Throughout this entire hike the rocks have been very smooth, but they are almost fake looking in the tunnel. WebMormon Trailhead: 8610 S. 24th St. Beverly Canyon Trailhead: 8800 S. 46th St. Pima Canyon Trailhead: 9904 S. 48th St. Telegraph Pass Trailhead: 14251 S. Desert Foothills Parkway Trailhead Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Gated entrances will close at 7, but trails remain open until 11 p.m. Mormon Trail is pretty short seeing as how it is a little bit over a mile long. 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. My dog was tired (and overheated in early March), so pace yourself on this trail. DISTANCE: 3.6 mile Lollipop ELEVATION Gain: 925 feet DURATION: 2 hrs and 15 minutes or so FACILITIES: None START TIME: 4:00 PM. The trail descends down off the hills in the flats, then meanders and undulates until meeting up with the Bajada trail at the San Juan gate area. Check. WebThe Mormon Trail begins with an immediate incline and it doesnt let up until you are at the junction with National Trail. difficulty rating. Towers and west of Buena Vista Lookout. So while it may get you breathing heavy and your heart rate up, it wont take too long to do so. 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. Access: Start at Geronimo Trailhead. Continue right onto Pima Wash 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. As you continue, the ending of this loop will not disappoint. 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. 6. The Ranger Trail provides a gradual climb through the foothills approaching the parks roadway. Yes, leashed pets are allowed on the trail. Try Fat Man's pass without a pack on, and then the rock tunnels near it, so fun! Be sure to check out the tunnel. Access: Start from the Area 620 Trailhead. This is one of the great features of this trail; you can turn around at the top and do just under 2.5 miles total or you can choose to continue your outing on the National Trail or the Mormon Loop. Turn left on Baseline, left again onto 24th st., and follow the curve through the neighborhood until you reach the parking lot at 8610 S. 24th St., Phoenix, AZ 85042. Bring your game. Watch your footing, but make sure to look up from time to time to drink in the panoramic city and boulder sceneries! 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). This is a busy trailhead, and all the locals know where it is. 6 People = $500. This makes a good loop starting from the Pima Canyon Trailhead. At the 1.2-mile point, a sign marks the junction of two connected loops. Well worth the hike! 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. Difficulty: Moderate - (Should Be For Some One That Exercises Often) Hike Duration: 180 minutes. From here, Fat Man's Pass is about .5 miles away. We hiked on a Friday afternoon. Atop the ridge, the trail connects to the National Trail. The classic Phoenix circuit has many of the positive components on hiker checklists. by Dylan James | Feb 17, 2023 | HIKE, HIKE-Phoenix | 0 comments, Id like to give credit to alltrails for some of my imagery. This scenic trail offers hikers stunning views of the desert landscape and a glimpse into the areas history with its historic stone houses and other landmarks. The rocks are extremely smooth, due to being hidden and protected from weather erosion so sliding down is as easy as sliding down any other slide in a playground. Proceed to T-Bone Trail. A lot of people out but we got lucky finding a spot in the parking lot. and 19th Ave. Trailhead15451 S. 19th Ave. 19th Ave. (Ma-Ha-Tauk) Trailhead10484 S. 19th Ave. * - Extended summer hours are in effectannually from June 1through September 30 at Pima Canyon Trailhead. This is the starting point of the 1.4-mile section of the trail. This is a popular rest and picture spot! Access: Start at the 19th Ave. Trailhead to connect to Ma a Tauk Trail. Taking the Mormon Trail and connecting to the National Trail can access one of the most scenic trails, the Hidden Valley Trail Loop. WebFeaturing city views, desert life and distinct rock formations, South Mountains Hidden Valley Trail stands out among the areas best loops. After yoga we will walk back down for another 45 minutes to where we started. Do not expect to receive a spot in the lot (not along the road) if you want to hike in any combination of: weekends, during tourism season, before noon. As a matter of fact, this is one of the trails I took when I first started hiking before I knew what other gems Arizona has to offer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There is a spot within Phoenixs South Mountain where a natural and enchanting playground exists. Theoretically, hikers should be the last people whod succumb to not being able to see the forest for the trees. In fact, though, when you walk up to the end of these rocks youll notice that the trail continues. In order to get to this wild play area, we first need to take a couple of hiking trails. Photos (3,273) Directions. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to connect to Mormon Trail. South Mountain Map Turn left onto National and then turn right to proceed to Hidden Valley Trail. Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail (South Mountain). Open full screen to view more. Travel south on Mormon Trail to turn left onto Mormon Loop Trail. Saw families with kids and grandparents making it. Join us for one of my favorite hikes at South Mountain. Or you can also slide down on one of the rocks as well. Alta Trail is fairly steep heading up from either side. You can actually walk on top of the rock and then hop down onto the trail below. To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer. If crowds really annoy you, go on a weekday. Very limited shade and bring plenty of water if you do the loops. Watch and listen for bikers (bells, clickers, etc) cause they will pop out of nowhere. You get a lot of incline right at the beginning, but great views and stumbled across some ruins! Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. Register for Hikes and Outdoor Nature Programs. Located south of Phoenix, AZ in a well-signed neighborhood, drive to 8610 S 24th St, Phoenix, AZ 85042. More interesting scenery than our other hikes so far. Proceed left to Desert Classic Trail. This trail also provides alternative routes through connections with the Derby Loop, Bajada Trail, and Las Lomitas Loop, while traveling upward to the roadway. WebHidden Valley Trail Via Mormon Trail. We will go at a relatively fast pace of around a 20 min/mile for the group. I'll be hiking other trails here - beautiful views inside and outside the park! Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. The most direct path is to take Mormon Trail to National and then to Hidden Valley. Excellent conditions, almost 9km from the car. Tags: Arizona, AZ, dog-friendly, Fat Mans Pass, hidden valley, hike, Hiking, Mormon Trail, National Trail, Phoenix, Photography, South Mountain, State Park, Trail Write-Ups. This is a very popular area for hiking, mountain biking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Trailheads - South Mountain Park/Preserve. There are some significant drops and features along the way that may require scouting a line especially the waterfall. Any GPS, map, or phone app will be able to get you to the right place. We will be doing an intermediate afternoon/evening hike to Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail. I would like to think you're ripping the band-aid off straight away. Beverly Canyon Trail will have some short rocky and steep areas that cross the Pima Canyon area on the way to meeting the Desert Classic Trail on the south side of South Mountain. Travel south on Mormon Trail to connect to National Trail. Taking the Mormon Trail and connecting to the National Trail can access one of the most scenic trails, the Hidden Valley Trail Loop. Access: Start at 19th Ave. Trailhead. Some folks use the larger rock on the right side of the pass as a rock slide, which you can do too! Some moderate climbing. 1. The Passage Profile refers to the downloadable trail elevation profile available for this passage. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 28 min to complete. Corona De Loma Trail is a little difficult to access from the bottom due to the number of spur trails in the area. It is steep in places, but moderate in most places. Fun all day long. We will meet at the ramada on the west end of the Mormon trailhead parking lot and then embark on the Mormon Trail. 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. 2001 - 2023. //]]> I had to take off my hydration pack in order to squeeze through. It took us almost 2 hours. Drinking fountains, benches, covered ramadas are available for periodic rest stops. This blog was thoughtfully written by Danielle Rodriguez. Due to the direction of the sun, going the way to the Hidden Valley Tunnel is recommended so that you can return on the loop with the sun behind you. Follow the wash trail to a small cliff and the wash and trail turn left to exit back onto the National Trail after a 'natural tunnel.' Today, its a popular trail for hikers and offers a glimpse into the history of the area. Activities: // I had to take a couple of hiking trails hikes at South Mountain Map turn left National! And another for National Trail can access one of the Mountain bikers email, and all the know. 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