SCF-ORIG - 2024 Sep 21 - Harquahala Mountain 4x4 Ride

Our Off-Road season for 2024 has arrived. Our first 4x4 group ride of the season was held on Saturday, September 21, 2024. We had 7 rigs participating in this ride. Our destination was the Harquahala Mountains Wilderness. This trail is rugged and challenging but has recently been graded and is now in a lot better shape than we've ever seen it.
The Harquahala Mountains are the highest mountain range in southwestern Arizona. Harquahala Peak Trail runs about 5.4 miles one-way to the top of the mountain. High-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles are required on this trail. “Slow and steady” is the only option on this ride.
We took in the breathtaking panorama of surrounding desert and distant mountain ranges during our mountain ascent. The final mile before the top is particularly challenging, ascending switchbacks and more than 1,400 feet in elevation. From parts of the ride, we could see the trail we traveled to get up the mountain stretching out behind us. We had great views of the Kofa Mountains to the south and the Lower Colorado River Valley to the west. When we arrived at the top of Harquahala Peak we were at an elevation of 5,691-feet. From the upper elevations of this wilderness, panoramic views include the surrounding desert and mountains up to 100 miles away.
We ate lunch with a view. We had 360-degree vistas at the mountain's summit. The entire ride up and down the mountain, and eating lunch at the top, took our group about 5 hours to complete. A big thanks to Dale Terwedo for brining his camera with a long lens and getting some great shots of the group on the trail!
Music:
In the Wild by National Sweetheart; TH-cam Audio Library
Big Sky Elegy by National Sweetheart; TH-cam Audio Library
Skating On the Uppers by National Sweetheart; TH-cam Audio Library
The Center Isn't Holding by National Sweetheart; TH-cam Audio Library