8 ARIZONA RANGES GUIDE NO. 8.2

HUMPHREYS PEAK 12633 FEET CLASS 1

MILEAGE: 500 miles of paved road

DRIVE/ROUTE A: From Flagstaff, AZ drive about 8 miles N on US Highway 180 to the signed road for the

Arizona Snow Bowl Ski Area. Turn right and drive about 7 miles to the ski lodge and park. There is a gate

across the road 0.25 miles before the lodge that might be locked. If it is, you'll have to walk the last bit to the

ski lodge.

CLIMB/ROUTE A: The start of the Humphreys Peak Trail is located just N of the Agassiz Peak lower chair

lift station. Follow the trail as it switchbacks up the SW flank of Humphreys Peak to the summit ridge and

then N to the top. This fairly new trail was completed in 1984 and is the shortest "legal" route to the summit

(See SIDELINES 3 below).

ROUND TRIP STATS/ROUTE A: 3200 feet elevation gain, 10 miles, 8 hours

DRIVE/ROUTE B: From the intersection of Highways 89 and 180 in Flagstaff, drive about 3 miles N on US

Highway 180 to the signed, paved Schultz Pass Road (Forest road #420). Turn right (N) here and drive 5.5

miles to Schultz Pass. Park near Schultz Tank, a pond just S of the road. Forest road #522 heading N from

here marks the start of the Weatherford trail.

CLIMB/ROUTE B: Follow the trail over Fremont and Doyle saddles to where it joins the Humphreys Peak

Trail near the Humphreys-Agassiz saddle. Continue N of the Humphreys Peak Trail to the summit.

ROUND TRIP STATS/ROUTE B: 18 miles, 4600 feet elevation gain, 10 hours

SIDELINES

1. Humphreys Peak, an extinct volcano, is the highpoint of the state of Arizona. It was named by G.K. Gilbert

in 1873 for his commanding officer, Brigadier General Andrew Atkinson Humphreys, who had been a captain

in the Ives Surveying Expedition of 1851.

2. Agassiz Peak, 1.5 miles S of Humphreys, is the second highest point in Arizona. Together they are the

only peaks over 12,000 feet elevation in the entire state.

3. Because of Senecio Franciscanus, a flowering plant indigenous only to the higher regions around

Humphreys and Agassiz, cross country hiking above 11,500 feet elevation is prohibited. Taking the ski lift to

its upper terminus at 11,500 feet with the intention of climbing Humphreys from there will require some cross

country travel, which is strictly prohibited.

4. Humphreys Peak lies within the boundary of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area. This wilderness area

encompasses approximately 18,200 acres of land and is managed by the Coconino National Forest.