EXPLORUMENTARY
  • Home
    • Cactus to Clouds Hike
    • More Quotes
    • Ann Zwinger Quotes
    • Mary Oliver Poems
  • Hikes by State
    • Idaho
    • Southern Utah
    • Arizona
    • California Desert
    • Nevada
    • Wyoming
  • BLOGS
    • Adventure Blog
    • Women and the Land
  • GALLERY
    • DESERT PLANTS >
      • Beavertail cactus
      • Brittlebush
      • Christmas Cactus
      • Arizona Barrel Cactus
      • Parry's penstemon
      • Agave
      • Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog
      • Claret Cup Hedgehog
      • Desert Agave
      • Palmer's Penstemon
      • Silver Cholla
      • Cristate Saguaro
      • Indian Paintbrush
      • Ocotillo
      • Santa Rita Prickly Pear
      • Spiny Cliffbrake
      • California Barrel Cactus
      • Engelmann Prickly Pear
      • Velvet Mesquite
      • Joshua Tree
      • Buckhorn Cholla
      • Hedgehog Cactus
      • Fishhook cactus
      • Thompson's Woolly Locoweed
    • NATURE
    • BOISE
    • EARTH + SKY
    • URBAN
    • WATER
    • PATRIOT
    • ORCHIDS
  • Fit After 50
    • Brian Holgate
    • Fred Birnbaum
    • Dave Brasuell
    • Bus' Little Black Book
    • Mike Carlson
    • Ray Wilson
    • Bryan Krouse
    • Vickie Kearney
    • Maria Keezer
    • DOUG TRAUBEL
    • Boise Cross Fit Masters Ladies
    • Tim Clemens
    • Marcia Bondy
    • Becky Borczon Blake >
      • Becky B Downtown
    • Jennifer Cera and Sue Birnbaum
    • Dave Brasuell
    • Vance Powell
  • About
    • CONTACT

Elephant Head Peak:  Santa Rita Mountains, Southern Arizona

2/17/2020

11 Comments

 
With a second try, we made it to the lonesome summit of Elephant Head in the sparsely traveled Santa Rita Mountains, south of Tucson.

Related: 
Tucson Mountains Tour:  Golden Gate Mountain, Bobcat Ridge, and Little Cat Mountain

Desert Plants
​Cat Mountain, 3,852' - Tucson Mountain Park
Picture
Elephant Head Peak summit - Santa Rita Mountains
Trip Stats
Overview:  Climb the bare-boned, steep ridge of Elephant Head Peak to witness the Shrine of the Elephant with a close backdrop of the higher forested Santa Rita Mountain range.  You must first climb through old oak trees, hike out of two canyons and walk an old mining road with huge Santa Rita Prickly Pear along the way.
Location:  Mt. Wrightson Wilderness - Santa Rita Mountains -  Coronado National Forest - Arizona
Distance/Type:  6.8 miles round-trip.
Elevation:  Trailhead = 4,508', Elephant Head summit = 5,641'.   Net elevation gain to summit = 2,000'. 
Difficulty:  Moderate effort on defined trail, moderate-strenuous off-trail Class 2+ with one Class 3 pitch near summit.  Experience with off-trail navigation necessary.
Reference:  We used Earthline's hike directions.
Maps:  Green Trails Maps Santa Rita Mountains (#2962S), our GPS tracks (below).
Considerations:  No permit, no trail register.
Driving Directions: Trailhead.   Leave Interstate 19 at the Canoa Road Exit near Green Valley. Take the east frontage road 3 miles south to Elephant Head Road and turn east 1.6 miles to the Mt. Hopkins Road. Drive 4.5 miles to FR 183. Turn north on this dirt road about 2.4 miles to a circular parking area with a large oak - just before the road crosses the streambed. Park here and travel back down the road a few paces to a sign that marks Trail #930 on right (north) side of road.  Coordinates at parking:  31.6956 , -110.9288.
Geology:  Elephant Head Quartz Monzonite (Cretaceous ~70 Ma).  Not to be mistaken for granite which contains > 20% quartz, monzonite contains 5-20% quartz.  Large grains indicate slow cooling below Earth's surface.  
Flora:  Desert grassland and oak-grassland biomes of Arizona's sky island region.

