Hieroglyphic Mountains
| Hieroglyphic Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Crater Benchmark |
| Elevation | 4,565 ft (1,391 m) |
| Coordinates | 33°59′22″N 112°29′2″W / 33.98944°N 112.48389°WCoordinates: 33°59′22″N 112°29′2″W / 33.98944°N 112.48389°W |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Borders on | Bradshaw Mountains and Wickenburg Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | volcanic |
| Age of rock | Precambrian |
| Type of rock | granite and schist |
The Hieroglyphic Mountains are a mountain range located in central Arizona. The Hieroglyphics roughly straddle the border between Maricopa and Yavapai counties and form an effective physical barrier northwest of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Due to their proximity to Phoenix and its environs, the mountains offer a number of outdoor recreational activities.
The Hieroglyphic Mountains were named in an apparent confusion between Egyptian hieroglyphs and the petroglyphs found in the area.
Early human settlement in the Hieroglyphic mountains is sparse at best. Existing petroglyphs indicate that the area had been settled, or at least visited, by Native Americans prior to the 19th century. A gold strike on the Colorado River near Yuma in 1862 created local interest in prospecting, and the Hieroglyphics were among many of the local mountain ranges visited by prospectors during this time period, but the ruggedness of the terrain and the scarcity of water largely discouraged permanent settlement.
In the early 19th century, local Apache Indians had discovered a natural hot spring in the mountains, treating the location as a sort of "demilitarized zone" where all were welcome to come and treat their wounds. The springs were discovered by US Army Colonel Charles Craig in 1867 while pursuing a group of Apaches through the mountains. The group named the spring Castle Springs for the castellated appearance of the surrounding mountains. While most sources credit Craig with the discovery, some sources claim that the springs were first discovered by a gold miner in 1874.
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