South Mountain Park Question (Phoenix, Pima: horseback, parking, bike)

[sdurbanite]

Hey All,

I'm heading to PHX this weekend and while I've done Camelback and Piestewa/Squaw Peak many times, I've never hiked at South Mountain. My question is which trail should I do? I'm looking to get the heart pumping and be rewarded with a great view from the top.

Looking forward to your responses.

[PHX Newbie]

I love the Holbert Trail, but I start at the water tank at the end of 7th St. You walk on a paved road for 1/4 mile before you intersect the trail. It has a couple steep sections and a couple long slight grades. The views are great along the way and you end up at Dobbins lookout at the top.

[locolobo13]

I'll second the Holbert Trail recommendation. But look at a map and decide for yourself.

Official Site of the City of Phoenix - South Mountain Hiking Map and Trail Descriptions

[Xica_da_Silva]

I always liked the 'Desert Classic Trail' - good for cardio...plus some nice panoramic views. Very few bicycles on this path normally. It's off of the Pima Canyon trailhead. The only thing is, parking is usually pretty darn crowded on weekends (due to there being many trailheads for biking)...but since the point is to get exercise, you can just park on the side of Pima Canyon Rd.

PS. I must say, though, I don't think the cardio for this is going to be anywhere near as strong as hiking 'Piestewa' or 'Camelback' (both of which I've hiked frequently), simply because there's more ups-and-downs, rather than up-up-up all the way! Having said that, some of the hill gradients might be nice and steep, though...certainly enough to get the heart pumping if you're pushing yourself to go rapidly.

[Scottay]

Desert classic runs along the base of the mountain so no views of the city. Mormon/National goes to the top from the Pima trailhead. Can see the entire city. Just watch out for mountain bikers.

[sdurbanite]

Awesome! Just the responses I was looking for! Will check out the Holbert and Desert Classic trails. I did check out the website that locolobo posted, but there were too many trails listed and figured I'd ask here.

Thanks again and rep points all around.

[Bungle]

Mormon Trail (24th St Trailhead) is the best in my opinion. Fairly steep trail with views of the valley the entire way up.

[43north87west]

FYI: The main park road is closed at the main gate tomorrow (Saturday March 23rd) for some race, so be aware that you will have to either go to one of the other trailheads or park outside of the gate if you can. If you are going to SMP on Sunday, you should be OK.

The Mormon Loop, Holbert, Ranger, and Alta trails all have a good climbs; Alta is pretty relentless until the ridge. However, no trails in South Mountain Park have the steep but short climbs of Squaw or Camelback. There are parts that are as steep, but the climbs are less severe overall. There is some up and down on the ridge line trails too, so you get a good workout.

Views from South Mountain Park are abundant, and they keep going, because the mountains have ridge lines that allow trails to continue along the top for some distance, affording you views that unfold at each turn. Of all 3 mountain ranges in the park, you can find beautiful views from any of the ridge trails, so pretty much any trailhead that allows you access to the ridge trails will eventually produce a great view.

I hike or occasionally mountain bike in SMP 2-3 times a week, and sometimes daily, time permitting. It's my favorite Phoenix city park because it's massive (25 square miles) and crowds are dispersed. On Monday I saw one person on the National trail, and he was on horseback. I saw nobody on the Ranger trail.

Just for the heck of it, this is a picture of the rattlesnake that nearly took me down on Monday afternoon on the Ranger trail in SMP. The thump on my foot is how I noticed it in the first place, because I didn't hear the high pitched sizzle of its rattle until after I felt a thump on my boot and saw the lightning fast movement out of the corner of my eye. I did not get bitten though; I don't know what part of the snake touched my foot. I suspect that it was sleeping and I woke it up. No rattle was given until after I felt the impact, and it was a very fast rattle. Definitely got the adrenalin going.

[AZ Tracy]

I like taking the National Trail to the east and then circling back on what I thought was the Mormon Trail, but the map posted above is calling it the 620 Two trail? Maybe that's more politically correct??

[Xica_da_Silva]

Originally Posted by Scottay

Desert classic runs along the base of the mountain so no views of the city. Mormon/National goes to the top from the Pima trailhead. Can see the entire city. Just watch out for mountain bikers.

Maybe I'm getting the names mixed up, sorry about that, but there's a trail that runs atop that hill range that's closest to the south part of the park. It in fact follows a similar path to the Desert Classic- but is a ridgeline trail. I don't know why it's not on the map; but maybe my eyesight is just not working- getting old! It starts on that hill that's closest to the official parking- right next to the pavillion on the south side of the parking lot- BUT...you kind of have to walk back towards the East first to pick it up and it takes you right up the first hill, zig-zaggy; then lots of up-and-down after that, following the ridgeline. I've been on it quite a lot but kinda hard to describe where the trail head is unless you see it with your own eyes. Anyhow, it's a cool trail if you can find it.