*** 1/29/23:  I received a comment from someone who hiked this trail last year - she saw forestry employees who told her to remove any elephants she might find on this trail in order to keep this beautiful area more pristine.
Hike Summary
Picture
Picture
Picture
Trailhead to turn-off onto unofficial/unmaintained trail at Chino Canyon
  • Trailhead #930 (Quantrell Mine Trail): walk back down road a short distance from trailhead parking area where trail sign is on the right.
  • Walk single-track north/northwest for 1 mile to intersection with old mining road.  Turn right (north).
  • Road narrows to single track after passing old mine; enter Mt. Wrightson Wilderness (sign).  Walk 0.6 miles from sign to intersection with unofficial trail plunging into Chino Canyon.  Trail marked with cairns.  Elephant Head's east ridge in full view.
From unofficial trail turn-off to saddle below Elephant Head's east ridge
  • Steep trail leaves Quantrell Mine Trail at cairns located ~ 0.2 miles after vista and it turns in a northeast direction.  The trail goes around the point labeled "USLM 3212" and leaves at its most northern aspect.  Total distance = 1.9 miles (click on map at left) There may or may not be cairn to mark entry into Chino Canyon.
  • Descend cairned trail 500' in 0.4 miles into Chino Canyon at stream.  Distance from stream to summit = 1.0 miles and 1,130' gain. Cross stream.
  • Trail becomes less obvious; keep looking for cairns and climb to saddle between Elephant Head (left) and Point 5,273' (right). Distance = 2.8 miles.
Saddle to Summit
  • ​​Climb left up Elephant Head's east ridge for 0.6 miles, 500' to summit.
  • Trail runs just to the right (northeast) of the ridge which has more vegetation and oak tree limbs and trunks to help maneuver up.
  • Arrive at a Class 3 short wall with limited hand/footholds.  It is easier but more exposed to walk to the left and climb the smaller vertical cliff.
  • Trail then goes up bare rock with narrower ridge.  Arrive at the summit, 3.4 miles from trailhead.
"Mountains complement desert as desert complements city, as wilderness complements and completes civilization."
         -   Edward Abbey -  from Desert Solitaire 
Our Hike
On our first attempt at summiting Elephant Head Peak, a huge winter storm was blowing into southern Arizona, so by the time  we reached the saddle just below the exposed ridge to the summit, we staggered against a roaring wind bent on toppling us over.  We had to go back down.  The storm produced a thick white blanket over the tops of the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountain ranges overlooking Tucson.  Six days later we reached Elephant Head summit on a warm, calm and sunny day, but the Santa Rita Mountain range behind us still held large patches of snow.  

The almost ghostly figure of bare Elephant Head Peak stands out in stark contrast against the base of the dark brown and green Santa Rita Mountains in the Santa Cruz Valley near the southern Arizona border.  The Cretaceous-age Elephant Head formed much later than the Triassic-age Mt. Wrightson rocks at the higher elevations of these mountains.  
Picture
Elephant Head Peak, 5, 641' in Mt. Wrightson Wilderness in the northwest Santa Rita Mountains
Picture
First attempt:  bracing against the wind on saddle beneath Elephant Head Peak, 5,641'.
Picture
On the way to the bottom of Chino Canyon looking at Elephant Head Peak.  Hike to saddle on the right following cairns.
This hike packs in a wide variety of plants, views and terrain for its relatively short distance and manageable elevation gain.  Begin by crossing the stream in Agua Caliente Canyon to walk through knee-high bunch grasses, then pass by the intersection for Little Elephant Head (Peak 5,139').  Catch the first glimpse of Elephant Head Peak on the horizon.  Magenta and red fruits of huge Santa Rita prickly pear cacti dot the sides of the trail.  Tall rock walls that support an old mining road still stand looking down Chino Canyon.  Suddenly, around a corner, an enormous view of the pinkish-tan hulk of Elephant Head Peak overlooks deep Chino Canyon, its rounded rocks and southern cliffs dotted with green shrubs and a few trees.  A steep drop with occasional Arizona Rainbow cacti growing in moss brings you to a soothing waterfall.  The final ridge climb is the funnest part of the hike, as it requires using old oak tree branches and plenty of rock hand-holds.   The rock affords great traction as the ridge drops on both sides for a huge view of all the major ranges to the north, including Baboquivari Peak, the native Tohono O'odham peoples' most sacred place.  A close-up to the east of the rugged Santa Rita Mountains provides a beautiful backdrop.
Picture
One mile into the hike, intersect with mining road built in the early 1900's and an old Santa Rita prickly pear and take a right past sign.
Picture
Arizona Rainbow (Hedgehog) cactus
If you look closely at Elephant Head Peak, you will see the shape of an elephant head and ears, its trunk descending the east ridge, this hike's route.  At the top, numerous elephant statues are bunched tightly together in a rock "corral".   The elephant-headed Ganesha is an important god in the Hindu religion because it is a symbol of new beginnings and a remover of obstacles.  In India, the elephant also symbolizes majesty and strength - appropriate for this summit with its majestic views of southern Arizona, and the Santa Cruz Valley just below.

