Humphrey's Peak Hike: The Highpoint of Arizona

LEAF PEEPERS! Head to Flagstaff Arizona. The aspen trees are gorgeous in the fall. As Jim Gaffigan talks about HERE the seasons are pretty funny to think about what we do in them.

The Top of Arizona is located on the summit of Humphrey’s Peak, just outside of Flagstaff. The summit is at 12,633 feet! Let’s head to the highpoint of Arizona.

Have you ever been interested in reaching the highpoint of a state?
It was something that never really dawned on me until a few years ago when I went to hike Guadalupe Peak and I found out it was the TOP OF TEXAS! I wrote about it HERE.

After that it was something that I became intrigued about. But I hadn’t gone to another state highpoint in the few years since the hike to the top of Texas.

Enter Humphrey’s Peak, aka, the highpoint of Arizona!

Humphrey’s Peak is located just outside of Flagstaff AZ in the Coconino National Forest. The trailhead shares a parking lot with the popular Snow Bowl ski slopes.

I just finished up a month Exploring California’s Central Coast and having triple digit temps EVERY SINGLE DAY. Autumn in Flagstaff felt great.

Upon arrival in the Sedona/Cottonwood Region I was looking for a IN NO WAY MODERATE day hike on my first Sunday to spend my time on the dirt paths. However the triple digits were rampant here in Arizona as well and I wasn’t sure about hiking ALL DAY in 100 degree plus weather without the promise of the Pacific Ocean cool down like I had in Cali.

Then I found Humphrey’s Peak. The TOP OF ARIZONA it said. Low and behold the trailhead was 75 minutes from my Airbnb. This was about 2pm on Saturday and I was committed. 5am wakeup call on Sunday no problem. I was headed to another state high point!

I was SOLD on trekking up Humphrey’s Peak for two reasons.

Reason Number One:

Even though I had only been to one state highpoint (Texas) I loved the idea that there were people out there trying to go to all 50! It’s a very interesting pilgrimage to me. In some states it’s just a hill on some private land. Or for instance in Kentucky you have to get a waiver signed by a mining company and in Ohio (finally went to this place after growing up in Ohio!) It’s 1,200 feet high and a hill in Bellefontaine next to a beauty school. You can learn more about state high points HERE.
HOWEVER…
Also on the list is Denali in Alaska, Granite Peak in Montana which should only be reserved for someone also considering climbing Everest and El Capitan in Yosemite, Mt Whitney (highest point in the lower 48 and located in California and on the PCT), and more. In Wyoming it’s a SEVEN DAY backpacking trip and technical mountain climb.

My point is it’s an odd combination of an individual being open to road trips to random places, weird detours in never heard of before neighborhoods, AND being a technical mountain climber and epic day hiker. It’s not for everyone. I am not interested in doing all 50 but I am FASCINATED by the idea of it. Those who have done it have a very unique combination of loves for exploring and adventure with SKILL.

Reason Number Two!

Autumn!
The fall foliage is rampant in Flagstaff. The temps were cool. I actually wore a thermal for the first portion of the hike and a winter hat. The elevation of this hike starts at 9,400 feet and I had to put on socks at the gas station on arrival to Flagstaff. I had left at 530am in 80 degree temps and in less than an hour the temp had cooled to 32F!

Two VERY random, but I believe SOLID, reasons to trek Humphrey’s Peak!

Now, let’s talk about the actual HIKE TO HUMPHREY’S PEAK!

I made it there friends, let’s talk about the hike. It’s a day hike. It’s a strenuous day hike as they like to rate them on All Trails.
The hike rates out at about 10.5 miles (I logged 12 miles including from the parking lot, a little detour because I lost the trail for about two minutes, and of course some fall foliage pics in the Aspen Forest.)

On top of that though what makes this hike HARD AS SHIT is the elevation and the elevation gain.
You start at 9,400ish feet and you climb to 12,633 feet. In a smidgen over FIVE MILES. I am in the best shape of my life, and like every other tough mountain summit, I found myself at the end of the hike thinking WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING!

Nope that’s not the summit, just another false peak HA!!! Got us all first-timers good!

Humphrey’s Peak is a beast of a day hike. But honestly it’s very doable if you are used to elevation like this and in good hiking shape.

The Humphrey’s Peak Ascent breaks out into a few parts if you ask me:

Part One: The lovely trek through the Alpine Forests.

