Take the dirt road until it connects to Mormon Trail and starts to climb up. difficulty rating. To protect these irreplaceable heritage sites as well as sensitive vegetation and wildlife habitats, its important to stay on trails and not touch or alter anything. 4. Excellent conditions, almost 9km from the car. The Track and Waypoints refer to downloadable GPS data. Youll wait for some people but its still pleasant. WebFeaturing city views, desert life and distinct rock formations, South Mountains Hidden Valley Trail stands out among the areas best loops. Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The Mormon Trail usually followed the north side of the North Platte River west through Nebraska and Wyoming to follow the Sweetwater River farther west. Well worth it. Located south of Phoenix, AZ in a well-signed neighborhood, drive to 8610 S 24th St, Phoenix, AZ 85042. WebMormon Details. Dogs are also allowed on the trail but must be kept on a leash. The trail is steep and rocky, with loose gravel and occasional switchbacks. We meet at the Mormon Trail parking lot, stretching for 15 minutes before we hit the trail. From this road, proceed to Holbert Trailhead to continue onto Las Lomitas Trail. Infrastructure ImprovementProjectInformation: South Mountain Park/Preserve10919 S. Central Ave. Pima Canyon Trailhead*4800 E. Pima Canyon Rd. From Fat Man's Pass, you can begin the hike back to the trailhead, or continue through Hidden Valley (if you have done your research and know where to go). Take the first left on to Phoenix South Mountain Park. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. Its a popular hike that offers amazing views of the valley below, making it a great choice for hikers looking for a challenging and rewarding experience. To get to the Mormon Trailhead, take exit 155 for Baseline Rd. These rocks are very slippery and smooth so walking down them can be unstable. Take another left onto Piedras Dr. Beautiful trail. Plan your hikes for early mornings or late afternoons to avoid the hottest part of the day. It looks like it could be a plastic mold of the rock tunnel, and that it cant be real. There are no markers within this area so its up to you to decide how you want to navigate down these sections of rocks. An amazing hike see some of the tallest Saguaro cactus in Arizona. To reach the National Trail along the ridgeline, continue across the road and climb the steep switchbacks to reach the saddle in the mountain just east of Goat Hill.. Completing the Mormon Loop and then heading back down to the parking lot is just over five miles. Although, not a very long trail, it does offer direct access to the National Trail and Telegraph Pass Trail, once you reach the roadway at the trails end. If you go down further on National, you will see the second trail marker (at around 1.6 miles) indicating that its the Fat Mans Pass side of Hidden Valley. Trail was mostly up hill with an uneven, rocky path. This is one of those trails I recommend a few hours after a rain - it creates more friction on an otherwise dusty, dry trail - it provides a bit more solitude as fewer folks are put - the olfactory stimulation from the creosote. It would be embarrassing to call for help because you were stuck at Fat Mans Pass. Park at the San Juan Rd. Can you use a mountain bike anywhere? $134/mo Get pre-approved Beds Baths 11.97 Acres (Lot) About This Home Just under 12 acres being sold individually or with 2 adjacent lots! It took us almost 2 hours. Fat Mans Pass and The Tunnel were fun sites along the way. We hiked on a Friday afternoon. To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer. The trail went over South Pass, then worked its way through the mountains. After getting through Fat Mans Pass, you then will be walking in a sandy wash area. WebSouth Mountain Preserve. You can find her on Instagram at @Dani_The_Explorer. WebMeet at the trailhead at 8:30 am. During this incline, you will undoubtedly notice the large boulders in the middle of the trail- just watch your step as these appear in several spots. This is the starting point of the 1.4-mile section of the trail. The Mormon Trail is a steep and strenuous 1.4-mile trail located in South Mountain. And by narrow, I really mean narrow! Difficulty: Moderate - (Should Be For Some One That Exercises Often) Hike Duration: 180 minutes. Parking Cost: Free. Instead of hiking down the rocks below, if you look to the right you will notice a little side path where you can get down by walking around the bigger rocks which feels much safer. From Pima Wash Trail, turn right onto Pima West Loop. Proceed to T-Bone Trail. Again, this is nothing technical, its just how you want to decide what is the best way for you. Challenging, must have some mountain biking experience, take plenty of water. Features: Steep climb, rocky terrain, scenic overlooks, historic trail. 