Arizona · Hiking · Hellsgate Wilderness

Mescal Ridge

6.2 mi
round trip
234 ft
climb
5,664 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Mescal Ridge open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Payson Ranger District. It doesn't name Mescal Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Mescal Ridge is a 6.2-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona's Hellsgate Wilderness, part of the Payson Ranger District of Tonto National Forest. The trail rises about 234 feet from a low point of 5,415 feet to a high of 5,664 feet, and it is rated hard. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface with no designated bike access. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Pleasant Valley show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about nine and ten a month. The trail is open year-round, and Christopher Creek Campground sits about 2.7 miles away. Climbers can find the Waterfall Area about 2.2 miles off and the Mordor area about 2.4 miles off. Box Canyon Trail is about 2.6 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Mescal Ridge

    Best months: March–May and September–November. 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

      53° / 25°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      56° / 27°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      61° / 31°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      76° / 42°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      86° / 49°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 59°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 59°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      72° / 40°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      62° / 30°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 25°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pleasant Valley, AZ, 13.4 mi away at 5,183 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Box Canyon TrailPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Box Canyon Trail

~4 min drive

0.72-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 244 ft elevation gain.

Horton Creek Trail #285Photo: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Horton Creek Trail #285

~8 min drive

6.67-mile out-and-back hike on Horton Creek Trail #285 in Arizona with 1,141 ft of elevation gain.

Escudilla National Recreation - ArizonaPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Escudilla National Recreation - Arizona

~15 min drive

148.43-mile point-to-point trail in Arizona with 5,249 ft elevation gain.

Derrick SpurPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Derrick Spur

~7 min drive

1.7-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 421 ft gain

Horton SpringPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Horton Spring

~11 min drive

2.40-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,129 ft gain.

Military Sinkhole Trail #179Photo: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Military Sinkhole Trail #179

~12 min drive

5.41-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 942 ft elevation gain.

Meadow Trail 505Photo: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Meadow Trail 505

~13 min drive

3.24-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 9 ft of elevation gain.

Aspen Trail 411Photo: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Aspen Trail 411

~12 min drive

5.59-mile loop in Arizona with 177 ft gain.

General George Crook National Recreation TrailPhoto: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

General George Crook National Recreation Trail

~16 min drive

27.33-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 163 ft elevation gain.

Woods Canyon NaturePhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Woods Canyon Nature

~13 min drive

1.64-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 80 ft of elevation gain.