More than 16,000 acres across three mountain ranges, managed by the City of Phoenix. All 37 trails on the city's 2026 trail map, ranked beginner to advanced, with trailheads, hours, road closures and the heat rules.
Extreme heat: on days the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning, the city restricts Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau'pal Loop and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rest of the park's trails stay open.
Check before you go. The city posts closures, road events and projects on its South Mountain Park/Preserve page.
South Mountain Park and Preserve is outlined in orange. Other City of Phoenix and City of Scottsdale parks with guides are outlined in green, and county regional parks in blue. Tap any park for a link to its page.
South Mountain Park and Preserve Other city parks and preserves County regional parks
South Mountain Park and Preserve outline: the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation GIS Park Boundaries layer, retrieved 13 October 2026. Camelback Mountain and Papago Park: City of Phoenix GIS, retrieved 12 October 2026. McDowell Sonoran Preserve: City of Scottsdale GIS, retrieved 11 October 2026. County park boundaries: the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation GIS boundary layer, retrieved 7 October 2026. Street map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
South Mountain Park and Preserve spans three mountain ranges, the Ma Ha Tauk, Gila and Guadalupe. The City of Phoenix bought 13,000 acres for $17,000 in 1924, and the park now covers more than 16,000 acres. Its trails serve hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, and its roads are popular with bicyclists.
The park holds thousands of petroglyphs, left mainly by the Hohokam, who lived in central and southern Arizona from about AD 450 to 1450. The city points to rock art along the Judith Tunell, Telegraph Pass, Kiwanis, Mormon, Desert Classic and Holbert trails. Photograph it from the trail and do not touch it: the oils on your hands damage the rock.
Dobbins Lookout, at 2,330 feet, is the highest point in the park open to the public. It is reached by trail or by Summit Road. The park roads are shared by cars, bicyclists and hikers, with blind corners, narrow sections and drop-offs, so the city asks for extreme caution and the posted speed limit.
Ranked from easiest to hardest. The city rates trails on a six-step scale: Easiest, Easy, Moderate, Moderate/Difficult, Difficult and Extremely Difficult. Here, Easiest and Easy are Beginner, Moderate is Intermediate, and the three harder ratings are Advanced. A trail moves up a level if any section of it is rated harder; none at South Mountain is. Within each level, trails are ordered by elevation change, then length. Trails without an elevation figure follow, ordered by length, then trails whose length the city's sources do not agree on.
| # | Trail | City rating | Length | Elevation change | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | |||||
| 1 | Judith Tunell Accessible Trail | Easiest | 0.5 mi | 10 ft | A barrier-free, hard-surface trail at the South Mountain Visitor Center, with drinking fountains, benches and covered ramadas along it. Rock art is along it. |
| 2 | Judith Tunell Challenge Trail | Easy | 0.5 mi | Not shown | An extension off the Judith Tunell Accessible Trail. |
| 3 | Beacon Hill Trail | Easy | 1.1 mi | Not shown | No trailhead of its own. Reached from the Pima Canyon side. |
| 4 | Crosscut Trail | Easy | 2.1 mi | Not shown | Listed by the city from the 19th Ave. Trailhead. |
| 5 | Cholla Flats Loop | Easy | 2.6 mi | Not shown | No trailhead of its own. Reached trail to trail from 19th Ave. on the south side. |
| 6 | Las Lomitas Trail | Easy | 2.6 mi | Not shown | Listed by the city from the Holbert Trailhead area off the main entrance. |
| 7 | Thash Kavid Loop | Easy | Not shown | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map, which shows a Thash Kavid walk-in access. |
| Intermediate | |||||
| 8 | Hidden Valley Trail | Moderate | 0.5 mi | 140 ft | Reached along the National Trail. At its west end are Fat Man's Pass, a naturally smooth rock slide and a natural tunnel. |
| 9 | Desert Classic Trail | Moderate | 8.6 mi | 270 ft | Starts at the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Rock art is along it. |
| 10 | Ranger Trail | Moderate | 1.7 mi | 800 ft | A gradual climb through the foothills toward the park road from Five Tables, with links to the Bajada and Las Lomitas trails. |
| 11 | Kiwanis Trail | Moderate | 1.0 mi | Not shown | Suitable for most levels of hikers, per the city. Climbs a rock-studded canyon past two rock wall dams built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and meets the road with access to the National and Telegraph Pass trails. Rock art is along it. |
| 12 | Beverly - Pima Connector | Moderate | 1.2 mi | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map and trail GIS. |
| 13 | Pima Wash Trail | Moderate | 1.4 mi | Not shown | Starts at the Pima Canyon Trailhead. |
