Blackjack Point
Blackjack Point is a broad, remote summit on the eastern edge of Cooks Mesa in central Arizona, rising above the rugged highlands north of Cave Creek and west of the Verde River. Modern Peakbagger measurements place the summit at approximately 5,387 feet (1,642 meters), with about 810 feet (247 meters) of topographic prominence.
The mountain lies within Tonto National Forest in Yavapai County, in a sparsely developed landscape of mesas, volcanic rocks, chaparral-covered ridges, canyons, and rough Forest Service roads. Although Blackjack Point is less famous than the higher mountains surrounding Phoenix, its relatively isolated position provides excellent views toward the Cedar Mountains, New River Mountains, Verde River country, and the higher central Arizona ranges beyond.
Blackjack Point is also geologically interesting. The mountain stands near the Cooks Mesa fault, part of an extensive network of faults that developed as central Arizona’s crust stretched millions of years ago. Volcanic rocks, ancient basement formations, and tilted fault blocks throughout the surrounding landscape preserve evidence of this long geological history.
For hikers, Blackjack Point is very much a backcountry peak. There is no developed summit trail, and reaching the top generally involves driving remote forest roads followed by hiking along an old road and then completing a short cross-country ascent.
⚡ Fast Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Mountain | Blackjack Point |
| Alternate name | Black Jack Point |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai County |
| Region | Central Arizona Transition Zone |
| Elevation | Approximately 5,387 feet / 1,642 meters |
| Prominence | Approximately 810 feet / 247 meters |
| Isolation | Approximately 5.5 miles / 8.9 kilometers |
| Nearest Higher Neighbor (NHN) | West Cedar Mountain |
| Approximate coordinates | 34.0487° N, 111.8750° W |
| National forest | Tonto National Forest |
| Major landform | Eastern edge of Cooks Mesa |
| USGS area | Cooks Mesa / Rover Peak quadrangles |
| Primary access | Forest Road 24 and Forest Road 597 |
| Summit access | Old road and cross-country hiking |
| Typical route difficulty | Moderate backcountry hike |
Elevation databases give slightly different values for Blackjack Point. Older USGS-derived mapping commonly lists approximately 5,361 feet, ListsOfJohn gives 5,380 feet, and modern Peakbagger data places the summit at approximately 5,387 feet. For this profile, the newer Peakbagger measurement is used.
🏔️ A High Point on the Edge of Cooks Mesa
Blackjack Point occupies the eastern edge of the enormous upland generally known as Cooks Mesa.
From a distance, Cooks Mesa appears less like a conventional isolated mountain and more like an enormous elevated platform broken into numerous lobes, ridges, drainage systems, and secondary summits.
The broader mesa extends for many miles across central Arizona.
To the northwest lies the main Cooks Mesa country, while Grapevine Mesa extends south of Blackjack Point. Farther west, the elevated landscape transitions toward the New River Mountains.
Blackjack Point stands prominently on the mesa’s eastern edge, where the terrain begins descending toward progressively lower country leading to the Verde River.
Its summit is not a sharp rocky pinnacle. Instead, hikers encounter a rounded high point surrounded by open slopes, scrub vegetation, scattered rock, and nearby mesa terrain.
The mountain’s appeal comes less from dramatic summit architecture and more from its isolation and expansive views.
📏 Nearest Higher Neighbor
The Nearest Higher Neighbor (NHN) of Blackjack Point is West Cedar Mountain.
ListsOfJohn identifies West Cedar Mountain as the proximate parent of Blackjack Point and calculates approximately 5.54 miles of isolation.
Modern Peakbagger data produces a very similar result, with roughly 5.5 miles separating Blackjack Point from higher terrain.
West Cedar Mountain reaches approximately 5,488 feet and stands north-northeast of Blackjack Point within the broader Cedar Mountains country.
Although the elevation difference between the two mountains is only about 100 feet, West Cedar Mountain is considerably more prominent, rising nearly 1,800 feet above its key saddle.
Blackjack Point’s line parent is listed separately as Benchmark Mountain, illustrating the difference between a mountain’s closest higher neighbor and the higher summit reached by following its full prominence lineage.
🌎 Central Arizona’s Transition Zone
Blackjack Point lies within Arizona’s complex Transition Zone, an irregular belt separating the Colorado Plateau from the Basin and Range Province.
This region stretches across much of central Arizona and contains an extraordinary mixture of landforms.
