Malapais Mountain
11.9 mi5,578 ft
4,219 ft
1,762 ft
Off-trail venture up Geronimo Head and Malapais Mountain, with an attempted return down Peter’s Canyon.
Photos
Dim sunlight over Coronado Mesa
The dim back of Geronimo Head
Sun beginning to shine on Four Peaks
Sun creeping towards Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat
Bright morning sun on Four Peaks
Dim, cluttered gorge full of brush
Fading moon beyond the hill's crest
First hit of sun on Geronimo Head
Weaver's Needle beyond the saddle on Geronimo
Bright sun lighting up Canyon Lake
Vast green flats of Hackberry Mesa
Dark silhouette of Malapais Mountain
Cactus and brush covering up the route
Long stretch of Superstition Ridgeline beyond Black Mesa
The northern end of Battleship Mountain
Hazy views of Weaver's Needle and Bluff Springs Mountain
Narrow fin stretching out towards La Barge
Looking down into La Barge Canyon and a distant trail
South Peak of the Superstition Ridgeline
Hazy skies over North Phoenix
Malapais Mountain beyond the end of Geronimo
A looming Malapais Mountain
Four Peaks poking up above the low hills
ridges-beyond-fish-creek
Goliath bulk of Malapais Mountain
Looking back along the bluff of Geronimo
Tough route around the upper canyon
Dry washes far below
Crazy hair day and Four Peaks
Long descent to a green mesa
Plenty of cactus to avoid
Back at the bluff on Geronimo
A gnarly climb up the rough canyon
Hot sun over the small canyon
Almost to the crest of Malapais
East to Tortilla Mountain
Low smoggy clouds over Phoenix
The long stretch of Battleship Mountain
Thick clusters of cactus
Dark view down on Black Mountain
Along Peter's Mesa to Music Mountain
Many buttresses of Tortilla Mountain
La Barge, snaking up towards the opening on Bluff Springs Mountain
Historical graffiti
On the steep downhill slope
Looking up the start of Deering Canyon
Lonely agave against the blue sky
Distant view of the winding wash in Peter's Canyon
Deep shadows over Four Peaks
Suspicious triangular cave across the way
Getting close to the thick lush at the bottom
Sun dipping below the canyon rim
Thick dead branches clogging up the way
Boulders and thick growth in the wash
White rocks around the ugly mossy pools
White rocks around the still pools
Deep pools of reflective water
Little waterfall over boulders
Steep rock walls around the creek
Deep green pool
First cairn of the canyon
Odd aquamarine tint to the waters
A lonely pillar against the sky
Desert bighorn sheep high above me
Smooth rocks and deep pools to get around
Bighorn sheep coming down to check things out
Darkness quickly dropping
Along the way
Mountain 2
- Geronimo Head
- Malapais Mountain
Trailhead 1
- Roadside start near Tortilla Flat