Agua Fria National Monument Highpoint Trip Report
Sycamore Mesa on Cordes Junction Quad in Arizona (4,561 feet)
Date: February 4, 2011
Author: Bill Jacobs
Fellow hikers: Rick Hartman, Jack Bennett, and Dave Foote
From Exit 268, on I-17, proceed southeast for 7.0 miles to Dugas.
Continue through Dugas for 0.5 miles turning right at the mailboxes onto county road 68F.
Proceed 0.8 miles to a National Forest cabin signed “Sycamore Cabin”.
Park here and begin your journey to Sycamore Mesa, 2.9 miles as the Raven flies,
but more like 4.0 miles given all the ravines, mesas, and cliffs to be circumvented.
From “Sycamore Cabin” it is easier to follow the creek or the gravel road
southward than try to go over the mesa on a straight-line to the HP.
About a quarter of a mile up the creek is a corral. At this point, angle right
and follow the westward canyon. This roundabout route avoids having to go over
the mesa to your right.
Eventually, climb out of the canyon and continue on a more direct route to the HP.
Hiking through multiple valleys and mesas makes for an interesting day of route-finding.
We spotted numerous diggings by rooting animals and presumed they were javalenas
or badgers looking for bulbs. Hunters told us they were non-native feral pigs
that were destroying the eco-system. If it’s bacon you crave, you are in hog heaven.
They told us it was open season on swine, with no limit.
Hike time: 5.0 hours.