain) was surprisingly pretty tough. Out of all the mountains I have done in and outside Phoenix, South Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Camelback, Superstition Mountain and the Flatiron at Lost Dutchman's State Park, this is the most difficult in my opinion due to the constant steepness of the trail. The views on the way up though, are absolutely awesome, there is a plateau where you can rest and admire the town below as well as the surrounding area. The mailbox is a nice touch at the top, the story of how it got to the top is hilarious..."..resided in Lynden, Washington for years, was barreled over by an East Indian...almost destroyed by a drunken Guatemalan....retired, reshaped and relocated at this spot where it is believed to be relatively safe from either....."

I am thinking the owner of the mailbox must have climbed Mailbox Peak in the state of Washington to have...