Part Two: A decent ascent towards the Saddle which is a GREAT place to just stop if you don’t want to summit or have a nice lunch or nap.

Part Three TOUGH: A few FALSE PEAKS, Loose Rocks, Wind, Short of Breath in High Elevation.

Part Three GOOD: Sweeping gorgeous pano views, feeling like you are a badass because you are climbing mountains, a great workout, and the chance to push yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally (which to me is the reason I LOVE climbing mountains.)

Officially at the top when you see this!

Oh and then there’s two more parts…

PART FOUR: Eating Avocado Tortillas and Peanut Butter Bananas at the summit while you realize you are HIGHER than anywhere else in a state.

PART FIVE: The descent. The descent on this hike to the saddle is AS HARD as the ascent. On the ascent you can’t breathe. You stretch your physical being. On the descent you can’t take a break mentally. You stretch your mind and your mental being.
It’s sketchy going down and you must concentrate. Be smart and take your time.

All in all…
I hit 30,000 steps, 12 miles, and you go from 9k to 12.6k (estimated), and coming back down is a trudge even if you are a seasoned hiker.
It was a hard ass hike I’ll be honest. But maybe part of me thought I would just fly up it and down. It took me about 5.5 hours and they said the average was 7 hours. I thought I would be done in 4. I always underestimate just how hard the final push is AND how hard mentally the initial descent is.

Humphrey’s Peak was a surprise experience one week into living in the Sedona region. (The Sedona/Jerome/Flagstaff/Clarkdale/Cottonwood towns of AZ are so DOPE! Plus you are so close to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Page/Antelope Canyon.) Consider a trip here or being a nomad here like me for a while if you like hiking, the desert, art, wine, and red rocks.

TIPS for Hiking Humphrey’s Peak in Arizona.

1. Bring Hiking Poles.
2. Stop at the saddle if you aren’t willing to get in some serious day hiking sludge. If you don’t know what I mean go with someone who does or consider it fair warning.
3. Duh…the Ten Essentials. Water. Hard to get lost but you could get dehydrated.
4. HAVE FUN! I have been very fortunate to have my life partner Jill G, my main dudes G Vert and Matt C (boys trips) and my bad ass wilderness ladies along with me on big hikes recently. Hiking partners you can trust and that empower you are important. They build you up and don’t make you nervous, apprehensive, or dishonest in times of tough sledding. They pull you, show up for you, and make you more confident and strong even in a dire situation. BUT THEY ARE ALSO HONEST. If shit is hitting the fan they tell you. Or if you need to turn back, they don’t lie to you. Find those people in your life.

Looking out from the saddle on the trek to the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Another great place to hike in the Flagstaff region.

Since I had just climbed Half Dome I think I underestimated how quickly I would ascend and descend this hike. But that’s the thing about climbing mountains or doing anything tough in life. It’s never easy. Humphrey’s Peak didn’t care that I had just climbed Half Dome or done 104 degree hot yoga in Paso Robles for a month. The mountains are there to always challenge you physically, mentally, and emotionally no matter what state of being you believe you are in.

That’s why I love spending time in them. As a haven for us to push, grow, and strengthen ourselves while restoring our connection with the world thru nature.

And that’s why I keep coming back for more. The mountains never disappoint.
Humphrey’s Peak is the high point of Arizona and whether you have never been to a high point in a state, or been to just one other one like me (Texas), or want to go to all 50 if you like a challenging day hike it’s a goodie!

I’ll be honest, after doing the high points of Arizona and Texas (which are 2 of the top 12 rated toughest high points in the US) I kind of want more. I find it to be a neat way to explore a state you might not normally visit OR find some challenging peaks, like Colorado and New Mexico, that I believe I can do without learning to be a technical mountaineer.

Either way if you want to go to the high point of Arizona like I just did or 345 feet up in Florida in a neighborhood I hope whatever you do lets you seek happiness, joy, and adventure!

The outdoors can offer us so much beyond the hike or the road trip.
Thanks for reading and see you on a dirt path soon my friend, may we find light, love, and action in ourselves to do the work and allow everyone to explore these places with the same privileges as any reader of this blog might have.

As always, if you want to write for the site with a unique outdoor adventure or travel story and got photo game then bring it on. We’ll edit it and promote YOU. Or just share your story. Whatever you want.

Comment below with your experience of this hike!

Because adventure feeds the soul,
Mike R

Route 66 runs right through Flagstaff Arizona, home of Humphrey’s Peak!