Grand Canyon Collective
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      Campsites of Northen Arizona – Prescott Pines…

      June 20, 2018

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      May 26, 2018

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      Eat n’ Run Cafe in Flagstaff

      April 19, 2018

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      Cool Spaces in Hot Places: Phantom Ranch

      February 9, 2018

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      Take a journey through Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii…

      December 9, 2017

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      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Featured

      A Journey to Dripping Springs

      October 9, 2018

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      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Featured

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

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      Cool Spaces in Hot Places: Picture Canyon

      September 4, 2018

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      August 19, 2018

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      August 19, 2018

      Hiking

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Hiking

      A Journey to Dripping Springs

      October 9, 2018

      Hiking

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Hiking

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Other

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Other

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Other

      Hiking Tips: Trekking Poles

      August 19, 2018

      Other

      Campsites of Northen Arizona – Prescott Pines…

      June 20, 2018

  • Entertainment & Tours
    • Entertainment & Tours

      Museum of Northern Arizona

      September 4, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Yaki Point

      August 19, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Renting Bikes in the Grand Canyon

      August 19, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Take a journey through Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii…

      December 9, 2017

  • Transport
    • Transport

      Don’t Drive Grand Canyon National Park

      October 27, 2017

      Transport

      More Scenic Routes

      August 24, 2017

  • Routes & Itineraries
    • Routes & Itineraries

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Routes & Itineraries

      A Journey to Dripping Springs

      October 9, 2018

      Routes & Itineraries

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Routes & Itineraries

      Cool Spaces in Hot Places: Picture Canyon

      September 4, 2018

      Routes & Itineraries

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

  • Events & Celebrations
    • Events & Celebrations

      Museum of Northern Arizona

      September 4, 2018

      Events & Celebrations

      Take a journey through Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii…

      December 9, 2017

      Events & Celebrations

      Mesa Verde National Park

      December 9, 2017

      Events & Celebrations

      Night Skies at Grand Canyon

      November 14, 2017

      Events & Celebrations

      Getting Married at Grand Canyon

      April 10, 2017

  • Guide’s Journals
    • Story & Song

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Story & Song

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Story & Song

      Heart of the Canyon

      September 4, 2018

      Story & Song

      Museum of Northern Arizona

      September 4, 2018

      Story & Song

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

Grand Canyon Collective

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  • Home
  • Eat & Stay
    • Eat & Stay

      Campsites of Northen Arizona – Prescott Pines…

      June 20, 2018

      Eat & Stay

      The Toasted Owl Cafe in Flagstaff

      May 26, 2018

      Eat & Stay

      Eat n’ Run Cafe in Flagstaff

      April 19, 2018

      Eat & Stay

      Cool Spaces in Hot Places: Phantom Ranch

      February 9, 2018

      Eat & Stay

      Take a journey through Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii…

      December 9, 2017

  • Outdoor Activities
    • All Biking Hiking Other
      Hiking

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Featured

      A Journey to Dripping Springs

      October 9, 2018

      Featured

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Featured

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Biking

      Cool Spaces in Hot Places: Picture Canyon

      September 4, 2018

      Biking

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

      Biking

      Yaki Point

      August 19, 2018

      Biking

      Renting Bikes in the Grand Canyon

      August 19, 2018

      Hiking

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Hiking

      A Journey to Dripping Springs

      October 9, 2018

      Hiking

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Hiking

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Other

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Other

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Other

      Hiking Tips: Trekking Poles

      August 19, 2018

      Other

      Campsites of Northen Arizona – Prescott Pines…

      June 20, 2018

  • Entertainment & Tours
    • Entertainment & Tours

      Museum of Northern Arizona

      September 4, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Yaki Point

      August 19, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Renting Bikes in the Grand Canyon

