To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments
so you only print what you need.
Eagletail Peak- Eagle Feathers
Arizona
> Central Arizona
> Eagletail Mountains
Description
A spectacular series of spires high on the ridgeline near the summit of Eagletail Peak. Typical low-desert conditions for the Sonoran Desert- the approach faces south so it's a winter-only destination.
Getting There
Exit I-10 at exit 51 (Harquala Road). Follow the paved road south, then work west on Courthouse Road. From there head southeast then south, aiming for the south side of the peak. A sign leads to the trailhead for the Eagletail Wilderness. The approach starts from a locked gate. (Greg Opland's Phoenix Rock II has a more detailed description for the approach with a detailed map).
[Hide Comment] Approach info: Driving: Take Harlaquala Road south from I-10 for ~7 miles to Courthouse/Centennial road (it has both names); turn right (west) and follow this good dirt road for 7 miles. Just before the wilderness kiosk there is a road on the left (more than a 90 degree turn). Follow this for about half a mile (SE) until you turn right (S) onto another road. Follow this until it ends (~.5 miles) at a T-junction. Park here.
Hike: From your car head almost due south -aiming toward the left edge of the hill. You will need to hop a fence about 1/4 mile from the car. Its best to stay about 100yds or so away from the hill - you gain nothing by going uphill at this point). Turn right (toward the west) and weave between and through dozens of small ravines. Again - stay away from the hill (and the sucker 4x4 roads that look nicer than the small rock bonanza you are walking on). The ravines are slighly shallower and less numerous if you are further (more south) from the hill - say 2-300 yards away. Generally head toward the saddle. We aimed for a big standing boulder (30'+) and that worked well. From the boulder hump straight up the loose slope to the notch/saddle. There is no trail and no 'right' way to go - but we prefered the left (southern) gully as it had more solid rock and less scree. From the saddle, fight the urge to get on the ridge and just traverse around into the gully. Follow this gully up to a shallow saddle. Now go to the ridge. The ridge traverse required cl. 4 scrambling - usually easiest a few hundred feet away from the ridge proper along incipient ledges and scree trails. At the end of this ridge, (or from the top of it - if you go up there) you get great views of the highest feather about half a mile away. After about a 1/4 mile traverse (the ridge ends), drop down a steep section to another saddle - then cross up and to the Feathers (~300' down, then 600' back up). To descend, reverse the approach. Total approach is about 10 miles (5 each way) and is pretty easy to follow as you can almost always see your next waypoint. The lack of trail makes it tougher than you might expect. Plan on a minimum of 2 hours for the approach and 3+ hours is probably more realistic for all but the fastest parties. Enjoy.
Feb 17, 2010
Take interstate 10 W. to exit #81 for Salome Highway. Go left over the freeway, and turn right on HARQUAHALA Valley Road. Follow this paved road west, then south for about 11 miles to a T intersection at Baseline Road. Make a left at baseline, then a quick right, again onto HARQUAHALA Valley Road. In another mile, turn west towards the mountains on Dobbins Road/Eagle Tail , and follow this for miles to its end. Turn left onto a gas line road and travel 0.3 miles south crossing a wash in route. Turn west through a gate(Close gate) at a cattle shoot, and proceed on this wilderness access road for a little over a mile before branching right/north at a fork. Follow this to track towards a low pass. It is just over 2 miles to roads end at the Eagle Tail Mountain Wilderness boundary.
Feb 11, 2022
Continue with onX Maps
Sign in with Facebook
Phoenix, AZ
Driving:
Take Harlaquala Road south from I-10 for ~7 miles to Courthouse/Centennial road (it has both names); turn right (west) and follow this good dirt road for 7 miles. Just before the wilderness kiosk there is a road on the left (more than a 90 degree turn). Follow this for about half a mile (SE) until you turn right (S) onto another road. Follow this until it ends (~.5 miles) at a T-junction. Park here.
Hike:
From your car head almost due south -aiming toward the left edge of the hill. You will need to hop a fence about 1/4 mile from the car. Its best to stay about 100yds or so away from the hill - you gain nothing by going uphill at this point). Turn right (toward the west) and weave between and through dozens of small ravines. Again - stay away from the hill (and the sucker 4x4 roads that look nicer than the small rock bonanza you are walking on). The ravines are slighly shallower and less numerous if you are further (more south) from the hill - say 2-300 yards away.
Generally head toward the saddle. We aimed for a big standing boulder (30'+) and that worked well. From the boulder hump straight up the loose slope to the notch/saddle. There is no trail and no 'right' way to go - but we prefered the left (southern) gully as it had more solid rock and less scree.
From the saddle, fight the urge to get on the ridge and just traverse around into the gully. Follow this gully up to a shallow saddle. Now go to the ridge.
The ridge traverse required cl. 4 scrambling - usually easiest a few hundred feet away from the ridge proper along incipient ledges and scree trails.
At the end of this ridge, (or from the top of it - if you go up there) you get great views of the highest feather about half a mile away. After about a 1/4 mile traverse (the ridge ends), drop down a steep section to another saddle - then cross up and to the Feathers (~300' down, then 600' back up).
To descend, reverse the approach.
Total approach is about 10 miles (5 each way) and is pretty easy to follow as you can almost always see your next waypoint. The lack of trail makes it tougher than you might expect.
Plan on a minimum of 2 hours for the approach and 3+ hours is probably more realistic for all but the fastest parties.
Enjoy. Feb 17, 2010
Mesa, Az
- **Driving Directions***
Take interstate 10 W. to exit #81 for Salome Highway.Go left over the freeway,
and turn right on HARQUAHALA Valley Road. Follow this paved road west, then south for about 11 miles to a T intersection at Baseline Road.
Make a left at baseline, then a quick right, again onto HARQUAHALA Valley Road.
In another mile, turn west towards the mountains on Dobbins Road/Eagle Tail , and follow this for miles to its end.
Turn left onto a gas line road and travel 0.3 miles south crossing a wash in route.
Turn west through a gate(Close gate) at a cattle shoot, and proceed on this wilderness access road for a little over a mile before branching right/north at a fork.
Follow this to track towards a low pass. It is just over 2 miles to roads end at the Eagle Tail Mountain Wilderness boundary. Feb 11, 2022