On February 5 I climbed Newman Peak, the highpoint of the Picacho Mountains north of Tucson and one of the 73 Arizona peaks with at least 2000 feet of prominence. Newman Peak has a reputation for difficult access and brushy and rocky slopes so I did my homework beforehand and drove in to below the peak the previous afternoon and camped for the night so as to be ready for an early start hiking the next morning.
Newman Peak from the south
I drove to near Newman Peak from the south on primitive roads, crossing the Central Arizona Project Canal in two places. I researched the driving route from online reports, USGS topo maps, and satellite images and carried these notes with me, updating them as I worked my way in. As I passed through the first of three gates I entered Arizona State Trust Land and I was prepared with my annual recreation permit.
