Picketpost Mountain is located just outside the town of
Superior,
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
approximately east of the
Phoenix Metro Area. The mountain is located in the southern
desert region of
Tonto National Forest
The Tonto National Forest, encompassing , is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in ...
near (but not within) the
Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination fo ...
,
and is popular with hikers. The mountain is also well known for an oddly placed
mailbox at the top of the mountain, which contains the
log books for the Picketpost Mountain Trail.
The mountain's unusual name stems from an early military camp established at the base of the mountain by General
George Stoneman
George Stoneman Jr. (August 8, 1822 – September 5, 1894) was a United States Army cavalry officer and politician who served as the fifteenth Governor of California from 1883 to 1887. He was trained at West Point, where his roommate was Stonewall ...
in 1870. The soldiers nicknamed the mountain “Picket Post” due to its usage as a sentinel point to guard their camp from attacks. This military camp eventually grew into the present day town of
Superior.
References
External links
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Mountains of Arizona
Landforms of Pinal County, Arizona
Mountains of Pinal County, Arizona