Such a fun hike! It took my partner and me about 4-5 hours total to get up and back down. It's the…read moreperfect hike to get lost and go off trail a bit. Definitely bring snacks and hiking shoes. I was not expecting to be actually hiking lol but totally worth it. Lots of people had hiking sticks and dogs were on the trail. By the time we were heading back, more people had shown up to catch the sunset and take photos. Such a beautiful spot and a great hike if you're looking for something scenic and a challenging.

This difficult 6.5 mile (5.5 according to AllTrails) heavily trafficked out and back trail is…read moreanother favorite of mine out in the Superstitions. Total elevation gain is 2641' but almost all of that is in the second half, especially after siphon draw. This well-marked trail involves a lot of scrambling and vertical climbing. Lots of pretty flowers, cacti, and views along the way and at the summit. I began this one just before 11:30am when it was 55°, cloudy, and slightly windy. Ascended in 1h55min and descended in 1h37min. No water but restrooms are open at trailhead. Dogs allowed on leash (May be difficult for them past siphon draw). $7 park fee ($10 on weekends). @azfitfoodfun

Peralta Trails is by far one of my favorites in the Phoenix Metro Area. The drive is beautiful and…read moremost of it dirt. You don't need a four-wheel-drive however. Even if you're not a hiker, just go for the drive alone. I'd suggest getting out of your car at the provide lot and taking pictures at the beginning of the trail as it's something in itself to experience.

Fantastic trail away from everything. Pretty easy steady climb to the Needle on the other side…read more 5miles out and back. Today after few days of rain saw running water and everything was so green. The sound of water made the experience even more beautiful.

I love this trail. Two peaks up and down. Nothing too difficult some beautiful vistas. It's a quick…read moretrail with three good parking spots.

Not sure if I should be reviewing this listing or the one for the South Mountain Activity Complex,…read morebut I'll do this one since I came here for the Holbert trail. I've been here a handful of times, but not too often since it's pretty far from home. I was planning to stop by a local coffee shop in this area, so I decided to do an early morning hike beforehand. It's pretty easy to get to this trailhead, and their hours year-round are 5am - 11pm (gates open and close). I wish they would open a bit earlier during the summer, but I got there a few minutes after 5 anyways. I'm always surprised at how few people/cars I see in the lot, I anticipate it being busier. They recently completely construction here and there's a beautiful pavilion now. Several restrooms and water fountains, which is great. Last time I came here, they had rerouted the beginning of the trail to the northernmost part of the parking lot, so that's where I thought it would be. Took me a few minutes to orient myself from the map because I didn't realize there were multiple bathrooms. Holbert trail is nice and there are a few switchbacks before connecting to Dobbins Lookout, which can be reached by car and has a parking lot. I decided to make the small detour to the lookout and spend a few minutes walking around; I like the little house they have. I really didn't like all the trash I saw lying around; I picked up a few napkins, straws and bottles. Not sure if it's flying out of the trash cans or people just being lazy, but it made me sad. I continued on the trail to the National trail, and made it a loop by connecting to the Kiwanis trail and finally Las Lomitas back to the trailhead. I ran into maybe a dozen people, tops. There are so many parking spots available here and the only time I've seen it full is when I did the Phoenix Summit Challenge in November last year. There are probably other times when it gets busy, like when there are events and such, but usually it's so empty. Maybe because it's the hottest part of the summer. This is one of the trailheads that will close from 8am - 5pm when there is an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service, so be aware of that. I do want to explore the National trail more, so I plan to be back.

On a Saturday afternoon, I checked out Holbert Trailhead at South Mountain Park. Finding the trail…read moreisn't super easy as it's a bit hidden but here are instructions on how to get there: enter the park and follow the signs that point you to the visitor's center. After passing by the visitor's center, follow the road until you hit an area under construction. The road will make you turn left and then it will bring you into the parking lot. In the corner of the parking lot by the construction, you'll find the entrance to the trail. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's get to the good stuff. Holbert Trailhead is listed as a "moderate difficulty" trail on AllTrails. By the way, if you don't use AllTrails, I highly recommend that you download the app. It keeps track of where you're at on a trail (to make sure you stay on track) and also keeps track of some cool stats for you like the amount of time you've spent on the trails, the number of miles you've hiked, the elevation, etc. Rating Holbert as a moderate trail is fair. The first half of the hike is at an incline as you're scaling the mountain. You'll come across a lot of uneven rocks so it's not easy. Make sure to bring plenty of water. You'll eventually reach a fork where one path will continue on Holbert and the other will take you to Dobbins Lookout. Take the path on the right to get to Dobbins Lookout which is one of the most spectacular nature views in Phoenix. To get to Dobbins, depending on your pace, it will take you about an hour and a half. Once you arrive, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of Phoenix and surrounding suburbs. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you walked there instead of driving there like a bunch of other people you'll see at Dobbins. From there, you'll return along the same path to get to the beginning of the trail again. The return trip will be quicker as you're going on a decline. It will be harder on your knees and you'll have to be careful with your footing, but it will be less strenuous. All in all, it should take you anywhere between two and a half to three and a half hours depending on how long you chill at Dobbins. All in all, a top hike!

