Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway

About Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway

The Harquahala Mountain Backcountry Byway offers something for everyone! The road itself is rugged and challenging for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts. High-clearance vehicles and four-wheel drive vehicles are required.The summit is the highest point in southwest Arizona with breathtaking 360-degree vistas. For hikers, a pack trail leads from the summit down the mountain through the Harquahala Wilderness Area designated in the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990. The trail has several difficult and steep portions.For the nature lover, it has beautiful Sonoran Desert scenery with blooming flora March through May and distinct ecosystem variations can be seen with changes in elevation. In addition to the typical desert reptiles and critters, bighorn sheep may also be spotted.For the history buff, the drive displays old mining debris, shafts and stone houses from earlier miners. The grand finale is realized at the summit with the Harquahala Peak Observatory. The observatory was built by the Smithsonian in 1920 to measure and record solar activity. It was abandoned in 1925 and in 1975 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has since been stabilized.Hours and SeasonsTrail can be used year-round; however, it is recommended for use from November through April. At other times of the year, the trail is seldom used due to high temperatures.Summer temperatures may often reach 115 degrees. Wear a hat, long sleeve shirt, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Drink plenty of water!Features and ServicesAccess and Parking: The parking area consists of hard-packed ground with non-striped spaces. Although none of the spaces are designated as accessible, the entire parking area should be suitable for people with mobility devices.Drinking Water: There is no drinking water available. Bring plenty of water.Toilets: Accessible vault toilet onsite.Cell Phone and Internet: Cell phone service may be unreliable. There is no public internet or Wi-Fi.Pets: Service dogs are legal

How to Get There

The byway is 80 miles west of Phoenix or 40 miles southwest of Wickenburg. From Phoenix, take I-10 west to the Salome Road Exit (50 miles). Turn right and follow for 9.6 miles to Eagle Eye Road. Turn right and go 8.5 miles to the byway which heads north towards the summit.Or travel north on I-17 to the Carefree Highway exit, turn left on State Route 74, heading west past Lake Pleasant, to U.S. 60. Turn right and head northwest to Wickenburg. From Wickenburg, continue on U.S. 60 (which veers west), to Aguila. Turn right, heading south, on Eagle Eye Road 18.5 miles to the byway heading 10.5 miles north climbing the summit.

Plan Your Visit to Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway

Heading to Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)