Little Horn Mountains, Az

                                       Little Horn sheep

                                              Royal Arch

           Coyote Peak                                         

For LITTLE HARQUAHALA high point,  take exit 53 off I-10 and go north on graded road for 2 miles to a main fork. Keep right for nearly 6 miles just past a quarry and turn left for a third mile. Hike west thru a saddle then get on the ridge at N33 42335, W113 36653 that goes to the summit and Harquar BM. 1000 feet gain, 3 hours. Interesting mine ruins are east of the main dirt road on 4wd roads.

For ROYAL ARCH in the LITTLE HORN MOUNTAINS, go south from exit 53 off I-10 for just over 10 miles on the graded Hovatter Rd to a stop sign at the foot of Coyote Peak. Go left for 3.8 miles to a 4 way. The graded road continues straight and passes within a mile of the arch. It would be an easy hike across the flats to the arch at N33 23913, W113 39799. Or go left at the 4 way on a crude road for 3 and a half miles. Then go right for a mile and a half to the arch. This route would be an easy mtn bike ride.You'll never find a flatter 5 miles. I'd come back the same way.

For LITTLE HORN BM,go past the 4 way as described above for 6.2 miles to a crude track at N33 21895, W113 39874. Go left for a tenth mile to a short spur road and park at the end of it. Walk up the valley on the right side and aim for a bench on the left side of a gully at N33 21810, W113 39375. Follow this gully up on the left side, staying close to the bed.This avoids most of the basalt. When you top out on the ridge, the basalt thins out and it's an easy stroll to the reg at 21205, 37133. 4 hours, 1500 gain.

• COYOTE PEAK has a possible class 3 route. I went up to the notch north of the summit then contoured left of the ridge center to get east of the summit block. I went up to an exposed section then a bee stung me.That's all the excuse I needed to turn back. I'll return with a rope and beekeeper suit.