4. Mormon Trail Map Compiled & edited by Kathy Weiser / Legends of America, updated March 2020. Print/PDF map. Proceed to Pima Ridgeline Trail. Your email address will not be published. This is one of those hikes you want to do in the early morning. WebEach is handmade in Arizona and we know youll agree that these are the finest finishers award of any long-distance trail in America. Took us 2:57, we took pic etc. This area, known as Hidden Valley, is a bit more concealed from the weather than nearby landscapes, which creates special rock formations that make this a unique trail to explore. We will meet at the ramada on the west end of the Mormon trailhead parking lot and then embark on the Mormon Trail. Totaling just under four miles, Hidden Valley can be accessed via the Mormon and National trails; starting at the trailhead, youll follow Mormon until you reach National Trail West. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 43 min to complete. 8. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. 5. Beyond the tunnel, go right at the National Trail junction and follow the route 1.4 miles to the Mormon Loop Trail. Tower workers, City staff and emergency vehicles may be on the roads at any given time, however. If coming from Phoenix, take the 1-10 East and exit off of Baseline/Guadalupe (exit 155) and turn right onto Baseline. Beautiful views. Tealights will guide you, but a flashlight with a red setting is recommended. The first trail marker (at around 1.3 miles) will indicate that its in tunnel side of Hidden Valley. Just as it started off with the unique Fat Mans Pass, it will end with another unique formation, a natural rock tunnel that you can enter. spots so either be early or nearby streets. Keep your eyes on the rocks because petroglyphs from the Hohokam tribe can be seen! Follow the loop back to the intersecting point with National and return home the way you came. It is a 1/2 mile walk from the San Juan gate to the start of the trail on the north side of the road. Great trail, well marked. The only trail markers will be in the beginning and the end of the trail. This is a busy trailhead, and all the locals know where it is. Some of the marble boulders were very slick, so we negotiated them on our butts. Hang a left and walk the 1.1-mile return leg that traces a ridgeline embellished with a major rock-art site and a wash with many more petroglyphs etched by the ancient Hohokam people who were active in the area from roughly 450 to 1450. {{current_weather.dt | momentjs( atts.date )}}. Mormon Trail: Also called 24the Street, since it starts or ends at the 24the street lot. There are a lot of bikes. South Mountain is one of the most notable mountains in the East Valley due to its different trailheads in Ahwatukee, Chandler, and Phoenix. Mormon Trail: South Mountain - Phoenix, AZ I don't think of Phoenix as having extreme weather, but I say this last week was interesting. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Access: Start at South Mountain Park Main Entrance. This area is so wide that you are able to walk up to these rocks and climb, inspect and explore what is around them. Nice views reward hikers at the top. Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail (South Mountain). Learn how to create your own. Mormon Trail is a fairly busy trail much of the time. Proceed to Dirt Road Trail. Travel south on Mormon Trail to connect to National Trail. Photos (3,273) Directions. Very populated trail. There is not much shade along this trail. Most South Mountain Park hiking trails are shared with Mountain Bikers, so be on the lookout as you continue on your hike. Saw families with kids and grandparents making it. November 1 to April 30 - 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. We will then reconnect with the Mormon Trail to make our way back to the parking lot. Proceed to Pyramid Trail. challenging but doable. Photos (7,435) Directions. Mile 0.2: After a short hike, youll reach the first landmark of the trail, a small cave that offers a great view of the surrounding area. Hikers should come prepared with plenty of water, appropriate footwear, and other necessary gear for a safe and enjoyable hike. There will come another point soon after where the trail seems to end at a long wall of humongous rocks. Sign in. Once on the trail it is simple to follow up to the National Trail. Turn left and head a hundred yards downhill to compare your gut against the two boulders. Getting there:From central Phoenix, go south on Seventh Avenue to Baseline Road. During the