Rather than the broad, relatively level plateaus found farther north or the strongly separated mountain ranges and valleys typical of southern Arizona, the Transition Zone contains:
- High mesas
- Fault-block mountains
- Volcanic uplands
- Deep canyons
- Chaparral-covered ridges
- Pine-covered higher peaks
- Desert basins
- River valleys
Blackjack Point occupies the southern portion of this transitional landscape.
The Sonoran Desert lies not far to the south around Phoenix, yet considerably higher mountains and forested country rise to the north and northeast.
This geographic position contributes to both the scenery and ecological diversity of the region.
🗺️ Where Is Blackjack Point?
Blackjack Point is located in Yavapai County, north of the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree.
The mountain lies within Tonto National Forest, one of the largest national forests in Arizona.
Cave Creek Road eventually becomes Forest Road 24, the principal road leading north through the Seven Springs area toward the remote uplands surrounding Blackjack Point.
The Verde River lies many miles to the east.
Nearby geographic features include Cooks Mesa, Grapevine Mesa, Rover Peak, Benchmark Mountain, East Cedar Mountain, West Cedar Mountain, and the New River Mountains.
Despite its relative proximity to metropolitan Phoenix, this is surprisingly remote country.
Once travelers continue north beyond Seven Springs, paved roads, developed recreation areas, and dense settlement disappear quickly.
🪨 Geology of Blackjack Point
Blackjack Point lies within an unusually complicated geological landscape.
Geological mapping of the Cedar Mountains and Cooks Mesa region has documented rocks ranging from Early Proterozoic basement formations more than a billion years old to much younger volcanic rocks and sedimentary deposits.
The modern landscape developed through repeated cycles of erosion, deposition, volcanism, faulting, and renewed erosion.
Some of the most important episodes occurred during the Cenozoic Era, particularly as central Arizona underwent crustal extension.
As the crust stretched, large faults developed and blocks of rock shifted relative to one another.
The effects can still be seen in the tilted mountains and mesas surrounding Blackjack Point.
🌋 Ancient Lava Flows
Volcanic rocks are widespread across the Blackjack Point region.
Basaltic lava flowed across portions of the landscape millions of years ago, covering older rocks and filling low areas.
One important regional volcanic sequence is known as the Hickey Formation, which includes basalt flows dated largely to the Miocene Epoch.
Some lava flows were later tilted and displaced by faulting.
Others erupted after much of the major deformation had ended and remained comparatively level.
These relationships allow geologists to reconstruct the timing of the tectonic events that shaped central Arizona.
Near Blackjack Point, resistant volcanic rocks have also helped preserve portions of the broad mesa surfaces visible today.
↘️ The Cooks Mesa Fault
One of the most significant geological structures near Blackjack Point is the Cooks Mesa fault.
Geologists mapping the Cedar Mountains area found that the fault forms part of a much larger system associated with crustal extension.
Where exposed, the Cooks Mesa fault may contain zones of broken basalt cemented by calcite.
Movement along the main fault and its associated splays displaced rock units by substantial amounts.
The Arizona Geological Survey study estimated that some portions of the Cooks Mesa fault system may record roughly 1,500 meters of displacement.
Immediately south of Blackjack Point, additional fault branches extend away from the principal structure.
This means the apparently quiet landscape visible today was once an area of enormous geological movement.
🏜️ A Landscape Shaped by Faulting and Erosion
Faulting alone did not create modern Blackjack Point.
Once blocks of rock had been raised, lowered, tilted, and fractured, erosion began exploiting those structural weaknesses.
Streams cut into the uplifted surfaces, gradually producing the canyons and dissected mesas that characterize the region today.
Harder volcanic rocks resisted erosion better than some surrounding formations.
The result is a landscape where flat or gently sloping mesa remnants rise above steep canyon walls and lower basins.
Blackjack Point represents one of these resistant high areas on the edge of Cooks Mesa.
🌿 Vegetation
Blackjack Point lies within the broad ecological transition between the Sonoran Desert and Arizona’s higher mountain forests.
At roughly 5,400 feet, the summit is high enough to support vegetation very different from the classic saguaro-covered desert around Phoenix.
Much of the mountain is covered by interior chaparral and high-desert shrubs, with juniper, scrub oak, manzanita, grasses, agave, yucca, and other drought-resistant species appearing throughout the surrounding country.
Vegetation density varies greatly.
Some sections of the summit approach are relatively open, while others contain dense brush capable of making cross-country travel surprisingly difficult.
Hikers have specifically reported thick, thorny vegetation on portions of the upper mountain.
Long pants can therefore be valuable even during mild weather.
🌵 From Sonoran Desert to Mountain Uplands
One of the most interesting aspects of traveling toward Blackjack Point is watching the environment change with elevation.
