Hike Signal Mountain Signal Mountain Wilderness, AZ

Nov 06, 2021 — This Signal Mountain is southwest of Phoenix, not to be confused with the more popular Signal Peak in the Kofas. To reach the trailhead, navigate here (33.25495, -112.88906) and continue southwest on Agua Caliente Road, which turns into Woolsey Wash Road. It's overall a decent road and a Crossover vehicle can make it to the trailhead. We parked just off the road and headed west through the open desert. We headed up to a minor saddle on the south side of a volcanic peak (Peak 1689), which we bagged on the way back, but I didn't include in this trip report.

Past the minor saddle on the south side of the unnamed volcanic peak, we continued west and after navigating some minor hills and arroyos, we decided to start up the closest ridge. The minor gullies surrounding our ridge choice were choked with brush, so the high route seemed the best way to go. A bit of minor ups and downs along the eastern ridge of Signal Mountain's foothills led us to a lightly-colored gendarme of sorts. Realizing it blocked farther access along the ridge, we dropped to its left and kept below its southern cliffs on loose terrain. We began ascending the steep and loose kitty-litter terrain beneath the gendarme, making our way to the east face of Signal Mountain. The peak looked formidable from here, but it was just a matter of wrapping around the base of the peak on Class 2/3 terrain to gain its southeast ridge. Once on the ridge, a fun Class 3 gully brought us most of the way up the ridgeline and to easier terrain leading to the summit ridge. Class 2 led to the summit on the north end.