Four Peaks (Yavapai: Wi:khoba[4]) is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix. Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness [5] in the Tonto National Forest, 40 miles (64 km) east-northeast of Phoenix. In winter, Four Peaks offers much of the Phoenix metro area a view of snow-covered peaks. Four Peaks is the site of an amethyst mine that produces top-grade amethyst.

Browns Peak
Yavapai: Wikopa
View of Four Peaks with some snow
Highest point
Elevation	7,659 ft (2,334 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	3,297 ft (1,005 m)[2]
Listing	Arizona county high point[3]
Coordinates	33°41′04″N 111°19′32″W[1]
Geography
Browns Peak
Location	Gila / Maricopa counties, Arizona, U.S.
Parent range	Mazatzal Mountains
Topo map	USGS Four Peaks
Climbing
Easiest route	Exposed scramble, class 3

The name Four Peaks is a reference to the four distinct peaks of a north–south ridge forming the massif's summit. The northernmost peak is named Brown's Peak and is the tallest of the four at 7,659 feet (2,334 m).[1] It is the highest point in Maricopa County. The remaining summits are unnamed, and from north to south are 7,644 feet (2,330 m),[6] 7,574 feet (2,309 m)[7] and 7,526 feet (2,294 m)[8] in elevation.

• 
  View of other three peaks from Browns Peak
• 
  View from desert floor of Four Peaks

Four Peaks Wilderness

The Four Peaks Wilderness, established in 1984, covers 60,740 acres of land. It is home to a diverse variety of plants and animals due to the quick change of elevation in the range.[9] Brown's Trail, found in the Four Peaks Wilderness, is used to reach the tallest peak and is home to black bears, ring-tailed cats, skunks, and coyotes.[10] The Four Peaks Wilderness contains a section of the Arizona Trail,[11] which is considered one of the most difficult passages, as it is infrequently maintained.[12] On April 27, 1996, a party of two campers left a campfire unattended near Lone Pine Saddle. This caused the Lone Fire which burned over 61,000 acres and lasted 11 days.[13] The Lone fire was Arizona's largest recorded wildfire prior to the Rodeo–Chediski Fire in 2002.

References

External links

Media related to Four Peaks at Wikimedia Commons

• "Browns Peak/Four Peaks". SummitPost.org.
• "Browns Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
• "Four Peaks Wilderness". Tonto National Forest.