technicolorNH - Nov 6, 2020 12:09 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2020
long day
The no trespassing sign on the first gate was still there but I ignored it. The dead tree is still at the intersection, followed by a second gate a short distance from it. I had to park about 3 miles from the TH due to soft sand, although if you have 4WD and high clearance it won’t be a problem. Four hours and fifteen minutes up from the TH, so including the seventy five minute walk in and time on the summit it worked out to an eleven hour day. I sprang a leak in one of my water bottles so bless whoever left the 12 oz Gatorade with the summit register. It made my day a lot less painful than it could have been. I still took my time on the descent because of a shortage of water. Found two day packs in the arroyo/wash that is the best path to and from the summit and packed them out with all the trash inside. Good times.
globreal - Jun 3, 2018 10:25 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2018
Sierra Estrella climb-end of May
I put up a trip report showing my climb if you are interested:
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=18592
mstender - Mar 14, 2016 1:12 am Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2016
SW Drainage
I went up the drainage SW of the peak to reach the main ridge. It was steep and rough with sustained scrambling but overall not too bad, nothing beyond class 3. Great climb! Very remote feel until you hit the top. Saw many wildflowers and cacti in bloom. Went alone.
surgent - Jan 22, 2016 1:43 am Date Climbed: Nov 21, 2009
I did it
With Chris Gilsdorf, Adam Helman and John Klein. Long day, got cramps in my legs.
Paul McClellan - Dec 14, 2015 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 12, 2015
WSW Ridge
Climbed as part of a 6-member "AZ Peakbaggers" meetup, led by Eric Kassan of the Las Vegas Mountaineers Club. We climbed a WSW ridge from the end of a jeep road, with washes on either side. This involved some class 3-4 rock scrambling and avoiding cactus, but was straightforward. I usually hike/climb solo anymore, but I was glad to be part of a competent group on this climb, as otherwise I might have been too cautious to summit. We descended the same ridge, then traversed left into a wash. We descended class 3-4 dry waterfalls in the wash so the ridge might have been a better descent route. Breezy and cool on the summit. No other parties.
nedn - Feb 6, 2012 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2012
Challenging Hike
I have wanted to climb to the top of the Sierra Estrella mountain range for years, as I live in Goodyear, AZ and see it almost every day. I parked in Estrella Mountain ranch and rode my mountain bike to the base of the mountain. Ironically, I met another person at the base who had driven there and was also getting ready to climb to the top. We ended up making the climb together. He was a great guy and it was nice to have the company. I think that I would have been a bit nervous, if I had done the hike alone. The terrain was very rough and there is definitely potential for injury. The climb to the top was very challenging. We were trailblazers and made our own route. We figured out on the way down, that we had choosen the wrong way to go up. We stuck to the main wash on the way down, and this was definitely the easiest way to go. The view from the top is amazing!
bjmitche - Jan 29, 2012 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2012
Almost, Not Quite
It's hard to call our outing an 'attempt' as we didn't leave enough daylight to even consider going the entire distance.
In getting to the hike, we found the situation quite straightforward. But, four-wheel drive is a necessity and the most comfort is to be had in a vehicle that is accustomed to the desert. Take Rainbow Valley till reaching either the Queen Creek alignment (signposted) or Ocotillo. These are dirt farm roads that turn into sandy tracks thereafter. Continue until you hit the service track for the powerlines that run behind the Estrella Range. Allow 45 min to 1 hour from the Jackrabbit exit of I-10.
Our intention was to climb the red route on surgent's map but made the mistake, not realizing it until encountering significantly more difficulty than we had expected given the route description, that we'd climbed one ridge too far south-east.
The upper portions were sustained Class III on good rock which made the climbing interesting though discouraging because of the lack of progress. In the end, we reached the point where the red route ridge comes together on the north with the ridge we climbed (approx. 3100 feet), at which point we turned and descended the red route.
oldadit - Aug 4, 2008 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2002
Mountain of the Stars
One of the more neglected peaks in AZ, considering the millions that can see it daily. But needs better access and a trail to entice these folks.
