Quartz Peak

7.4 mi3,343 ft Rating 7/10Difficulty 7/10

4,094 ft 1,532 ft

Elevation along the recorded route — 1,532 ft at its lowest to 4,094 ft at its highest.

Straightforward hike up a remote trail to one of the highpoints of the Sierra Estrella mountains, a peak literally topped with a huge boulder of quartz.

Photos

A dark field of chollas
The rocky cut of a trail up the hill
Trail snaking along a ridge
Quartz Peak in the distant sunlight
A blinding morning sun breaking free of the Sierra Estrellas
Morning light on Rainbow Valley
Crown of white on Quartz Peak
The knobby Butterfly Peak
Steep bushwhacking along the slope
Smooth, tough climb up the peak
Looking north along the ridge
South Mountain and a verdant Gila River valley
Looking back at Butterfly
Chris chilling on top of Quartz
Another look northeast to South Mountain and Phoenix beyond
The hot and exposed trail down
One last look up at the peaks

Quartz Peak

Photos

Along the way

Mountain 2

Trailhead 1