Summer, starting before 7AM is recommended to avoid the sweltering heat. Join us for one of my favorite hikes at South Mountain. The climb up was challenging. Web322 W Mountain Sage Dr unit N/A, Phoenix, AZ 85045 Ahwatukee Foothills 4 Beds 3 Bath 2283 Sqft Contact Property Learn more, take a tour, and get one step closer to your new home. by Dylan James | Feb 17, 2023 | HIKE, HIKE-Phoenix | 0 comments, Id like to give credit to alltrails for some of my imagery. Nice, scenic hike with views of the entire valley. See dazzling rock formations. It is one of the older trails in the park, and it was built with inmate labor plus Civilian Conservation Corps men back in the 1930's The large switchbacks remain as a testimony of their hard work and dedication. March 7, 2023 at 5:45pm to March 7, 2023 at 8:30pm. Gnarly descent. Proceed to Beverly Canyon Trail. From Five Tables, proceed to Ranger Trail. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. DISTANCE: 3.6 mile Lollipop ELEVATION Gain: 925 feet DURATION: 2 hrs and 15 minutes or so FACILITIES: None START TIME: 4:00 PM. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (Meet by the veranda). [CDATA[ This multi-use trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 17 ft blue climb. Elevation: 1,280-2,080 feet. Saturday, lots of people and dogs, beautiful hike on a gorgeous afternoon. We only did the Mormon trail which was @ 3 miles total. This trail wastes very little time, climbing very quickly for a good 45 minutes, then dropping down into a valley on top of the mountain where we walk 15 more minutes to a tunnel of rocks where we walk through to the real Hidden Valley. This different closure allows visitors to access some trailheads and picnic areas in the lower areas of the park otherwise inaccessible on the 4th Sundays. You can find her on Instagram at @_annien. Thought it was a scenic and the loop was perfect for timing. For the most part, this path is in a wash, which makes it clear and easy to navigate. The buckles are only available to finishers who complete the survey and are made available at no cost thanks to our friends at This is one of those trails that leads uphill from the start, and while Ive listed this trail as an easy trail, it was with much deliberation. 3. Alta Trail is steep on both ends as it rises to the crest of the Ma Ha Tuak Range in South Mountain Park. Mormon Trail-Hidden Valley Loop Length: 6.2 miles. Web#1 - Hidden Valley Trail Via Mormon Trail South Mountain Preserve Length: 3.6 mi There are many trails in this area that are worthy of more hiking. 2023 www.azcentral.com. From Beverly Canyon Trail, turn right to proceed to Ridgeline Trail. As you continue on, there will some areas where the trail will abruptly have these large rocks that have seemingly stopped the trail dead in its tracks. However, the challenging climb is well worth it, as the trail offers some of the best views of the Phoenix area. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. As usual your guide will meet you at the trail head wearing a backpack with yoga mats attached and holding an ASU Umbrella. Mile 0.2: After a short hike, youll reach the first landmark of the trail, a small cave that offers a great view of the surrounding area. Desert FoothillsTrailhead14251 S. Desert Foothills Pkwy. WebThe Mormon Trail is very well-defined, well designed and well-trodden at the beginning, but it becomes much more rugged and harder to follow the higher it goes. Hike starts promptly at 9:00 am. Wear sun protection such as a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to prevent sunburn and heat exhaustion. WebNational Trail: A favorite on South Mountain. Corona De Loma Trail is a little difficult to access from the bottom due to the number of spur trails in the area. At the end of the Mormon Trail, connect with National Trail West for about 0.1 miles until it reaches the Hidden Valley Loop, which is denoted with a clear sign. past the gate for 0.5 mi to connect to Alta Trail to your right. These are some of the best views in my opinion! Continue right onto Pima Wash Trail. Typical rocky ascent and gravel throughout so wear hiking boots. This area feels like a magical place, as most of the other trails can be too populated to see this type of wildlife freely roaming on the trail. You get a lot of incline right at the beginning, but great views and stumbled across some ruins! 3. One of the largest groups to move west was the Mormons. Bring at least 1-2 liters of water and be sure to be well hydrated. * Please remember to hike at your own risk. This is a very popular area for hiking, mountain biking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. 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