One mile into the hike, the trail meets Trail #141, an old mining road coming up Chino Canyon built in the early 1900's.  Take a right to stay on Quantrell Mine Trail (see photo above). It's amazing to see the rock walls of some portions of the road still holding solid and strong.  Shortly, pass the sign for Mt. Wrightson Wilderness, then a 0.6-mile moderate climb gets you to the turn-off to the trail to Elephant Head, which may or may not be cairned.  You plunge into Chino Canyon just at the northern-most aspect of Quantrell Mine Trail.  It was a well-cairned "unofficial trail",  easy to follow to the creek at the bottom of Chino Canyon at the time we hiked it, but requires more attention on the other side of the creek up to the saddle, as there are fewer cairns.  At this point, you leave the Quantrell Mine trail and plunge 500' in 0.4 miles, heading north.
Picture
Cairn marking cross-country trail that crosses Chino Canyon to ascend to saddle to the right (southeast) of Elephant Head Peak.
Picture
Chino Canyon at creek crossing
Picture
Picture
Losing major elevation while the summit is in sight can be frustrating because it has to be regained and then there's the summit to climb.  But the scramble up the ridge is too much fun to pass up and the awe you feel on the summit will always be remembered.

Once the saddle is attained, cairns lead the climber toward the right side of the ridge, where old oak tree branches, rock ledges and troughs aid in getting up the final bare and steep ascent.  The Class 3 pitch near the summit is a rock wall with sparse places to put hands and feet; an alternate way to get past this climb is to skirt around this wall to the left, hoisting up more exposed, but less steep rounded rocks.

Once past this obstacle, enormous views open as you hike on the top of the ridge, a perch high above the Santa Cruz Valley. Arrive at the summit of the elephants, bunched together as if protecting themselves from the vicious wind that we experienced a week before.   Madera Canyon, one of the most famous birding areas in the U.S., lies below to the north/northeast.  The trailhead for Mt. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas, begins in this canyon.   
Picture
This elevation is too high and cool for saguaros to grow.  This hike travels through the transition between desert grassland and oak grassland biomes of Arizona's Sky Island region.  The ocotillo "forests" are remarkable and so are the mature Santa Rita Prickly Pears; they tolerate the cooler winters. Their pads can turn purple during the winter.

​
So many things make this a repeat-hike in the future:  solitude, desert wilderness, route-finding, fun Class 2-3 climbing, and views.  Plans:  Elephant Head Peak plus Little Elephant Head (Peak 5,149').
Picture
On Elephant Head's east ridge looking at the final climb: trail goes around just to the right side of ridge.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Yep!  This is the trail!  See the cairns......
Picture
Near the summit looking down the east ridge to saddle (top of image) where trail ascends.
Picture
Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Picture
Summit of Elephant Head Peak - Santa Rita Mountains
Mt. Wrightson on horizon

Picture
Devils's Cashbox - limestone butte south of Elephant Head Peak
Picture
Ocotillo and Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Picture
Our GPS tracks from Trail #930 Trailhead (south) to Elephant Head Peak (north)  Contour intervals = 40'.
click on map for larger image

Picture
Profile for ascent:  3.4 miles with 2,000' net elevation gain
Picture
Point at which you leave Quantrell Mine Trail and descend into Chino Canyon - there may or may not be a cairn at this point.
Picture
References
An Archipelago in a Cordilleran Gap - The Sky Islands of Arizona and Sonora.  Brusca, R., Moore, W.                                     
https://www.rickbrusca.com/http___www.rickbrusca.com_index.html/The_Sky_Islands.html

Ganesha:  Hindu Diety.  Doniger, W.  Encyclopaedia Britannica.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ganesha

Geologic Map of the Mt. Wrightson Quadrangle.  https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_9405.htm

Mesozoic Stratigraphy of the Santa Rita Mountains, Southeast of Tucson, Arizona.  Drewes, H. 1971.  
https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0658c/report.pdf

​
​Plutonic Rocks of the Santa Rita Mountains, Southeast of Tucson, Arizona.  Drewes, H.  1976.  Geological Survey Professional Paper 915.  https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0915/report.pdf

Quantrell Mine Trail.  Coronado National Forest.  U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service.  
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recreation/recarea/?recid=25770&actid=50
11 Comments
Linda Paul link
2/19/2020 07:41:17 am

Interesting hike. I wonder how many Hindus summit this mountain. lol I always feel a little uncomfortable when I encounter shrines like what you found at the top of Elephant Head Peak. I prefer that my efforts are rewarded with spectacular views and pristine surroundings.

