Arizona · Hiking · Mazatzal Wilderness

Dead Man

11.3 mi
round trip
1,010 ft
climb
5,120 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Oct
best months

Is Dead Man open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Cave Creek Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Cave Creek Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Dead Man is a hard hike in the Mazatzal Wilderness, part of the Cave Creek Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that runs about 11.3 miles round trip, with a one-way climb of about 1,010 feet from a low point of 3,102 feet to a high of 5,120 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Payson show April highs around 72°F and October highs around 76°F, while July averages climb to about 93°F and August brings the most wet days of the year. Bikes are not allowed on this trail. Several other hikes sit close by, including Lost Trail #279 about a mile away and Willow Basin at about 1.6 miles. Midnight and Willow Springs are both within about 4 miles.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct

    Best time to visit Dead Man

    Best months: March–May and October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      56° / 26°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 28°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      65° / 32°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      72° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      80° / 43°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 51°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 60°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 59°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      76° / 41°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 31°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      55° / 26°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Payson, AZ, 16 mi away at 4,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.