Best scenic mountain drive in Arizona is in my backyard // Mount Hopkins Road, Santa Rita Mountains
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ค. 2024
- #ExploringGodsCountry #MountHopkinsRoad #Overlanding
I have long wanted to do a video on this road but I could never to it justice. I just had to finally make a video. Anything I film doesn't even come close to how scenic this road is.
John and I decided to work on a film together to share a taste of Mount Hopkins Roads with you. It's not for the faint of heart. I took my folks up there ONCE and that was enough. They were utterly amazed by the stunning view but the one lane mountain road scared them to death.
I used to go up there once every few weeks. I'd take my camp kitchen, picnic and finish up work at top of the mountain. It was always a great time. Unfortunately, gas has gotten much more expensive and as you could imagine it uses a fair amount of gas to climb up this mountain in any vehicle.
Honestly, you can really go up in about any car or truck. The road is very well maintained. Only thing is, it is a single lane, dirt road, with a few guard rails. However, most of the road has no barrier with large drops off the side. This makes for views that are out of this world but can as you could imagine make some passengers a bit squirmy!
SUPPORT THE MISSION 🎖️
Do something for somebody in need today. Perhaps as simple as opening a door or picking up garbage you see. Together we can make this world a better place.
SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL ✅
► BuyMeAcoffee.com/MatthewJeschke/
► Subscribe: rb.gy/7ef1kl
HIRE MATTHEW 📸
► SELL A HOME: www.keystoaz.com/
► BUY A HOME: www.keystoaz.com/about/
► CAMERA MAN: www.keystoaz.com/cameraman/
MY GEAR 🎥
► CAMERA GEAR: www.keystoaz.com/camerakit/
Thank you for watching! Hope to see you on the next hike!
All rights reserved © 2024 Matthew Jeschke
.
.
.
Related Search Tags: #SantaRitaMountains #Arizona #Exploring #BikePacking #SonoranDesert
Matthew, that's a very nice video. Too bad the valley was so hazy, but even with the haze, one knows he is looking at God's artwork. I need to make that drive soon. Some grandkids will enjoy it, not sure about the wifey! The night footage with the stars and Observatory were phenomenal. I always enjoy your treks. A picnic drive up with the family is in order and thank you for all the detailed information on road conditions and drivability. Cheers.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy my videos. I have to give credit to John for the night photography. He took those shots along with a few others on the drone and of Mark biking. Funny story, I took my folks up there years ago. I really enjoy that road. My dad didn't so much, every time I ask if they want to go back up there it's a firm NO. haha
@@exploringgodscountry Yes Matthew, I'll have to admit that I have a few reservations about driving up there too. I did drives like that without hesitation during my field days in Nogales AOR, but after years of NOT doing it, I find my lifetime fear of heights in full swing! I WILL do it though, wifey or not. I don't want her scared. My son is a surveyor, and the the kids are his, so we'll go for sure. My guess is that wifey will decide to come too...on the floorboard until we stop at pull-overs! 🤣! The collaborative video was a smash!
@@jerryjones188 thanks! It is weird sometimes I am scared of heights, and other times less so. But I am always scared when riding in car... my friends wife said multiple times can we stop and go back down. And I said sure, then she would go, na keep going haha
Around 1968 my friend and I rode horses up there from Tubac! Back then the office was there on top.You could hike up to the reflector at that time!! I did it once,took 45 minutes to get up and 15 minutes to get back,to office. Needless to say our families were going crazy!! We got back to Tubac around 10pm!! Poor horses!!
WOW that would be sooooo much fun! John told me they didn't use to have that gate up top. I'd love to see the rest of the road but I imagine people were causing problems for the telescopes / operation at night... I have spoken with a guy who helped build that complex up top. I helped him at work. I cut a whole segment out of the video about the pumping station they are building there. The guy I met helped find that water source, bring electric, etc up. Then John knew the guy who made the road. Pretty awesome place!
