Day Hikes Near Phoenix (Downtown) (Parks: dangerous, farm, best)

[mikemafan]

I'm going to be in Phoenix for a couple of days next week and I want to get out and see the desert for a bit. I'll have the advantage of going on a weekday morning so normally crowded trails shouldn't be a problem. Can anyone suggest a good 2-4 hour moderate hike that will give me the best views? I've visited the parks and rec sites and I can't get a good feel for the area from their descriptions. I just want to get a good view of the desert landscape and will only have one shot at choosing the right trail so any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
mike b

[exit2lef]

I consider five miles with a few hundred feet of elevation gain to be moderate. Here are three of my favorites in that category:

Perl Charles Trail 1A -- Ignore the tunnels and everything west of SR51 and just start @ the north end of 22nd St. above Lincoln Drive. It's a loop so go in either direction that you want. There's a brief portion that runs along SR51 and is therefore noisy, but most of the trail is pretty quiet. Five-mile loop.


Holbert Trail @ South Mountain -- straight up and down with great views. Five miles roundtrip. Accessible from South Mountain main entrance at the south end of Central Ave.

Beverly / Javelina / Mormon Loop from 46th St. Trailhead @ South Mountain -- a nice loop with moderate elevation gain. Make a stop at Fat Man pass to see interesting rock formations. Five-mile loops.

[pac10devils]

Camelback mountain and you might even try Papago Buttes (great view of the city at the top), which is by the Phoenix Zoo.

[vegaspilgrim]

Don't hike Camelback mountain. I've climbed it twice now, using each trail up. It's no Mt Shasta or climb down the Grand Canyon, but I would still call that strenuous, not moderate. One of the trails has a bunch of rails you have to grab on to just to climb up. Both trails are extremely steep and slick, with loose, slippery gravel. Very dangerous. There's hardly any vegetation on that whole rock, not much of a desert experience-- mainly an urban zoo up there.

I recommend South Mountain, as silverbear said. This is just down the street from the heart of downtown Phoenix, actually. Another really good trail there is the Mormon Trail, at 24th st and Baseline. Also, recommend North Mountain Park-- especially Shaw Butte and all the trails out and about there.

[mikemafan]

Thanks a ton for all of the info! I can't wait to get out tomorrow!

[AZ Tracy]

I agree with South Mountain Park. And, you can stop at The Farm at South Mountain for lunch!