Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide

HIDDEN VALLEY (SOUTH MOUNTAIN)

If an easily accessed hike in the metropolitan Phoenix area city park appeals to you, then you'll like this hike.

HOW TO GET THERE

This hike is located near Phoenix, AZ.

To get to the trailhead: From the Phoenix area, take Central Avenue south into South Mountain park. Once you enter the park and after passing the stone buildings that mark the visitor center, drive the Summit Road for 4.7 miles. Turn right at the intersection and continue towards the Buena Vista parking area and drive another 0.7 miles. Make a left turn at this intersection and drive the remaining 0.4 miles to the trailhead parking. Drive slowly on these roads and watch out for bikers, hikers, and runners on the road. The trailhead starts at the parking area. 

RATING

Be Aware of: crowds, mountain bikers, trail runners

30 yr old Recommendation: The views of Phoenix are great... too bad you have to share them with so many other people.  The out and back described here is a Easy hike.

DETAILS

Elevation change: About 400 ft elevation gain.

Distance: The hike described is 3.5 miles for the loop hike described.

Time: This hike took about 1.5 hours.

Time of year: All Year. If hiking in the summer, best start this hike early in the morning because it can get hot. Best hiked during cooler weather after some rain.

Solitude: You won't experience too much solitude on this hike. Expect to share this trail with 50-70 other hikers.       

From the parking area, take the National Trail into the mountains. Views peek up between the mountains of the sprawling metropolis that makes up the Phoenix area. Impressive views of the downtown area and Camelback mountain follow as you walk down the well marked and gently descending trail. South mountain park has it's fair share of desert cactus, such as Saguaro and Barrel cactus. Keep alert on the National trail, as it is shared by mountain bikers and trail runners who are likely going much faster than you! After about one mile of hiking, you will find the signed intersection of the National Trail and the Hidden Valley trail. Turn right hear and try to shimmy your way through fat man's pass... removing your pack certainly helps. This section of the hike is much less crowded and accordingly more quiet as the trail heads down a desert wash. It could be possible to get turned around here, but if you stay in the wash, you'll be OK. There is a little scrambling here as well to spice up the hike.

While hiking along the Hidden Valley trail, you'll pass through two tunnels before reaching the another junction with the National trail. Just after the second of the tunnels, keep your eyes out for some petroglyphs on the rocks. Turn left at the signed National trail junction and hike another 0.2 miles or so to the signed junction with the Mormon Trail. Stay left here as well, keeping on the National Trail. From this point, the trail gains all the elevation you lost to this point by steadily climbing through the desert.

This is a particularly nice introductory Arizona desert hike. Enjoy!

[Views of South Mountain park and Downtown Phoenix]

[Petroglyphs in South Mountain park]

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