The drive north from Cave Creek begins amid classic Sonoran Desert scenery.
Saguaros, palo verde, mesquite, and desert shrubs dominate the lower elevations.
As Forest Road 24 climbs northward, saguaros become less common and chaparral begins to dominate.
Higher ridges contain juniper, oak, grasses, and other plants associated with cooler central Arizona uplands.
The change can be dramatic over a relatively short distance.
By the time visitors reach Blackjack Point, the landscape feels more like Arizona’s interior mountain country than the desert suburbs around Phoenix.
🦌 Wildlife
The undeveloped landscape surrounding Blackjack Point provides habitat for a broad range of central Arizona wildlife.
Coues white-tailed deer occur throughout the rugged chaparral country of this region.
Mule deer may also be encountered in more open terrain.
Other mammals inhabiting the broader Tonto National Forest include javelina, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, mountain lions, black bears, rabbits, and numerous rodents.
Bird life can be particularly diverse because the region lies between desert and mountain ecosystems.
Raptors commonly soar above ridges and canyon walls, while ravens, jays, woodpeckers, sparrows, and numerous migratory species use the surrounding woodland and chaparral.
Reptiles are also common.
Rattlesnakes may be active during warm weather, so hikers should pay attention when stepping around rocks, brush, or shaded areas.
🥾 Hiking Blackjack Point
Blackjack Point does not have a maintained Forest Service summit trail.
The most commonly described routes combine old roads with a short cross-country climb.
One well-documented ascent began near the junction of Forest Road 24 and Forest Road 597, directly below the eastern side of the mesa.
The hiker followed FR 597 uphill toward the summit area before leaving the road and climbing cross-country to the high point.
That particular outing was approximately 1.6 miles round trip, gained roughly 580 feet, and took about 90 minutes.
These numbers should be treated only as an example.
Parking locations, road conditions, route selection, and vegetation can change the actual difficulty considerably.
🚶 A Short Hike That Can Be Deceptive
Blackjack Point looks straightforward on a topographic map.
The distance from some approach roads to the summit is short, and there are no major technical climbing obstacles.
However, several factors can make the hike more challenging than expected.
The final section is generally off-trail.
Dense chaparral can force hikers to weave around vegetation rather than travel directly toward the summit.
Loose rock and uneven ground also slow progress.
A 2023 hiking report described substantial brush—including difficult holly-like vegetation—during an attempted ascent.
Conditions can vary enormously from year to year depending on wildfire, rainfall, vegetation growth, and grazing.
The mountain is therefore best approached as a navigation-oriented backcountry hike, not a simple roadside walk.
🧭 Navigation
Offline navigation is strongly recommended.
Cell service becomes unreliable or nonexistent in this part of Tonto National Forest.
Old Forest Service roads may also appear differently on modern maps than they do on the ground. Some remain drivable, others are heavily eroded, and still others have become little more than faint tracks.
A downloaded topographic map or dedicated GPS device can make route finding considerably easier.
Hikers should also mark the location of their vehicle before leaving the road.
Cooks Mesa is broad enough that terrain can look deceptively similar when returning from the summit.
🚙 Forest Road 24
Most approaches to Blackjack Point begin with Forest Road 24, also called Seven Springs Road or Cave Creek Road along different portions of its route.
The road begins near Cave Creek and Carefree and continues north through Tonto National Forest.
Recreation.gov describes the road near Seven Springs as a narrow all-weather gravel road with blind curves.
Beyond the developed Seven Springs area, travel becomes increasingly remote.
Historical Blackjack Point trip reports describe following FR 24 for approximately 14 miles beyond the end of pavement before reaching the beginning of Forest Road 597.
Road conditions can change substantially.
Heavy rain, flash floods, washouts, wildfire, grading, and ordinary erosion can alter these roads between seasons.
Visitors should check current Tonto National Forest conditions rather than assuming an older trip report remains accurate.
🚗 Forest Road 597
Forest Road 597 provides one of the closest approaches to Blackjack Point.
The road climbs onto the eastern portion of the mesa and passes below or near the summit.
Conditions have historically varied from reasonably good dirt road to sections better suited to high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Some hikers may prefer to park lower and walk the road rather than attempt to drive farther.
This can increase the total hiking distance but reduce the risk of vehicle problems.
Anyone traveling remote Forest Service roads should carry extra water, a reliable spare tire, basic emergency supplies, and offline maps.
🌄 Views from Blackjack Point
The summit may be modest in appearance, but the views are excellent.
