Woosley Peak

Details

Woolsey Peak is a beautiful, uniquely-shaped lava-dome monolith located in the desert north of Gila Bend in southern Maricopa County, about 60 miles driving from Phoenix. It’s a peak that gets viewed thousands of times a day by travelers along Interstates 8 in Gila Bend of Interstate-10 to the north – the peak itself rises over 2,000 vertical feet above the desert plain and a good 1,000 feet above any of the other peaks in the region (collectively called the Gila Bend Mountains). Instead of the more usual pointed summit shape that most of the peaks have in this region, Woolsey’s summit is a broad rounded dome, surrounded by a palisade of cliffs on all sides.

Below the cliffs is an encircling apron of black basalt lava rock seemingly all set at its angle of repose. Then, of course, down below that is more typical desert terrain of dirt, rock and cactus. It’s very beautiful country, and the peak is the centerpiece of the Woolsey Peak Wilderness which spreads for 64,000 acres.

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An easier route to see the Cochran Coke Ovens. It can be started from the South West in the Box Canyon/Martinez Cabin area or the North East on route 177. 12.2 miles from AZ 177 to Coke Ovens.

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The 13,350-acre Signal Mountain Wilderness is in southwest Maricopa County,18 miles northwest of Gila Bend and 35 miles southwest of Phoenix. This wilderness is adjacent to the 64,000-acre Woolsey Peak Wilderness just to the southeast, separated by a four-wheel-drive road.

This wilderness offers a variety of scenery, including sharp volcanic peaks, steep-walled canyons, arroyos, craggy ridges and outwash plains. Signal Mountain, at the area’s center, rises 1,200 feet above the desert floor to an elevation of 2,182 feet. Paloverde-saguaro and creosote bush bursage plant communities are found throughout bajada and upland areas, while washes are lined with mesquite, ironwood, acacia and paloverde.

This wilderness provides several primitive recreation opportunities, such as rock climbing in the canyons and valleys around Signal Mountain, day and overnight hiking, rock collecting, and deer and quail hunting. Fortunate visitors may observe desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, mule deer and various raptors.

Access

Access to this wilderness is on old U.S. Highway 80 via the Aqua Caliente Road and jeep trails. High-clearance vehicles are required and four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended.

Details

Venue Phone: (480) 991-1795

Venue Website: http://www.fourpeaks.com

Details

This trail runs through an arid region of southern Arizona, passing through some old, established ranches and grasslands, giving views of the Tortilla Mountains and the Santa Catalinas.

A glance at the maps of the region gives an indication of what some of the earliest travelers and settlers thought of this area. Suffering Wash, Bloodsucker Wash, Rattlesnake Tank, and Hot Boy Mine tell their own tales. This trail runs through an arid region of southern Arizona, passing through some old, established ranches and grasslands, giving views of the Tortilla Mountains and the Santa Catalinas.

Special Attractions: Less-traveled dirt road that accesses Summerhaven at the top of Mt. Lemmon; Historic site of American Flag. High-clearance vehicles are preferred, but not necessary. This trail is dirt roads, but may have rocks, grades, water crossings, or ruts that make clearance a concern in a normal passenger vehicle. The trail is fairly wide, so that passing is possible at almost any point along the trail. Mud is not a concern under normal weather conditions