      August 19, 2018

      Entertainment & Tours

      Take a journey through Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii…

      December 9, 2017

  • Transport
    • Transport

      Don’t Drive Grand Canyon National Park

      October 27, 2017

      Transport

      More Scenic Routes

      August 24, 2017

  • Routes & Itineraries
    • Routes & Itineraries

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Routes & Itineraries

      A Journey to Dripping Springs

      October 9, 2018

      Routes & Itineraries

      Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

      September 26, 2018

      Routes & Itineraries

      Cool Spaces in Hot Places: Picture Canyon

      September 4, 2018

      Routes & Itineraries

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

  • Events & Celebrations
    • Events & Celebrations

      Museum of Northern Arizona

      September 4, 2018

      Events & Celebrations

      Take a journey through Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii…

      December 9, 2017

      Events & Celebrations

      Mesa Verde National Park

      December 9, 2017

      Events & Celebrations

      Night Skies at Grand Canyon

      November 14, 2017

      Events & Celebrations

      Getting Married at Grand Canyon

      April 10, 2017

  • Guide’s Journals
    • Story & Song

      Backpacking the Boucher Trail

      August 9, 2019

      Story & Song

      Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

      September 26, 2018

      Story & Song

      Heart of the Canyon

      September 4, 2018

      Story & Song

      Museum of Northern Arizona

      September 4, 2018

      Story & Song

      Hermit’s Rest Tour

      September 4, 2018

Routes & Itineraries

    FeaturedGeology & HistoryHikingOtherOutdoor ActivitiesRoutes & ItinerariesUncategorized

    Hiking Arizona’s Highest Mountain, Humphrey’s Summit

    written by John Begay

    The San Francisco Peaks rise like an island in the desert as you approach Flagstaff, Arizona. The small range is in fact the remnant of a dormant volcano,  and home to trails that take hikers, runners, and explorers to breathtakingly beautiful locations overlooking the painted desert and Grand Canyon. It’s Aspen clad terrain is surprisingly more cool and shaded than what people expect to find in Arizona.

    It contains the State’s highest point, Humphrey’s Peak. Humphrey’s stands at 12,633 feet in elevation and it’s Summit is a challenging and beautiful trail to conquer.

    Access to the trailhead going up to Humphrey’s Peak starts in a parking lot at the ski resort, SnowBowl. The trail is roughly around 5-miles one way to the top, making it a 10-mile round trip adventure. It is very rugged with volcanic rocks and tree roots encompassing the route. Elevation gain from the parking lot to the top of Humphrey’s Peak is around 3400 feet. Very experienced hikers and runners are preferred for this trail and acclimated to the elevation. The time duration it takes a typical person to complete the trail is between 6-8 hours. More experienced hikers and runners completing the trail can range between 3-5 hours.

    Walking through the aspen trees along the trail

    Once on the trail, it winds through a mixed coniferous forest. The landscape surrounding the trail is heavy vegetated. One will see Ponderosa Pine, Aspen, and Douglas Fur trees through almost the entire route. After the first three miles of the trail, the tree line is exposed and the landscape at this point turns into rocky terrain with tundra and flowers growing in the surrounding gravel. This section gets steep with a few sections climbing over a few boulders that connects to a saddle between two of the peaks above, Humphrey’s and Agazzi’s Peak.

    Approaching the saddle between Humphrey’s and Agassiz’s Peak is close to 11,000 feet in elevation.The landscape is mostly boulders and gravel deposits.The ecosystem has changed to a tundra environment. At this point on the trail, some mild climbing becomes involved to continue up the path to Humphrey’s Peak. The trail is marked by rock cairns. Wind speeds will often increase at this elevation and the temperature varies from warm to freezing. Bringing a warm layer of clothing is recommended. The trail will meander for the remainder of the path. The views become more spectacular above the tree line

    Looking into the west direction on top of Humphrey’s Peak at sunrise.

    Finally, arriving at the highest point in Arizona is reached. 12,633 feet in elevation. Locations visible from the top vary from Sedona to the Navajo Reservation, all the way out to the Grand Canyon National Park. A lot of avid hikers and runners attempt to reach the top of the peak before sunrise, to catch the shadow of the mountain in the western direction. It is also a good hike to wonder through the Aspen trees, once their leave colors change to a golden color during the fall season in October.

    Sunrise on top Humphrey’s Peak.