Reply
Sue Birnbaum link
2/19/2020 07:49:11 am

Hi Linda,

I know what you're saying - the views are great and the surroundings pristine especially the old-growth cacti but the elephants are a bit much literally and figuratively! It seems that some of the peaks in our southern climes - Arizona and Pinto Mountain in Joshua Tree will have these whimsical items placed on their tops!

Reply
Valerie
2/19/2020 02:10:54 pm

Ohm Gum Ganapatiya! Hindu chant to the Elephant head god Ganesha! Outstanding article on your hike! Love the photos Sue!

Reply
Sue link
2/19/2020 03:51:08 pm

Hey Val! You will have to fill me in more about the Hindu chant and the god Ganesha! I thought that was pretty interesting, however it is weird to have the elephant statues on the top. There were a few elephants lower down before you get on that final ridge - not sure if the people who put them there gave up on the hike or just decided to put them in those lower spots. Thanks for your comments - love your skydiving videos and skiing photos!

Reply
Michael
11/7/2020 07:24:21 pm

We began this trail today, but the weather got yucky and we turned around about 4/5ths the way into it. Very nice... but we never really saw any cairns. I don't know if they've been knocked down or something. But... the wife and I found the trail to be pretty easy to follow, none-the-less.

Reply
Sue link
11/8/2020 10:18:40 am

Hi Michael,
Thanks so much for your comment. We had the same situation, we couldn't summit the first time because of weather. Your comments are great because it made me review my directions and then add more specific directions and state the fact that there may or may not be cairns. Maybe they were knocked down, as you said. I hope you can get back to this fun peak.

Reply
Samuel Miller link
4/22/2022 12:30:20 pm

The storm produced a thick white blanket over the tops of the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountain ranges overlooking Tucson. I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply
Sue link
4/22/2022 03:35:37 pm

Wow, thanks for reading it and taking the time to comment! I would definitely do this hike again - climbing up that bare ridge to the summit is memorable. Keep on exploring!

Reply
Renee
1/29/2023 05:58:58 pm

We hiked this awesome trail last year and ran into some hardworking forestry department workers on the way up. They asked us to please remove any elephants we saw (there were none) because they just litter the beautiful area. There were cairns then, and for the most part it’s not bad to follow until you get closer. We pack a lunch sometimes and just take it as far as Chino basin.
Little elephant is a beginner practice for this hike, and also rewards you with stunning views.

Reply
Sue link
1/29/2023 07:46:21 pm

Renee,
I appreciate you updating me on the elephant "litter" on this beautiful and fun trail. It was surprising to see how many elephants were at the summit and we should give kudos to the forestry workers for restoring the natural beauty of Elephant Head. This is such a cool summit, I am looking forward to hiking it again. It was a challenge to find the cairns, but not too bad, I really like the final part where you are on bare, steep rock, and then at the summit you have such an awesome view. Great that you are able to hike in this area again and again. Thanks for your comment!

Reply
Courtney Lawson link
3/15/2023 02:46:52 pm

A huge winter storm was blowing into southern Arizona, so by the time we reached the saddle just below the exposed ridge to the summit, we staggered against a roaring wind bent on toppling us over. Thank you for sharing your great post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Arizona Hikes
    California Desert Hiking
    Idaho Summits
    Nevada Hikes
    Snowshoe Hikes
    Southern Utah Hikes/Bikes

    Complete list of Hikes/Bikes on HOME page
    Picture
    Sue and Fred
    Picture

    About this blog

    Exploration documentaries          –  "explorumentaries"  list trip stats and highlights of each hike or bike ride, often with some interesting history or geology.  Years ago, I wrote these for friends and family to let them know what my husband, Fred and I were up to on weekends, and also to showcase the incredible land of the west.  

    To Subscribe to Explorumentary adventure blog and receive new posts by email:

    submit
    Picture
    Happy Spring!
    Picture

    About the Author
    Sue Birnbaum

    A  trip to Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Monument 38 years ago sparked my passion for hiking, exploring, and learning about desert ecosystems.  For the past 25 years, my husband Fred and I have explored the American West together; we love this land and I hope to inspire you to get out and explore through my photographs and trip descriptions.
    In 1992, Ray Wilson and I conceived the first Cactus to Clouds hike which climbs over 10,000 feet in one day to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto near Palm Springs, California.
    CACTUS TO CLOUDS HIKE 
    READ MORE
    ABOUT SUE

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Some of my favorite websites:
    Awkward Botany
    ​citizen botany for the phytocurious

    Bird and Hike

    ​"Intended to encourage people to visit, learn about, and fall in love with the desert."
    ​

    Draw and Shoot
    Beautiful Photography

    Earthline: The American West
    Debra "writes to extol our beloved Earth." Detailed hike info, excellently written.
    ​

    Geologypics.com
    Geology and Geologic Time through Photographs

    Glenn Suokko
    Vermont artist's paintings "inspired by a place based on the land .... drawn to painting the representation and abstraction of nature."