To the north, hikers can look toward the Cedar Mountains, including West Cedar Mountain.
To the south, Grapevine Mesa stretches toward the increasingly arid country above Cave Creek and Carefree.
The westward view includes Cooks Mesa and the New River Mountains.
To the southeast and south are other prominent summits of the North Phoenix high country.
The distant FAA radar dome on Humboldt Mountain can be visible from portions of the Blackjack Point area.
Nearby Rover Peak also stands prominently above the surrounding terrain.
On exceptionally clear days, much higher central Arizona mountain ranges form distant horizons beyond the immediate mesas.
🏔️ Blackjack Point and West Cedar Mountain
West Cedar Mountain is the most important neighboring summit from a topographic perspective because it is Blackjack Point’s Nearest Higher Neighbor.
West Cedar reaches approximately 5,488 feet—only about 100 feet higher than Blackjack Point—but possesses nearly 1,800 feet of prominence.
The difference illustrates how elevation and prominence measure different characteristics.
Blackjack Point occupies an already elevated mesa system, while West Cedar Mountain rises much more independently above its surroundings.
Geologically, both peaks are part of the same broader Transition Zone landscape shaped by faulting, volcanism, and erosion.
🏔️ Rover Peak
Rover Peak lies southeast of Blackjack Point and reaches approximately 5,270 feet according to modern Peakbagger measurements.
Although slightly lower than Blackjack Point, Rover Peak has substantial prominence and forms one of the most recognizable summits in this part of Tonto National Forest.
ListsOfJohn places Rover Peak within Blackjack Point’s prominence lineage, making the two topographically connected as well as geographically close.
From higher parts of the region, the pair provide contrasting summit forms: broad Blackjack Point on the edge of Cooks Mesa and the more individually defined Rover Peak farther southeast.
🌄 High Mesa
Hikers exploring Blackjack Point sometimes combine the summit with nearby High Mesa, a lower high point east of the main Cooks Mesa upland.
Peakbagger gives High Mesa an elevation of approximately 4,821 feet.
One documented outing combined Blackjack Point with High Mesa during the same day.
The lower mesa provides another perspective on the faulted and volcanic landscapes surrounding Cooks Mesa.
Because reaching both summits requires additional driving and navigation, however, visitors should treat them as separate backcountry objectives rather than assuming there is a maintained connecting trail.
🔥 Wildfire and Backcountry Conditions
Wildfire is a major natural force throughout central Arizona.
Vegetation around Blackjack Point can change substantially following fire.
Burned trees may fall across old roads, erosion may intensify, and dense shrubs can regenerate after fire and make formerly open routes difficult to follow.
Forest closures may also affect access during active fires or post-fire recovery.
Visitors should check Tonto National Forest alerts and restrictions before traveling.
Fire restrictions are particularly common during Arizona’s dry late spring and early summer period.
⛈️ Monsoon Weather and Flash Flooding
Arizona’s summer monsoon creates another important hazard.
Thunderstorms can develop rapidly during July, August, and early September.
Blackjack Point’s exposed summit and broad upland provide little protection from lightning.
Heavy rain can also transform dry washes into dangerous torrents.
Forest Road 24 and the smaller roads branching from it cross numerous drainages, and flash flooding can make travel impossible.
Recreation.gov specifically warns that roads in the Seven Springs area can be affected by flash flooding during rainy weather.
Travelers should never attempt to drive through flooded roadways.
🍂 Best Time to Hike Blackjack Point
Late autumn through early spring generally provides the best conditions for hiking Blackjack Point.
Winter
Winter often brings clear skies and excellent visibility.
Daytime temperatures can be pleasant, although mornings on the summit may be surprisingly cold. Frost and occasional snow are possible at higher elevations.
Spring
Spring can be especially attractive after a wet winter.
Wildflowers may appear throughout the lower desert and mountain foothills, while comfortable temperatures make hiking more enjoyable.
Summer
Summer is the least desirable season.
Temperatures can become dangerous even at Blackjack Point’s elevation, and the approach begins in considerably hotter terrain.
Monsoon thunderstorms introduce additional lightning and flash-flood hazards.
Autumn
Autumn becomes increasingly pleasant as summer heat fades.
October and November often provide excellent conditions for exploring central Arizona’s lower mountain summits.
⚠️ Planning a Blackjack Point Trip
Blackjack Point is not technically difficult, but its remote setting deserves respect.