Man that is a hell of an elevation gain for those horses
@@jacknife10000 Young n Dumb!!! Poor horses laid around most of the next day.
I was not aware of the passing etiquette on a mountain road. Good to know! Thanks for all your hard work setting up stunning shots and doing excellent editing - I know that takes so much time! You've really done it justice. The time lapses were my favorite.
Wow thanks for your kind words! Really appreciate them. I cannot take credit for the timelapses. I've done a bunch of them in the past but they are SO much work. John stayed up most of the nights to shoot those. We actually went back up cause he didn't like the way one turned out to do a whole second night of shooting them. Those are actually his clips and they turned out so awesome! I was really excited he let me use them in the video.
@@exploringgodscountry wow, that is some real dedication! Let him know they are appreciated!
@@wildpathsaz you and your friends will have to go up that road when you come down this way next. It is super awesome.
Beautiful drive and scenery! Thank you for picking up the shotgun shells too!
Thanks! Such a fun road. Have you been up it?
@exploringgodscountry I’ve never been up it but I want to now!
Another great video. Have not made it all the way up this road in the Jeep yet, but soon. Ive hiked to the Observatory from Aqua Caliente Saddle.
Thanks for complement! I really appreciate it. I have yet to make it up Agua Caliente Saddle. That sounds like an interesting hike on up to the observatory from there. Last week I tried to go from Madera Canyon up the direct route to the saddle. Suffice to say the least I didn't make it. It's super steep! I need to get in better shape. Road is awesome and definitely the lazy man's way up haha I must say I've probably been up it a good thirty times or so. I used to go every month just to get away.
The hike to the Aqua Caliente Saddle is just a bit over 2 miles by way of the Steep trail, aka Vault mine trail. I've done probably 20 times up and 4 or 5 times down. Worse coming down in my opinion. We should try and hookup this Fall or Winter and do it. I can only hike when someone can watch my Wife.
@@boblogan2383 I'd love to. I think I'm going to go today and make sure I get to top. I want my first time on saddle by way of steepest route. I may then hook around and come down Josephine. I really need to get into better shape because I want to explore off trail at higher altitude which requires I carry all my camera gear up there for channel. So I think my best bet for training is simply to hike as I'm most interested in Mountaineering. Takes some pretty good physical strength to film as I have to carry the extra gear AND be the fastest one in group to cover the angles while keeping up with other people. You probably already said but where are you located?
Awesome! Down towards Tucson? Timmy C Arizona
Past Tucson, about an hour south
Thanks! Hopefully you can make it out there. Link below for the picnic area on google maps. The same road goes up to the gate.
maps.app.goo.gl/8qfyqBUya3vTcBhN9
Kinda a sketchy drive, dont do it if you have a fear of heights. My wife hates it but I love it, some of the most beautiful views in AZ. I know exactly which campsite youre in with that big Juniper.
Thanks! Amen about the sketch factor and heights. I'm TERRIBLE with heights, oddly. I can drive up to w/o too much trouble, but if I ride with somebody I'm flexing and holding my breath the whole way! Do you go up there much anymore? Sounds like you know the area well! That's super cool.
@@exploringgodscountry havent been in a year or so, but I live close by. I heard they may open the observatory this year which will likely prompt a trip up!
@@jacknife10000 oh that would be super awesome if they open the observatory! I'd love to see it. Been meaning to take a tour but spooked about riding in their bus up. I am pretty skeemish riding with somebody else on that road. Although driving my own vehicle doesn't really bother me.
Is the Whipple Picnic Area the only suitable place to park a car for a solo bicycle ride to Mount Hopkins? How many miles is it from the Whipple Picnic Area to the end of the road towards Mount Hopkins?
I recommend Whipple Picnic area. Otherwise about a mile up road from that is Astronomy Mesa with a parking pullout before you hit the all dirt single track to top. 6.17miles from astronomy mesa or 7.57m from Whipple Picnic area. Gain is roughly 3700ft