Back Way to Mt. Ord

4.5/5 (15 reviews)
Atop Mt. Ord at nearly 7100 ft in elevation, is the Mt. Ord fire lookout. Originally placed in 1936 at 60 ft in height, the tower was replaced in 1983 and is currently approximately 102 ft tall. The original fire lookout cabin can be seen at the Rim Country Museum in Payson, Az. It makes for an inte...Read More
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Highlights of Back Way to Mt. Ord

Altitude Category IconAltitude
Forest Category IconForest
Rock Category IconRock
Highest Elevation
5872 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
North
Official Trail Name
27
Nearest Town
Fountain Hills
Nearest Services
Fountain Hills
Management Agency
Tonto National Forest
District
Tonto Basin Ranger District

Overview

Atop Mt. Ord at nearly 7100 ft in elevation, is the Mt. Ord fire lookout. Originally placed in 1936 at 60 ft in height, the tower was replaced in 1983 and is currently approximately 102 ft tall. The original fire lookout cabin can be seen at the Rim Country Museum in Payson, Az. It makes for an interesting side trip and can be accessed by turning left/south at the intersection of FR 27 and FR 626. If the gate is open at the end of FR 626, continue on up to the end of the road, and if you're lucky, maybe you will be invited up into the tower. If the gate is closed you can hike the approximate 1 mile uphill to the tower. Also sitting atop Mt. Ord are local radio towers and amateur radio repeaters.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
5 Waypoints
17 Trail Photos
2 Trail Concerns
15 Community Reviews
1 Video
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