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| Mount Elden   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Arizona, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 35.24120°N / 111.5968°W Elevation: 9299 ft / 2834 m | Page By: Steven Cross Created/Edited: Mar 23, 2001 / Jul 1, 2008 Object ID: 150238 Hits: 5745 Loading... Page Score: 89.17% - 15 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview 
Mt Elden is a very large lava dome that rises abruptly about 2,400 feet. The mountain has a massive trail mecca around it. Its also the only mountain in the Flagstaff area that has routes more difficult then class 2. There are class 3 and 4 solid rock ledges and faces around the mountain that require route finding. Many people have had to be rescued from the mountain, and there have been a number of deaths on the mountain.
The back side of the mountain up the Mt. Elden road has class 5 areas in the Dry Lake Hills.
There are 2 main routes up Elden, the road, and the Summit trail. The Trail takes anywhere between 1 hour to 2 1/2 hours to get to the top. It's 3 miles and rises about 2,200 feet. The Trail gets Steep in several spots and the logs placed on the trail create "stair steps" in many spot. Many People use it to get in shape and it's often that people run up the trail. The trail is often crowded in the summer; it's a very popular trail to hike. The Tower on top is open in the summer months and offers a great view of Flagstaff, San Francisco Mountain and northern AZ.
Getting ThereThe Trail Head is Located in Flagstaff on US 89 north of the mall. There is a parking area just off the highway. The Road is on US 180 going to the Grand Canyon.
Red Tapenone
When To ClimbUsually Elden is Climbed May-November. If there is snow on the mountain then it may not be possible to hike to the tower, but it can be ascended until the snow gets to deep to continue. If you are hiking it in the snow Crampons are suggested.
Any links needed for Mt. Elden can be found on Humphreys Peak sight due to there close aproximity to each other and Flagstaff.
CampingCamping is prohibited.
Trail PopularityParking is limited and there are many people that hike this mountain everyday, mainly on weekends. Most people stay on the bottom trail, Fat Mans Loop.
Little EldenHeight 9,018 feet.
Little Elden is a sub peak of Mount Elden located about a mile north of Mount Elden. It is the northern most point on the mountain. There are a several ways of doing it. You can do the main summit trail then take the Sunset Trail across the ridge. Get off the trail and stay on the ridge and climb over boulders the whole way. A shorter way would be to use the Heart trail then once on the ridge get off the trail and work your way over the boulders to the summit.
Another way is to park at Horsemans Lodge, a restaraunt about 4 miles outside of Flagstaff on 89. Take the trails to the base of Little elden then get off the trails and find a route that takes you to the summit. This route is alot of bushwacking.
With a map of other trails you can come up with all sorts of routes to get to this sub-summit.
Arizona's 20-20 ChallengeYes Arizona has it's own little challenge just like other states do like the Colorado/Califorina 14ers, Idaho 12ers, or even doing all the State High points.
Arizona's Challenge is the 20 highest and the 20 deepest. What this means is the 20 highest mountains that are not on protected areas and has a trail to the summit and the 20 deepest canyons with the same criterea.
The mountains all have an elevation gain of at least 1,000 feet. The listing of the Peaks and Canyons are yet to come.
For more information go to Arizona's 20-20 Challenge
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