Distance: 7.8 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 3480'
Prominence: 1400'
Elevation Gain: 2325'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.8
Round trip time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Recommended water: 80 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Salome Road
Difficulty: Strenuous
I was in Phoenix for business and looked for an interesting mountain to hike on the way back. AI came up a 4 suggestions, including Big Horn Peak. It was a little north of I-10 and the trailhead was relatively easy to reach. It featured a cross country scramble and looked like a worthy challenge. After breakfast, I drove about an hour west from Phoenix and exited at Salome Road. Google Maps suggested some oddball route, but the exit at Salome was open and provided direct access to the service road for the Central Arizona Project Canal. I added a map below. The road was nicely graded gravel and I parked at the end near a pump station. The canal was fenced, but an unfenced open bridge allowed me to cross into the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness without trespassing. I followed the fence line north about a quarter mile where the fence ended. Then, I went directly toward the somewhat scary looking Big Horn Peak.
Big Horn does look like a big horn, but it also looks like a sombrero. A lower band of cliffs acts as the brim, with a plateau surrounding the center tower. I followed the lower band of cliffs east until I found a class 2 gully to ascend. There was some minor brush but it was more helpful as holds than a hindrance. The middle plateau was covered in dense cholla. Despite careful steps, I picked up some needles both directions. I left the plateau onto a subtle ledge system with route finding the rest of the way. One ledge might not connect with a higher one and the route then was straight up, though not exceeding class 2. The slope was also loose with lots of gravel. It was slow work.
I finally arrived at the base of the crux: 40' of class 3 on good rock. I tried to have the drone follow me on the crux, but due to operator error, I only got a photo at the base. On the summit, I got a few aerial videos. I never found the register, thought it might have been hidden below a rock I didn't move. No benchmark was found either. I reveled in the views for 15 minutes before heading down. I down climbed the crux facing the rock. When I got back to the plateau, I decided to try to descend the gully since it was more direct. I had enough juice to climb back up if needed. When I reached the band lip, I was cliffed out. However, I saw a chute only 100' over that looked class 3. I climbed up a little to get to the chute. I was relieved it did go class 3 with some brush. The rest of the descent was easy as I merged into my approach path. It had taken me an hour longer than I expected. Big Horn was a great hike and worthy challenge.
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