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    Sonoran Desert National Monument

    4.0 (1 review)

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    3 years ago

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    Hole-in-the-Rock

    Hole-in-the-Rock

    4.5
    (384 reviews)
    46.2 mi

    As a respectable hiker, I'm not going to call this a hike but it is a cool experience. I stopped by…read moreon Memorial Day in the afternoon by design. It was 95 degrees so I knew a challenging hike would be out of the question. Something like Hole-in-the-Rock though, easy peasy. While there were a decent number of people there, I had no trouble finding free parking. This natural wonder is located in Papago Park close to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden. After you park, you'll have a five-minute walk to get to Hole-in-the-Rock. You'll have to climb an incline to get in the hole, so definitely be careful, but there are kids that do it too. And a lot of tourists that show up. So that pretty much sums it up. Once you get inside, you'll have an awesome view of the Phoenix through a literal hole in a big rock. You'll see a lot of people using it as a photo opp. That's not really my style, so instead, I took a seat and enjoyed the beauty for 10 minutes or so. It can get pretty crowded so keep that in mind if you stop by on a weekend. Hole-in-the-Rock is one of the top attractions on TripAdvisor in Phoenix. Definitely a cool (and short) adventure to cross of the bucket list. I spent 30 minutes there (which included hanging out in the rock for half the time).

    A truly mystical and magical place. They close at 7:00 p.m…read more Most people try to get there later in the day to avoid the scorching 110 deg. weather and hot sun. There is a pond with tons of geese. I saw a man fly fishing.

    Photos
    At the top
    At the top
    Trail map
    Trail map
    1/12/25 FYI. Cool views.

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    1/12/25 FYI. Cool views.
    Desert Foothills Trailhead

    Desert Foothills Trailhead

    4.8
    (24 reviews)
    34.9 mi

    Excellent trail on this chilly morning and I'm very proud of how all the kiddos did. The telegraph…read morepass trail has some incline to it, we went to the old rock "house" structure at the top. Great views. The parking lot here is big and there's a restroom and water fountain. We got started at 8am and it wasn't super busy yet. As day went on more people seemed to be on the trail. It's dog friendly which is great since my boy Flynn loves to hike. Great hike with my peoples.

    This review is for Telegraph Pass Trail. It is an easy to moderate 2.3-mile out-and-back trail in…read morethe Ahwatukee foothills area near the AZ-202. The facilities at the start of the trailhead are pretty nice and clean. I love doing this hike in the evening because you get gorgeous views of the Valley at night. Once you get to the top next to Summit Rd (the road is paved), there is bench that you can rest on. There you can get some great panoramic pictures of the Valley with Sky Harbor airport and Camelback Mountain in the background. Once at the top, you have the option of heading back or accessing one of a few trails that connect to it. There is a little stone house to the west and the transmitter towers that blink red at night on South Mountain to the east. We once brought up s'mores to the stone house at night and had some campfire fun over a mini propane stove. If you continue on with the Kiwanis trail from here, you can see some Hohokam rock art. Telegraph Pass is one of my favorite Valley trails and makes for a fun quick hike.

    Photos
    Desert Foothills Trailhead
    Desert Foothills Trailhead
    Desert Foothills Trailhead

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    South Mountain Park

    South Mountain Park

    4.6
    (363 reviews)
    35.9 mi

    We took the whole extended family up through South Mountain Park, and it turned into one of those…read moredays that sticks with you a little longer than expected. We drove up to Dobbins Lookout, and that's where it really hits. Phoenix spreads out in every direction, a grid of life pressed up against open desert, with mountains rising in the distance like they've been quietly watching the whole thing unfold. It's not subtle. It's big, raw, and a little humbling. What makes this place stand out is how much it offers without trying to package itself too neatly. You can hike, bike, ride horseback, or just stay in the car and take the scenic drive. It works for everyone. We had a mix of people, some ready to tackle trails, others perfectly happy just soaking in the views, and nobody felt out of place. The trail system is extensive. You've got everything from easy, walkable paths to longer, more demanding routes like the National Trail, which stretches over 15 miles and cuts through a huge portion of the park. It's the kind of place where you can come back multiple times and still find something new. We did some light hiking, nothing too aggressive, but even then you feel the terrain. It's not forgiving, and that's part of the appeal. The desert has a way of reminding you to pay attention. Loose rock, uneven footing, the occasional reminder that you're sharing the trail with horses. It keeps you honest. Timing matters out here. Go early. Not just to beat the heat, which you absolutely should, but because the light in the morning does something different. It softens the landscape, pulls out color and texture that gets washed out later in the day. By midday, the sun is in full control and it's a different experience entirely. A few practical notes. Bring more water than you think you need. Then add a little more. Wear actual boots, not something you don't mind slipping around in. And keep an eye on the trail, especially on the multi-use sections. You'll know why pretty quickly. What I appreciated most is how accessible it is. You're minutes from the city, and suddenly you're in this wide, open space that feels removed from everything. No overdevelopment, no forced attractions. Just desert, sky, and distance. It's not polished, and it's not trying to be. That's exactly why it works. Five stars without hesitation.

