Mount Ord is a mountain summit located in the Tonto National Forest on the northeastern edge of Maricopa County, Arizona, within the Mazatzal mountain range. Its elevation is 7,128 feet (2,173 m) above sea level. The county line dividing Maricopa County and Gila County passes across the summit of the peak.
Naming: Mount Ord is named after Major General Edward Ord, a United States Army officer who served during the Seminole Wars, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. It is not to be confused with the peak of Mount Baldy, Arizona, located in Apache County, which is also referred to by some sources as "Mount Ord."
Geography and Access: The mountain is located in central Arizona, less than an hour's drive from the suburbs of Mesa and Scottsdale via Arizona State Route 87 (the Beeline Highway). Access to the summit is via Forest Road 626 (Mount Ord Road), a gravel road approximately 6 miles long that requires a high-clearance vehicle. The summit is home to a collection of communications towers and a manned lookout tower.
Recreation: Mount Ord is a popular destination for hiking, birdwatching, and scenic driving. The mountain's geography and habitat attract a concentration of all the species of mountain warbler birds that exist in Arizona, including the Virginia's, Black-throated Gray, Grace's, Olive, and Painted Redstart—reportedly the only location in central Arizona where these conditions exist. The area offers dispersed camping opportunities within the Tonto National Forest.
Coordinates: 33°54′18″N 111°24′33″W