    In the Company of Plants and Rocks
    ​A natural history blog about botany, plant ecology, and geology.

    Nature's Depths

    Walking through nature with John Palka, a neuroscientist who loves plants and ponders big questions

    Rangewriter - What Comes Next?
    ​With excellent writing, Linda tells the story of her unique mother's life including WWII era; with beautiful photographs.

    SeekingLost - Hiking and Backpacking Adventures.

    Stav Is Lost- Unconventional, out-of-the way hikes in the American West.


    Uprooted Magnolia
    ​Leah Yetter's beautiful "photo journal on life, love, and the spirit of Wyoming."
HOME

Cactus to Clouds Hike
More Quotes
HIKES BY STATE

Idaho Hikes
Utah Hikes/Bikes
​Arizona Hikes
​California Desert Hikes
​Wyoming Hikes
​Nevada Hikes

BLOGS

Adventure Blog
Women and the Land
GEAR REVIEWS
FIT AFTER 50
Fred Birnbaum
Dave Brasuell
Bus' Little Black Book
​Mike Carlson
​Ray Wilson
​Marcia Bondy
Bryan Krouse
​Maria Keezer
​Tim Clemens
​Doug Traubel
​Brian Holgate
​
Becky Borczon Blake
​Jennifer Cera and
​Sue Birnbaum

​Vance Powell
​Boise Cross Fit Masters Ladies
​Vickie Kearney

GALLERY

Desert Plants
Nature
Earth + Sky
Urban
Water
Patriot 
​Orchids
Boise
​
  ABOUT
    Contact

​
© 2017 - 2023 by Sue Birnbaum.  Photos on this website are the sole property of Sue Birnbaum unless otherwise indicated.  Please receive permission before publishing my trip reports and photos.
I try my best to be accurate with my hike descriptions; please research your adventures, always bring a map and compass and know how to read them, be prepared!  All of these hikes can be dangerous; hike at your own risk.  ALWAYS carry the Ten Essentials with you on hikes. 
​Please feel free to contact me with comments or questions, or if you see any errors that need attention.
Thank-you for stopping by!


EXPLORUMENTARY.com
  • Home
    • Cactus to Clouds Hike
    • More Quotes
    • Ann Zwinger Quotes
    • Mary Oliver Poems
  • Hikes by State
    • Idaho
    • Southern Utah
    • Arizona
    • California Desert
    • Nevada
    • Wyoming
  • BLOGS
    • Adventure Blog
    • Women and the Land
  • GALLERY
    • DESERT PLANTS >
      • Beavertail cactus
      • Brittlebush
      • Christmas Cactus
      • Arizona Barrel Cactus
      • Parry's penstemon
      • Agave
      • Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog
      • Claret Cup Hedgehog
      • Desert Agave
      • Palmer's Penstemon
      • Silver Cholla
      • Cristate Saguaro
      • Indian Paintbrush
      • Ocotillo
      • Santa Rita Prickly Pear
      • Spiny Cliffbrake
      • California Barrel Cactus
      • Engelmann Prickly Pear
      • Velvet Mesquite
      • Joshua Tree
      • Buckhorn Cholla
      • Hedgehog Cactus
      • Fishhook cactus
      • Thompson's Woolly Locoweed
    • NATURE
    • BOISE
    • EARTH + SKY
    • URBAN
    • WATER
    • PATRIOT
    • ORCHIDS
  • Fit After 50
    • Brian Holgate
    • Fred Birnbaum
    • Dave Brasuell
    • Bus' Little Black Book
    • Mike Carlson
    • Ray Wilson
    • Bryan Krouse
    • Vickie Kearney
    • Maria Keezer
    • DOUG TRAUBEL
    • Boise Cross Fit Masters Ladies
    • Tim Clemens
    • Marcia Bondy
    • Becky Borczon Blake >
      • Becky B Downtown
    • Jennifer Cera and Sue Birnbaum
    • Dave Brasuell
    • Vance Powell
  • About
    • CONTACT