Mazatzal Peak

Mazatzal Wilderness, AZ

Info

Distance13.3 mi
Elevation gain4,100 ft
Route typeOut & back
Duration6 hr
CruxClass 2
Quality7/10

Peaks bagged

1
Peak 78237,823 ft / Prom. 103 ft

2
Mazatzal Peak(AzWHP)7,903 ft / Prom. 3,943 ft

AzWHP. Arizona Wilderness High Points

Report

Near the trailhead, the fork of the Y Bar Trail (left) and the Barnhardt Trail (right).
Along the Barnhardt Trail, view into Bardhardt Canyon.
The trail switchbacks up the south side of the canyon.
View back down Barnhardt Canyon toward the trailhead.
Barnhardt Falls. The upper falls can be accessed via a mini slot canyon.
View back toward Barnhardt Falls, right of center.
The trail flattens out as it contours several spur ridges. The ascent drainage is somewhere in the center.
Leaving the Barnhardt trail for this drainage. There was a lot of flowing water and fun boulder-hopping.
Around 6,200 feet, I exited the drainage to the right for this tributary.
I pushed through a band of brush to gain a southwesterly spur ridge.
Minimal brush along the spur ridge. I contoured the slope on the left toward the main ridge.
View back.
Topping out on Mazatzal Peak's north ridge. Peak 7823 comes into view, center.
View back as I ascend the slope.
Gaining the ridge crest.
Impressive cliffs on the west face of the Mazatzal Peak massif.
View back. I was able to avoid snow patches on the eastern slopes by staying high on the ridge crest, which resulted in some fun but likely unnecessary Class 3 scrambling.
Peak 7823 ahead.
Peak 7823 summit. View northwest.
Descending Peak 7823 toward Mazatzal Peak, ahead. Just a short traverse away.
View back toward Peak 7823 from just below the summit of Mazatzal Peak.
Approaching Mazatzal Peak's summit.
Mazatzal Peak summit. View south.
View southeast.
View north, the way I came.

Nearby trips

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Superstition Benchmark
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