Quartz Peak
Posted by: 
adenium
N 33° 13.817 W 112° 13.802
12S E 385391 N 3677490
Quartz Peak is the highest point in the Sierra Estrellas in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Waymark Code: WME2C9
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 03/25/2012
Views: 11
The summit of Quartz Peak is accessible by a trail that starts on the west side of the Sierra Estrellas in Rainbow Valley. There are no facilities at the trailhead, save for a BLM pit toilet. Bring plenty of water as there is no place to fill up here! Access to the trailhead is best attempted from the north if you have only a passenger car. The southern route along the power lines requires high clearance. There are sandy stretches along both the north and south routes with a several wash crossings en route. On the day we visited, the parking lot was dominated by high clearance vehicles, although one passenger car was present.
Quartz Peak itself is difficult to spot. Although the high point in the Sierra Estrella, its neighbors are either comparable in height (albeit a little shorter) or obscure Quartz Peak from view. Your hike will begin with an ascent of a spur ridge and then over and up to the real ridge the leads steadily up to the peak. The last quarter mile or so is a scramble over boulders in some parts, but nothing too difficult. Cairns mark the way where the trail becomes obscure.
At the very top of Quartz Peak it becomes evident where the mountain gets its name. An outcrop of solid quartz dominates. The quartz is smooth and cool to the touch, so it makes a pleasant place to stretch out of contemplate your long trek back down. On a clear day, visitors to the top have excellent views of almost the entire Valley of the Sun.
Total round-trip distance: 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 2,550 feet
Altitude in Feet: 4052
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