Okay, honestly the landscapes are indeed blurring together a bit, but this was such a nice place!…read moreSo much fun navigating through the terrain here. There's a system of trails, and landscape is also not all flat but replete with valleys and smaller peaks. Lots of cacti of course, and other shrubs and plants too. Awesome desert nature, and would recommend for a hike!

First time checking out Hawes Trail System today! Located conveniently within the city, making it…read moreeasy to visit, even on a weekday with an early start! There is a parking lot, right across the street from the trailhead! Though down the road not too far, quick ride if you're on a bike, it seems people may park near the Walgreens - Though Walgreens does enforce a 60 min time, probably for this reason, but there is a mobile bike station at the lot next to it, which is an awesome touch, and I am sure utilized on busy weekends. The lot had ample space this morning though, so definitely check that out first! The trail has a lot of different route options, so make sure to take a picture of the map or download Alltrails or some other app to keep on track. Though there on markers on the corners, it could be easy to get on the wrong path. As some other reviews said, it is not the most beautiful hike, but does have some scenic parts. There were a lot of hikers on the route today and a lot of mountain bikers. Lots of up and downs and rocky trails. The map is marked and routes are rated accordingly, so worth checking out as you plan your route!

How can I not give 5 stars to a trailhead like this? I've only been a few times but my experiences…read morehave been positive. There seems to be a good amount of parking, but since I haven't driven and parked here, I can't comment much on that aspect. However, the bathrooms are great. There is one entry door with a water fountain and water fill up station inside, and a women's and men's restroom on the left and right, respectively. The bathrooms are in good condition though the women's didn't have soap this time - not a problem as I popped into the men's and washed up there. There are a few trails to choose from here and I hike to this trailhead from the Lost Dog trailhead, so it's a bit of a trek. I did the trail that goes to Sunrise Peak and finishes out on Andrew Kinsey. Didn't see too many folks which was good. Nice to have a well-maintained place to stop and take a quick break. Thanks, Fountain Hills!

Wow! There are so many trail options from this location. But whether you want a short hike or a…read morelong hike, you'll have beautiful views overlooking Fountain Hills. My parents took my husband and I here for a hike, and we were so impressed. After you've already done the major touristy hikes in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, I highly recommend coming out to Fountain Hills. The parking lot looked like it had space for about 30 cars, and there were bathrooms and a shade structure with benches for pre- and après hike. You also get to drive by an impressive Marriott hotel and many beautiful new Toll Brothers homes. Depending on the environmentalist views of your carmates, you might have to listen to a 10-minute lecture about how awful it is that folks are cutting into the mountain to make these homes. But... it's precisely the infrastructure for those homes that make it possible to create beautiful and useful trailheads like these. We loved that this trailhead was not very crowded.

As a true patron of the Hawes trail system, ridge is a must for each ride. With rocky descents and…read moretough climbing, it brings something to the table for everyone. However, if you're new to the area or just new to mountain biking you may want to steer clear of this trail until you have had a bit of dirt under your tires. At 1.8 miles long, Ridge is one of the most difficult and exhilarating trails that the "Hawes" System has to offer. As most of Hawes is a cross country style of riding, many people decide to venture onto this trail without true knowledge of what they are getting them selves into. The start of Ridge gets into some slight downhill on the edge of the mountain with an open face to your right side. This adrenaline rushed ride can be bombed through, our picked at methodically, as there are many jagged rocks waiting toss you off the edge. While the red rock begins to disappear, the climb to the tip of Ridge Trail begins. At the peak, there are stunning views showing Red Mountain and all of the Salt River area. Personally, I enjoy riding this trail early in the morning or in the evening as the sun hitting the mountain is a stunning sight. However, enough of the scenic talk, back to the trail. As you tires begin to rotate faster you'll find yourself bombing through tight corners and steep rocky descents making your heart rate shoot as if you were climbing a mountain. Although, what goes down must come up. At the end of your wild roller coaster ride you drop into a wash, which turns into a river after large storms, and begin the treacherous climb back to power road. This is were roadies tend to prevail leaving mountain bikers, especially us single speeders, in the dust. If you haven't been out the the Hawes Trail system I would highly suggest a trip. Try to avoid it on Saturday mornings as many hikers seem to favor doing this trail backwards which leads to some awkward encounters as you almost plow through them (not that I have ever experienced one of these moments). Whether you are a seasoned rider trying to test your skills, or a beginner who wishes to improve their technical riding give Ridge trail a try, you'll be happy you did.

What a great trip. Kayaking is the way to go if you want to see some incredible scenery in the…read moreSuperstition mountains. Nick and the guys at Desertrex showed us a great time. The lake was beautiful. The sheer rock walls were awesom. I highly recommend Desertrex to anyone thinking of taking a day trip in Phoenix. The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. Well worth the $$$