butterfly peak

Snow on the Butterfly Trail – 12/16/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Snow on the Butterfly Trail! December 2015.
Snow on the Butterfly Trail! December 2015.

Somewhere after the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site I started to notice the snow in the shade and by the time I was in Bear Canyon there were small piles of snow on the side of the Highway!

Enjoying the snow on the Butterfly Trail. December 2015.
Enjoying the snow on the Butterfly Trail. December 2015.

Higher on the mountain I watched sledding and snow ball fights – it was great to see people out and enjoying the snow – but it was also beautiful to leave the people behind and enjoy the nearly empty Butterfly Trail – I hiked out to Butterfly Peak, watched the sunset and hiked back in the quiet snow under a sliver moon.

Watching the sunset from Butterfly Peak - looking into the San Pedro Valley and across to the Galiuros. December 2015.
Watching the sunset from Butterfly Peak – looking into the San Pedro Valley and across to the Galiuros. December 2015.

 

Butterfly Peak – 2014/7/6

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

About .9 miles down the Butterfly Trail from the Upper Butterfly Trailhead the trail reaches a small saddle with an old campsite. The Butterfly Trail continues downhill from here to its junction with the Crystal Spring Trail – but another trail, un-official but well worn, continues up the ridge from the campsite out to Butterfly Peak.

1407 Clouds From Butterfly Peak
Looking out from Butterfly Peak. July 2014.

Along the trail to Butterfly Peak there are several nice spots under the trees to stop and near the peak there are  nice views of both the top of the mountain and across the San Pedro River Valley – definitely worth a visit!