| 14 | Ridgeline Trail | Moderate | 1.6 mi | Not shown | Reached from the Beverly Canyon Trailhead by way of Beverly Canyon. |
| 15 | Max Delta Trail | Moderate | 2.3 mi | Not shown | Starts flat from the main entrance, climbs and traverses the hills behind the ranger station, then meets the Bajada Trail near the San Juan Road gate. The city's trailhead listing rates it Difficult; its 2026 trail map and trail GIS both rate it Moderate. |
| 16 | Javelina Canyon Trail | Moderate | 3.0 mi | Not shown | Starts at the Beverly Canyon Trailhead. |
| 17 | Bajada Trail | Moderate | 3.5 mi | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map and trail GIS. |
| 18 | Pima Canyon Loop | Moderate | 4.4 mi | Not shown | Reached from the Beverly Canyon or Pima Canyon trailheads. |
| 19 | Guadalupe Perimeter Trail | Moderate | 7.2 mi | Not shown | No trailhead of its own. Reached from the Desert Foothills, Warpaint and San Gabriel accesses. |
| 20 | Bursera Trail | Moderate | Not shown | Not shown | No trailhead of its own. Reached trail to trail from 19th Ave. on the south side. |
| 21 | Ma-Ha-Tuak Perimeter Trail | Moderate | Not shown | Not shown | Reached at 19th Ave., 35th Ave. and Ray Road. |
| Advanced | |||||
| 22 | Mormon Trail | Difficult | 1.3 mi | 720 ft | A busy trail, steep in places, from the Mormon Trailhead up to the National Trail. Bikes are allowed but not recommended. Petroglyphs along it. Restricted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Extreme Heat Warning days. The city's trailhead listing rates it Moderate/Difficult; its 2026 trail map and trail GIS both rate it Difficult. |
| 23 | Alta Trail | Difficult | 4.6 mi | 1,100 ft | Steep on both ends as it rises to the crest of the range. One of the older trails in the park, built in the 1930s with Civilian Conservation Corps and inmate labor. A half-mile walk from the San Juan Road gate to the start. |
| 24 | National Trail | Moderate/Difficult | 15.4 mi | 1,150 ft | The city lists it from the Mormon Trailhead by way of the Mormon Trail. Access from the Pima Canyon Trailhead is restricted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Extreme Heat Warning days; it stays open from other trailheads. |
| 25 | Highline Connector | Moderate/Difficult | 0.8 mi | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map. |
| 26 | Telegraph Pass Trail | Moderate/Difficult | 1.2 mi | Not shown | Starts at the Desert Foothills Trailhead. Rock art is along it. |
| 27 | Bursera Canyon Trail | Moderate/Difficult | 1.3 mi | Not shown | No trailhead of its own. Reached trail to trail from 19th Ave. on the south side. |
| 28 | Prospector Loop | Difficult | 2.1 mi | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map. |
| 29 | Holbert Trail | Moderate/Difficult | 2.3 mi | Not shown | A steady climb to the upper park. An extension leads to Dobbins Lookout, and the trail meets the National Trail east of the TV towers and west of Buena Vista Lookout. Rock art is along it. Restricted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Extreme Heat Warning days. |
| 30 | Hau'pal Loop | Extremely Difficult | 2.8 mi | Not shown | The only trail on the city's South Mountain map rated Extremely Difficult. The city's trail data notes it is very steep. Restricted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Extreme Heat Warning days. |
| 31 | Maricopa Trail | Moderate/Difficult | 16.2 mi | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map and trail GIS. |
| 32 | Black Rock Canyon Trail | Moderate/Difficult | Not shown | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map. |
| 33 | Corona de Loma Trail | Difficult | Not shown | Not shown | A rough and sometimes steep trail from the Desert Classic up to the National Trail near Buena Vista Lookout. Spur trails make the bottom hard to find, so stay on marked trails. The city's trailhead listing rates it Moderate/Difficult; its 2026 trail map and trail GIS both rate it Difficult. |
| 34 | Gila Trail | Difficult | Not shown | Not shown | No trailhead of its own. Reached trail to trail. |
| 35 | Lost Ranch Trail | Difficult | Not shown | Not shown | Rated Difficult on the city's 2026 trail map, which this guide uses; the city's trail GIS rates it Moderate. |
| 36 | Marcos de Niza Trail | Moderate/Difficult | Not shown | Not shown | Starts at the Pima Canyon Trailhead. |
| 37 | Thondum Wihom Trail | Difficult | Not shown | Not shown | Rated on the city's 2026 trail map. |
Ratings: the symbols on the trail table of the city's South Mountain Park/Preserve trail map, April 2026, read against the city's Trail Rating Guide and checked against the City of Phoenix Mountain Trails GIS. Lengths: the 2026 map, shown where the trail GIS or the city's 2017 Trails Master Plan agrees. Elevation change: shown where the city's South Mountain Trails listing and the trail GIS agree. The city's trail listing still carries some older trail names that the 2026 map no longer shows; this guide follows the map. Connector trails are not ranked.