    One of the awesome things about Phoenix is accessibility to nature. Case in point: South Mountain…read morePark. One of the most prominent hiking areas town. I most recently stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for a hike. A couple of highlights to share. If you stop by their Visitor's Center, they have a mini museum where you can learn about the park e.g. the animals and plants that inhabit it; the fact that it's indigenous land, and the history of the park. The VC is air conditioned and they also have bathrooms and various pamphlets/brochures you can take with you. From there, perhaps the most famous hike is Holbert Trail. An hour and a half or so on this moderate trail (if you choose this fork in the road) will take you to Dobbins Lookout. The work you put in will take you to one of the most popular nature stops in town offering stunning scenic views of the city. After hanging out around Dobbins for a bit, an hour or so will take you back to your starting point. Making it a three hour hike or so. Beyond Holbert Trail and Dobbins Lookout, you have other cool things to check out at this Park. And all of it is for free. With easy parking. Enjoy!

    Photos
    Stunning Sierra Estrella beauty that flies my Spirit.
    Stunning Sierra Estrella beauty that flies my Spirit.
    Stunning views on the Ridgeline Trail
    Stunning views on the Ridgeline Trail
    South Mountain Park

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    Quartz Peak

    Quartz Peak

    5.0
    (5 reviews)
    23.6 mi

    A difficult hike with amazing views! I loved this hike. It's a long way back to the trailhead from…read morethe road and there are places where having 4x4 or higher clearance would be nice, but I saw a Prius at the trailhead. There are workarounds. It's a long and steady climb, definitely one of the more challenging hikes in the west valley. The last little bit there's some scrambling to get to the peak. The views are amazing and the giant slabs of quartz are beautiful.

    For years, I had stared out at the Sierra Estrella mountains wondering if I'd ever get the chance…read moreto hike to the top of Quartz Peak. I'm a Civic owner, so as soon as I heard about the sand roads and necessity of a high clearance/4x4 vehicle, I thought the day would never come (there's no way I'm buying a gas guzzling Jeep with a 30-mi each way work commute lol). That is, until I met some other awesome hikers from the Valley and coordinated an epic carpool! We met up in downtown Phoenix and headed out in the Jeeps to Goodyear. After getting off the 10 and heading down Estrella/Rainbow Ranch roads for what seemed like a good while, along came the sand/dirt roads. And man did they live up to their reputation! Some super fun off-roading action ensued, and let's just say I was so glad I wasn't in my own little car. One of the hiking buddies advised that he once tried to get to the trailhead in his Dodge Caravan but got stuck in the sand and wrecked the transmission. Yikes! Once we got to the trailhead (obviously an adventure in and of itself), it was a steady 5-6 mile uphill climb to the summit. There are definitely some false Peaks to conquer along the way that are grueling physically and mentally; however, once you get to the last half mile or so, it's a fairly short scramble and totally doable. Once you get to the top, you are greeted by a fantastic view of West Valley, South Mountain, Four Peaks, the Supes, East Valley, and the vast desert to the southwest. The way down is easier on the cardio but harder on the knees due to loose rocks so watch your step and don't rush it. Your legs will probably be sore for the next day or two but it'll be accompanied by the feeling of accomplishment! I also recommend going with a group as I did. Strength and support in numbers people! Plus, you may meet someone new and make friends along the way! I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to hike Quartz Peak again, but now every time I look out to the west at it, the memories will never fade!

    Photos
    Rian and me at the top
    Rian and me at the top
    Quartz
    Quartz
    Rian

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    Rian
    Hidden Lake AZ

    Hidden Lake AZ

    4.3
    (28 reviews)
    24.9 mi

    Truly a hidden gem in the West Valley. We attended the Smoke on the Water (BBQ, Beer, and…read moreBourbon) event, and had so much fun! The event was well attended, with great local country bands, a kids zone, full bar, a cigar area (separated from the crowds) and tons of food. Bathrooms were plentiful and very clean. We camped on the shore of the lake, which was beautiful (especially at sunset). Camping is all dry camping, and spots were mostly packed gravel (though they are adding firepits and site grass areas soon). The view from our RV was awesome! As a bonus there was also boat races that weekend, which were fun to watch. The costs were reasonable. There are two wedding venues we saw (one had a wedding going) with lake views - very nice. What stood out most was how clean and well kept the entire place was. The staff was 100% customer service oriented and very hard working. They all were courteous, helpful, and fun. Nick was especially great and full of information for us first timers. This was our first time, not our last!

    This is a cool spot. I would definitely recommend going to an event here. We went to Smoke on the…read moreWater where they had bands, food trucks and vendors. There was a BBQ competition that we had tickets for that but never got BBQ (as they ran out) Parking was a bit spendy, $15.00 per car. The bathrooms are awesome as crazy as this sounds. It wasn't a porta potty which I was for grateful for. It was clean, it was full of TP, hand soap and towels. For as many people who used it, I was happy Cool little spot in the middle of nowhere. I believe you can rent some water toys as well.

    Photos
    Hidden Lake AZ
    Hillside seating
    Hillside seating
    Hidden Lake AZ

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    Sonoran Desert National Monument - hiking - Updated July 2026

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