| Rank: #6 | Summit Elevation: 10,022 ft. |
| Vegetation: Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, quaking aspen near top, and Ponderosa pine and silverleaf oaks on south-facing slopes. Riparian species (box elder and bigtooth maple) near Arcadia Campground. | Frequently Seen Animals: mule deer, hawks, elk, black bears. |
| Hiking Season: Summer, autumn. |
| Name: Arcadia Trail #5318 to Heliograph Trail #328A | Difficulty: Moderate |
| Length of Hike (r/t): 4 miles | Trail Elevation Change: 1,032 ft. |
| Water: None | Trailhead Elevation: 8,990 ft. |
| Tips: It is 1 mile from the Shannon Park campground trailhead on the Arcadia trail to the junction with the Heliograph trail. Veer right and hike another mile to the top, where there is a 99-ft lookout tower. For a longer hike, start at the Arcadia Campground for a hike of 12.2 miles r/t and 3,222 ft. elevation change. There is a road to the top of Heliograph Peak, which the trail does not meet until the summit. The trail is scenic, as is the summit, but the number of communications towers and generators detracts from the summit experience. Poke around to find a more pleasant spot to eat lunch than the actual summit. | |
| Hiking Permit Needed: No. | Maximum Group Size: |
| Dogs Permitted: Yes, leashed. | Horses Permitted: Yes. |
| Cross-country Skiing Permitted: No. | Mountain Bikes Permitted: No. |
| Safety Tips: Bring warm clothing and raingear. | |
| General Location: 77 miles southeast of Globe | Trailhead Accessible to Low-Clearance Vehicles: Yes |
| Nearest Town: Safford | |
| Directions: From Safford, take US 191 south to AZ 366. Turn right on AZ 366 and go 22 miles to the Shannon Park Campground. Turn right into the campground. The trailhead is near the turnaround loop, behind the bathroom. | |
| U.S.G.S. Quad Name(s): Mt. Graham, | Office of Tourism Region: Old West Country | |
| County: Graham | Managing Agency: Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, P.O. Box 709, Safford, Az. 85548, 928-428-4150 | |
| Web Site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/srd/index.htm | ||