On January 21 Josef Nuernberger and I drove into the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation (Tohono O’odham Nation) and climbed Gu Achi Peak, the highpoint of the Santa Rosa Mountains and one of the 73 Arizona peaks with at least 2000 feet of prominence. Gu Achi Peak is rarely climbed due to remoteness, lack of online access information, and a reputation for the locals being unwelcoming of visitors. With some road access research provided by Eric Kassan, Josef and I found the drive in from the south to be straightforward (with suitable maps, vehicle clearance, and good tires). The only local inhabitant we saw, in the tiny community of Sil Nakya, appeared friendly and we saw no other vehicles once we left pavement near there. Our route up the peak followed an east-ward facing ridge with mostly firm footing and which steepened near the top and provided some class 2 and 3 scrambling. The weather was ideal and the summit provided views of other Southern Arizona peaks I have visited and many more I hope to visit in the future.
Gu Achi Peak from the approach road from the south
We found little information about road access to Gu Achi Peak, so I have included my driving directions here. This approaches Gu Achi Peak from the south Starting on Arizona Highway 86.
