Escudilla Mountain, Mountain summit in Apache County, Arizona
This peak reaches 10,916 feet and ranks among Arizona's highest mountains, with a broad summit crowned by expansive alpine meadows. The slopes are covered with dense aspen and pine forests that give way to open grassy areas as you approach the top.
This mountain holds significance in conservation history as the place where Arizona's last grizzly bear was killed in 1936. The event marked the end of an era and later prompted efforts to restore native wildlife to the region.
The name comes from Spanish, meaning 'large cup', reflecting the mountain's wide basin shape topped by high alpine meadows that stretch across its summit area.
The main trail starts around 9,600 feet elevation and passes through forest and meadow sections with a steady climb to the summit. Weather at the top can change rapidly, particularly during summer storms, so starting early and watching the sky is important.
The area is home to reintroduced Mexican wolves, known as Lobos, which have returned to these mountains since the 1990s. These predators now play an important role in restoring the ecosystem balance in this part of the Southwest.
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