Brown's Peak

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A rewarding yet challenging hike to reach Brown's Peak.

The scree chute is not recommended for beginners or people afraid of heights.

Begin the hike at the well-marked trailhead. You're looking for Brown's Trail #133 which begins as a moderate incline with numerous water bars crossing the well-defined path. The forest is lush and untouched by the Lone Fire in the beginning.

Continue hiking along the trail and the eastern views of the Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake open up. Eventually, the trail hooks up with the Amethyst Trail #253. The intersection is nothing to be concerned with, you'll most likely not even know as Browns Trail gives way to the Amethyst Trail.

Follow the Amethyst Trail for a short distance up to Browns Saddle. You should most certainly take a moment at the saddle to view the Valley of the Sun to the west. Smog usually fills the valley making it hard to see many landmarks. On a clear day, you can see Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and other small landmarks of the valley. The ripples of the desert floor are breathtaking!

Brown's Peak is special under its own conditions because trekkers hike through the forest, desert, snow-covered bushes, and vast vistas over nearby lakes. Although, the most rewarding and equally challenging part of the hike is the final ascent up the treacherous scree chute. This part of the trail should be taken seriously by any hikers, as its steepness and vertical rock walls are no joke. Even avid hikers, such as myself, would consider this chute to be rather dangerous if there's no sure footing.

Pine trees, cactus, shrubs, desert flowers, bears are in the area and deer. I didn't see any though.