| Start | Address | Trails the city lists from here |
|---|---|---|
| Main entrance | 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix | Max Delta. The Holbert, Kiwanis and Five Tables trailheads are reached through it, for the Holbert, Las Lomitas, Kiwanis and Ranger trails |
| South Mountain Visitor Center | 10409 S. Central Ave., Phoenix | Judith Tunell Accessible. Open Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| 19th Ave. Trailhead | 10500 S. 19th Ave., Phoenix | Crosscut |
| Mormon Trailhead | 8610 S. 24th St., Phoenix | Mormon, then the National Trail and Hidden Valley |
| Beverly Canyon Trailhead | 8800 S. 46th St., Phoenix | Javelina Canyon, Ridgeline |
| Pima Canyon Trailhead | E. Pima Canyon Rd., Phoenix | Desert Classic, Marcos de Niza, Pima Wash, the National Trail |
| Desert Foothills Trailhead | 14251 S. Desert Foothills Pkwy., Phoenix | Telegraph Pass |
Source: the city's South Mountain Trails listing and 2026 trail map, and the South Mountain Visitor Center page, 13 October 2026. The listing and the map give different street numbers for the Pima Canyon Trailhead, so only the street is shown.
Silent Sunday. On the fourth Sunday of every month, Summit Road is closed to motor vehicles all day, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cars park at the Activity Complex, and the roads are left to walkers, cyclists, joggers and hikers. On the first, second, third and fifth Sundays, a shorter closure runs 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., with Summit Road closed at the 1.0 mile marker so the lower trailheads and picnic areas stay reachable.
San Juan Road is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month. The Alta Trail starts a half mile past the San Juan Road gate.
On Extreme Heat Warning days, Holbert, Mormon, Hau'pal Loop and the National Trail from Pima Canyon are restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hike when it is cool, carry more water than you think you need, and turn back before you drink it all, per the city.
The city's ratings run from paved, accessible paths to Extremely Difficult routes with large drops and exposure. More than 200 hikers are rescued from Phoenix desert and mountain parks every year.
Ramadas are open to the public, and several take reservations through the city's Special Activity Request Form, from six months to 72 hours ahead, for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No reservations on holiday weekends. No amplified music or bounce houses.
Petroglyphs and Hohokam artifacts stay where they are. Photograph them from the trail and leave pottery and stone tools in place.
The South Mountain Visitor Center, 10409 S. Central Ave., is open Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ranger office: 602-262-7393.
Stay on designated trails, wear proper shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and tell someone your start and end times if you hike alone.
If a short drive to South Mountain is part of what you want nearby, I can tell you which Phoenix neighborhoods put you closest to its trailheads.
Size, ranges, trail miles, Dobbins Lookout, hours, the 1924 purchase, Silent Sunday, San Juan Road and ramadas: City of Phoenix, South Mountain Park/Preserve. Trailheads, trail descriptions and elevation change: the city's South Mountain Trails listing. Trail ratings and lengths: the city's South Mountain Park/Preserve trail map, April 2026, and the city's Trails Master Plan Executive Summary, 2017. Rating scale and rescues: the city's Take a Hike. Do it Right page. Heat restrictions and trail miles, also: the city's Trail Heat Safety Program. Rock art: the city's Hohokam Rock Art at South Mountain Park. Visitor Center: the city's South Mountain Visitor Center page. Trail ratings, lengths, elevations and segments, also, and the park outline and size: City of Phoenix GIS, Mountain Trails and Park Boundaries layers. Camelback Mountain and Papago Park outlines: City of Phoenix GIS. County park boundaries: Maricopa County Parks and Recreation GIS. McDowell Sonoran Preserve outline: City of Scottsdale GIS. All checked 13 October 2026. Hours, closures and rules change, so confirm with the city before you go.