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Friday, January 6, 2023

Javelina Summit Trail

JAVELINA SUMMIT TRAIL

Brittlebush colors the Tortuga Trail


One of four difficult-rated summit hikes in the Skyline Regional Park in Buckeye, the Javelina Summit doesn’t scrimp on thrills.  The 0.9-mile-long trail spools off connecting routes in the park’s far east end. 

View from the Javelina Summit Trail

While it’s “just” a 745-foot climb from trail base to summit, that accounts for less than half the story.
Javelina Summit (right) viewed from Tortuga Trail

Getting to the 2,200-foot mountain highpoint involves using three trails and logging over 1,700 feet of accumulated elevation change.
Hike begins on tehe Quartz Mine Trail

The rollercoaster-style trek starts from the main trailhead area with a 1.6-mile hike on the Quartz Mine Trail. About a half mile in, first peeks at the destination loom on the horizon. The prominent ridgeline rising over foothills and valleys looks imposing. And irresistible!
Beginning of the Javelina Summit Trail

The undulating path winds through washes and slopes below ragged ridges and stone outcroppings before making an ascent to a saddle where the Tortuga Trail spins off to the east.
Brittlebush are plentiful in Skyline Regional Park

The Tortuga Trail leg of the hike takes back much of the elevation gained with a smooth downhill on long lazy switchbacks. At the half-mile point, the route encounters its final segment, the 0.9-mile Javelina Summit Trail.
View of the White Tank Mountains

It's here where the real work begins. While the lower quarter mile feels just moderate and has a few level bends, the climbing becomes an unrelenting uphill haul with loose rock and a fair amount of exposure. The trail is well engineered but still very steep and precipitous as it clamors along a knife-edge sharp, rocky backbone. Persistence and careful footwork pay off on the tiny summit.

Rock outcropping on Tortuga Trail


Javelina Summit Trail is steep and edgy.

The airy pinnacle displays 360-degree vistas of the southern White Tank Mountains, the distant profile of Downtown Phoenix, the Sierra Estrella Mountains and sprawling desert plains.

LENGTH: 5.8 miles round trip (out and back hike)

RATING: difficult

ELEVATION: 1,312 – 2,200 feet (over 1,700 feet of accumulated elevation change)

GETTING THERE:

Skyline Regional Park, 2600 N. Watson Road, Buckeye.

From Interstate 10 in Buckeye, take the Watson Road exit 117 and go 2 miles north to the park. Roads are paved.

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset daily

DAY USE FEE: none

FACILITIES: restrooms, picnic ramadas, camping

INFO:

Skyline Regional Park

https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/skyline-regional-park

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