South Mountain Park and Preserve
4.8(10K)google
4.6(363)yelp
Hiking
Overview
South Mountain Park and Preserve stands as one of the largest municipally operated urban parks in the United States, stretching across more than 16,000 acres of rugged desert terrain. Boasting over 50 miles of multi-use trails, it is a premier haven for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders seeking to explore classic Sonoran desert ecosystems. The preserve is punctuated by native desert scrub, jagged volcanic rock ridges, and ancient Native American petroglyphs carved into the boulders. Drivers can cruise up the winding mountain road to panoramic lookouts that unveil sweeping views of the entire Valley of the Sun, presenting an expansive wilderness retreat right on the city's edge.
Practical Info
Mon5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tue5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wed5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thu5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fri5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sun5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeOctober to April is the golden season. It's recommended to go to Dobbins Lookout at dusk as the lights come on, when you can take in the boundless, stunning neon sea of the Phoenix metro's night view
Getting ThereLocated in the southern part of the city of Phoenix. It's about a 15-minute drive from downtown to the South Mountain Park gate, and entry is completely free. Driving from the park gate winding up to the highest point, Dobbins Lookout, takes about 20 minutes
Travel Tips
- This is one of the world's largest urban and municipal parks, covering over 16,000 acres, preserving intact the extremely pristine Sonoran Desert landscape, with more than 50 miles of hardcore outdoor trails
- If you don't want to hike, the most classic option is to drive up the steep, winding scenic road all the way to Dobbins Lookout, the highest self-drive overlook in the entire Greater Phoenix area
- The preserve is also a nationally famous mountain-biking mecca
- When driving up the mountain, there are many sharp turns and cyclists often merge lanes, so be sure to strictly control your speed and watch out for them
Reviews
Positive
- So convenient! Without breaking a single sweat, you can drive straight up to the summit overlook thousands of feet high. At the top is a vintage stone lookout, and the view of the city night scene is amazing
- Extremely open and vast, with the wild cacti inside growing as dense as a forest. There are countless hiking routes here, letting you truly feel the vastness and grandeur of the American West
Heads up
- The mountain road's turns are very sharp and narrow, with no street lights at all at night; for novice drivers, driving down at night may feel a bit hair-raising