    Hike smart on the mountain. Acclimating to the elevation takes awhile here in Flagstaff, Arizona. Take breaks and bring water to be more comfortable on the mountain. Directions to the trail going up Humphrey’s Peak is provided in the link here. Be aware of weather conditions as lightning has been known to claim the lives of unprepared hikers who were not expecting weather to move in quickly. (Humphrey’s).

    Panoramic view on top Humphrey’s Peak

    Hiking Arizona’s Highest Mountain, Humphrey’s Summit was last modified: October 30th, 2017 by John Begay
    October 2, 2017 1 comment
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  • FeaturedRoutes & ItinerariesUncategorized

    Five Best Things to Do at Grand Canyon

    by Sarah Neal September 29, 2017

    The first time I saw Grand Canyon was when I was 21 on a visit from Canada. I walked to the edge with a thousand tourists. Gasped at what I saw. Let…

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  • Eat & StayEntertainment & ToursOtherOutdoor ActivitiesRoutes & ItinerariesStory & Song

    A Morning at Bar 10 Ranch

    by Ali Beam September 14, 2017

    The helicopter had arrived just as the sun began to rise over Bar 10 Ranch. I opened my eyes to the roar of its propellers directly overhead. That was the sound of…

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  • Entertainment & ToursRoutes & Itineraries

    Bearizona

    by Common Jones September 14, 2017

    Just off of U.S. 40, and on the edge of the cowboy town of Williams, stands the gates to a wild animal rescue endearingly called ‘Bearizona’.  Bearizona has sought to afford a…

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  • FeaturedRoutes & ItinerariesTransport

    More Scenic Routes

    by Common Jones August 24, 2017

    Headed to Grand Canyon? Why follow the masses along the interstates? There is so much to see and only a small amount of extra time required to do so. Those looking to…

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  • FeaturedGeology & HistoryHikingOutdoor ActivitiesRoutes & Itineraries

    Running Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim at Grand Canyon

    by John Begay July 20, 2017
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  • FeaturedGeology & HistoryHikingOutdoor ActivitiesRoutes & Itineraries

    Off the Beaten Path: Petrified Forest National Park

    by Common Jones June 23, 2017

    When it comes to spectacles in Arizona, one of the most discrete, but equally astounding, is that of Petrified Forest National Park (PFNP)! Located just under 2 hours east of Flagstaff along…

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  • FeaturedHikingOtherOutdoor ActivitiesRoutes & Itineraries

    Red Mountain

    by Common Jones May 7, 2017

    Visitors to the Grand Canyon can’t avoid seeing the large San Francisco Peaks dominating the horizon to the South when they approach the rim. Wrapped around Flagstaff, these peaks are all but…

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  • Entertainment & ToursOtherRoutes & Itineraries

    2 Day Grand Canyon Itinerary Geared for Kids

    by Sarah Neal April 10, 2017

     Headed to Grand Canyon with the family? Excellent idea! Be forewarned though – many people are simultaneously having the same great idea as you… and when you arrive it’ll feel a little bit…

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  • FeaturedRoutes & Itineraries

    Should I do North, South, East or West Rim Grand Canyon?

    by Sarah Neal April 3, 2017

    The name “Grand Canyon” gives away one obvious truth about the place… it’s Grand. The name Grand implies a landmark of monumental proportions… literally hundreds of miles of desert landscape like you’ve…

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Recent Posts

  • Backpacking the Boucher Trail

    August 9, 2019
  • A Journey to Dripping Springs

    October 9, 2018
  • Sacred Datura: A Southwestern Moonflower

    September 26, 2018
  • Skeleton Point: A Glimpse of the Colorado

    September 26, 2018
  • Bright Angel Trail Pictographs

    September 26, 2018

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This Website is Owned and Operated by Bright Angel Bicycles & Cafe | To contact the moderators, please contact BAB directly at www.bikegrandcanyon.com | Please note that you will visit the places mentioned in this blog, or you participate in activities described, that you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK! You should always consider nature a formidable force, and take all measures of safety necessary for safe travel and also mindfully conserve the wilderness that you are visiting for future visitors.


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