Trailblazers are ready to start up Kendrick. [photo by Mike]

10 Arizona Trailblazers hiked up Kendrick Peak the morning of June 20, 2026. Cool weather made the hike comfortable.
Jan and John needed an early start around 7:30 as had an afternoon appointment. 8 of us met up at 8:40 and started hiking at 9am after our pre hike briefing and photo(s).
Sunny day with breezes up top.

We hiked up from 8000 ft elevation at the TH to 10,418 ft at the fire lookout, with around 2700 foot elevation change. Nice switchback trail to get up the mountain and down. Trail ascends on the south side which was hardly touched by the May 24, 2000 Pumpkin fire which mostly damaged the north, west and east sides of the mountain. We will hike through Ponderosa Pines, Aspens, Engelman Spruce, Douglas Fir and White Fir trees. Reaching the saddle a flat spot near the top we will see an old fire cabin at the 4.5 mile spot and to the left (west) will be the trail and our last climb up the last 0.4 miles to the fire lookout tower and a concrete helipad which is a good spot for a break. Views of the north rim of the Grand Canyon to the north, Oak Creek Canyon to the south and the San Francisco peaks to the east. The front 5 hikers made it to the lookout tower and 5 of us in the rear took our break at the cabin on logs in the shade. Then after a 25 minute or so snack break we headed back down the mountain. Last of us finishing at 3pm and others earlier. There were a number of fallen trees across the trail we climbed over or around. Those trees were upright 4 years ago the last time the leader had hiked the trail.
Afterwards 3 of us had an early dinner at 4:30pm at El Patio restaurant at the I-17 McGuireville exit. Fish tacos were large and good as was the chili Verde burro.

At top. [photo by Li]