Hikers should prepare for:
- Long travel on unpaved roads
- Limited or nonexistent cell service
- No maintained summit trail
- Cross-country navigation
- Dense chaparral
- Loose rock
- Rattlesnakes
- Limited natural water
- Extreme summer heat
- Monsoon lightning
- Flash flooding
- Rapidly changing road conditions
Carry more water than you expect to need.
A high-clearance vehicle may be useful or necessary depending on current Forest Service road conditions and how close you intend to drive to the summit.
Leaving a detailed trip plan with someone outside the hiking party is also wise.
🧭 Why Blackjack Point Is Worth Exploring
Blackjack Point is unlikely to compete with Arizona icons such as Humphreys Peak, Camelback Mountain, or the San Francisco Peaks for recognition.
That is precisely part of its appeal.
The mountain offers a quieter kind of Arizona experience.
There is no crowded summit trail, paved scenic overlook, visitor center, or carefully marked route to the top.
Instead, visitors encounter miles of sparsely developed national forest, old roads, broad mesas, complicated geology, desert-to-mountain vegetation, and distant horizons.
For peakbaggers, the mountain’s roughly 810 feet of prominence and more than five miles of isolation make it a worthwhile independent summit.
For geology enthusiasts, the nearby Cooks Mesa fault and tilted volcanic landscape provide a window into the tectonic history of central Arizona.
And for hikers seeking solitude within reach of Phoenix, Blackjack Point demonstrates just how quickly the developed city can give way to genuine backcountry.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How high is Blackjack Point?
Modern Peakbagger data places Blackjack Point at approximately 5,387 feet (1,642 meters) above sea level.
Why do some maps list Blackjack Point at 5,361 feet?
Older USGS-derived mapping gives approximately 5,361 feet, while ListsOfJohn uses 5,380 feet. Modern Peakbagger measurements list approximately 5,387 feet. Differences can result from changing survey methods, datums, contour interpretation, and newer elevation data.
What is Blackjack Point’s prominence?
Peakbagger calculates approximately 810 feet (247 meters) of topographic prominence. ListsOfJohn gives a slightly more conservative figure of about 800 feet.
What is Blackjack Point’s isolation?
Blackjack Point has approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) of topographic isolation.
What is Blackjack Point’s Nearest Higher Neighbor?
The Nearest Higher Neighbor (NHN) is West Cedar Mountain.
Where is Blackjack Point?
The mountain lies in Yavapai County, Arizona, within Tonto National Forest north of Cave Creek and Carefree.
Is Blackjack Point on Cooks Mesa?
Yes. Blackjack Point forms a prominent high point on the eastern portion of the broad Cooks Mesa upland.
Is there a trail to Blackjack Point?
There is no maintained hiking trail directly to the summit. Typical routes use Forest Service roads followed by a short cross-country climb.
How long is the hike?
One documented route measured approximately 1.6 miles round trip with about 580 feet of elevation gain, but actual distance depends heavily on road conditions and where hikers park.
Do you need four-wheel drive?
It depends on current road conditions and how far you intend to drive. Some approach roads may be manageable with high clearance when dry, while rougher stretches can favor four-wheel drive. Check current Tonto National Forest road information before traveling.
Is Blackjack Point difficult to climb?
There is no technical climbing on the commonly used approaches, but navigation, brush, rough roads, loose terrain, and remoteness increase the difficulty.
What can you see from Blackjack Point?
Views include Cooks Mesa, Grapevine Mesa, the Cedar Mountains, New River Mountains, Rover Peak, Humboldt Mountain, and extensive portions of central Arizona’s Transition Zone.
What is the best time to hike Blackjack Point?
Late fall, winter, and spring usually provide the most comfortable conditions. Summer heat and monsoon thunderstorms make warm-season trips more hazardous.
🔗 Related Articles
📚 Sources
- Peakbagger — Arizona Peak Data and Blackjack Point Measurements — modern elevation, prominence, and isolation data.
- ListsOfJohn — Blackjack Point — elevation, prominence, coordinates, isolation, line parent, NHN, and national forest information.
- Arizona Geological Survey — Tertiary Extension and Fault-Block Rotation in the Transition Zone, Cedar Mountains Area — regional geology, volcanic units, Cooks Mesa fault, and crustal extension.
- Surgent.net — Blackjack Point & High Mesa — documented summit route, road approach, hiking distance, elevation gain, and summit views.
- HikeArizona — Cooks Mesa — road conditions and Cooks Mesa backcountry observations.
- Recreation.gov — Cave Creek Group Site / Seven Springs Area — Forest Road 24 access conditions and flash-flood warnings.
- U.S. Forest Service — Tonto National Forest — current forest information, alerts, restrictions, and road conditions.