Climbed with Guy, Mike, and Bob Kerry.
sbkelley - Apr 1, 2007 7:16 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2007
Sierra Estrella Peak
Good stuff - far removed from the crowds below
streeyyr - Jan 19, 2007 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 14, 2007
technicolorNH - Nov 6, 2020 12:09 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2020
long dayThe no trespassing sign on the first gate was still there but I ignored it. The dead tree is still at the intersection, followed by a second gate a short distance from it. I had to park about 3 miles from the TH due to soft sand, although if you have 4WD and high clearance it won’t be a problem. Four hours and fifteen minutes up from the TH, so including the seventy five minute walk in and time on the summit it worked out to an eleven hour day. I sprang a leak in one of my water bottles so bless whoever left the 12 oz Gatorade with the summit register. It made my day a lot less painful than it could have been. I still took my time on the descent because of a shortage of water. Found two day packs in the arroyo/wash that is the best path to and from the summit and packed them out with all the trash inside. Good times.
globreal - Jun 3, 2018 10:25 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2018
Sierra Estrella climb-end of MayI put up a trip report showing my climb if you are interested:
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=18592
mstender - Mar 14, 2016 1:12 am Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2016
SW DrainageI went up the drainage SW of the peak to reach the main ridge. It was steep and rough with sustained scrambling but overall not too bad, nothing beyond class 3. Great climb! Very remote feel until you hit the top. Saw many wildflowers and cacti in bloom. Went alone.
surgent - Jan 22, 2016 1:43 am Date Climbed: Nov 21, 2009
I did itWith Chris Gilsdorf, Adam Helman and John Klein. Long day, got cramps in my legs.
Paul McClellan - Dec 14, 2015 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 12, 2015
WSW RidgeClimbed as part of a 6-member "AZ Peakbaggers" meetup, led by Eric Kassan of the Las Vegas Mountaineers Club. We climbed a WSW ridge from the end of a jeep road, with washes on either side. This involved some class 3-4 rock scrambling and avoiding cactus, but was straightforward. I usually hike/climb solo anymore, but I was glad to be part of a competent group on this climb, as otherwise I might have been too cautious to summit. We descended the same ridge, then traversed left into a wash. We descended class 3-4 dry waterfalls in the wash so the ridge might have been a better descent route. Breezy and cool on the summit. No other parties.
nedn - Feb 6, 2012 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2012
Challenging HikeI have wanted to climb to the top of the Sierra Estrella mountain range for years, as I live in Goodyear, AZ and see it almost every day. I parked in Estrella Mountain ranch and rode my mountain bike to the base of the mountain. Ironically, I met another person at the base who had driven there and was also getting ready to climb to the top. We ended up making the climb together. He was a great guy and it was nice to have the company. I think that I would have been a bit nervous, if I had done the hike alone. The terrain was very rough and there is definitely potential for injury. The climb to the top was very challenging. We were trailblazers and made our own route. We figured out on the way down, that we had choosen the wrong way to go up. We stuck to the main wash on the way down, and this was definitely the easiest way to go. The view from the top is amazing!
bjmitche - Jan 29, 2012 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2012
Almost, Not QuiteIt's hard to call our outing an 'attempt' as we didn't leave enough daylight to even consider going the entire distance.
In getting to the hike, we found the situation quite straightforward. But, four-wheel drive is a necessity and the most comfort is to be had in a vehicle that is accustomed to the desert. Take Rainbow Valley till reaching either the Queen Creek alignment (signposted) or Ocotillo. These are dirt farm roads that turn into sandy tracks thereafter. Continue until you hit the service track for the powerlines that run behind the Estrella Range. Allow 45 min to 1 hour from the Jackrabbit exit of I-10.
Our intention was to climb the red route on surgent's map but made the mistake, not realizing it until encountering significantly more difficulty than we had expected given the route description, that we'd climbed one ridge too far south-east.
The upper portions were sustained Class III on good rock which made the climbing interesting though discouraging because of the lack of progress. In the end, we reached the point where the red route ridge comes together on the north with the ridge we climbed (approx. 3100 feet), at which point we turned and descended the red route.
oldadit - Aug 4, 2008 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2002
Mountain of the StarsOne of the more neglected peaks in AZ, considering the millions that can see it daily. But needs better access and a trail to entice these folks.
Climbed with Guy, Mike, and Bob Kerry.
sbkelley - Apr 1, 2007 7:16 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2007
Sierra Estrella PeakGood stuff - far removed from the crowds below
streeyyr - Jan 19, 2007 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 14, 2007
Sierra Estrella MountainsA small but rugged desert mountain range.