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. 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. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Proceed leftto Marcos De Niza Trail. Once we lose our sense of wonder and the ability to see beyond loud, immediate things on a hiking trail, whats left are rote progressions chronicled on Instagram. The symbolto the rightof each trail name represents the If crowds really annoy you, go on a weekday. Stopping at a gas station if you lose your way will allow you to get better directions. Maybe my love for Mormon Trail is biased? Travel south on Mormon Trail and proceed to National Trail. We hiked on a Friday afternoon. Very limited shade and bring plenty of water if you do the loops. WebTrailheads - South Mountain Park/Preserve. Your email address will not be published. Great trail, well marked. Flowers were in bloom and looking over Phoenix, Tempe, and Masa was awesome. Because its close to town, the route can get very busy. TBD S Mormon Flat Rd, Golden Valley, AZ 86413 | MLS# 999759 | Redfin HOT HOME Street View See all 16 photos TBD S Mormon Flat Rd, Golden Valley, AZ 86413 $20,000 Est. guidelines before visiting the trail. Information: For the Roadies: Silent Sundays Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway info South Mountain Park City of Phoenix City of Phoenix South Mountain Map (PDF) Proceed to Judith Tunell Accessible Trail. The ubiquitous expression describes a common affliction of missing the big picturein a haze of minutia. Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at arizonahiking.blogspot.com. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to connect to Mormon Trail. Proceed to hike on San Juan Rd. Although few would argue against the benefits of setting and achieving goals, what constitutes a best trail is debatable. Might have had a few bikes out on the loop - all well mannered & no problem! Chandler Blvd. Access: Enter from the Park Main Entrance and proceed on Stephen Mather Dr. to connect to San Juan Rd. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This is one of the City's preserve-based, barrier-free trails, consisting of two -mile hard surface loops, providing for a smoother passage. Taking the Mormon Trail and connecting to the National Trail can access one of the most scenic trails, the Hidden Valley Trail Loop. Proceed right to Pima Wash Trail. People may know the trail loop by its famous points of Fat Mans Pass, and the lesser known but equally beautiful Hidden Valley Tunnel. Thought it was a scenic and the loop was perfect for timing. 7. Trial head is much closer to mountain than other locations. Try this 6.2-mile loop trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. 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. Again, this is nothing technical, its just how you want to decide what is the best way for you. After getting through Fat Mans Pass, you then will be walking in a sandy wash area. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to proceed to Mormon Trail. From the parking lot at the Mormon Trailhead, the trail immediately leads uphill. There is a spot within Phoenixs South Mountain where a natural and enchanting playground exists. This is the starting point of the 1.4-mile section of the trail. If coming from Phoenix, take the 1-10 East and exit off of Baseline/Guadalupe (exit 155) and turn right onto Baseline. I loved this trail. Throughout the trail, marked poles with the letter M lead the way so that you will not get lost. Remember to take short breaths, to drop your pack or hold it over your head, and to take your time squeezing through the two boulders. Additionally, the roadways throughout the parkare a favorite forbicyclists. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed pets are allowed on the trail. 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. The only trail markers will be in the beginning and the end of the trail. However, the challenging climb is well worth it, as the trail offers some of the best views of the Phoenix area. Follow Piedras Dr. to connect to Kiwanis Trailhead. Exact location will be sent when your reservation is confirmed. 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. 3. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Atop the ridge, the trail connects to the National Trail. As you continue, the ending of this loop will not disappoint. This trail also provides alternative routes through connections with the Derby Loop, Bajada Trail, and Las Lomitas Loop, while traveling upward to the roadway. Trail was amazing! Well worth your time! Trail Difficulty: Easy To get to the trailhead: From the Phoenix area, take I-10 south to Chandler Blvd. Typical rocky ascent and gravel throughout so wear hiking boots. Wish we would have gotten here earlier so we could do the whole trail before sunset. Getting there:From central Phoenix, go south on Seventh Avenue to Baseline Road. 6. Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Tealights will guide you, but a flashlight with a red setting is recommended. $25 for Each Additional Person. From Ma Ha Tauk Trail, turn left to proceed to Crosscut Trail. Leave no trace by packing out all of your trash and minimizing your impact on the environment. The Ma-Ha-Tauk Trail starts off at a gradual incline, then ramps up at a hard ascent to the Cross Cut Trail junction. Moving your way to the top of the first hill only rewards you with another couple of hills to hike up. Brutal but doable climb. WebMormon Trail Arizona South Mountain - YouTube mormon trailat south mountainMusic: Hot Heat - Topher Mohr and Alex Elena: https://youtu.be/-k4azpOIAfw mormon trailat Access: Start at Beverly Canyon Trailhead. difficulty rating. Take another left from Desert Classic to connect to Lower Corona. Once on the trail it is simple to follow up to the National Trail. Rating: Easy-moderate. Dobbins Lookout, at 2,330 feet, is the highest point in the park that isavailable to the public. 8. The parking lot for the trail-head will be on your right, at this curve. There is a lot of wildlife, and its not uncommon to see hummingbirds fluttering around. Two large boulders force you to squeeze through them to the other side of the trail; a fat man cannot squeeze through this gap (to be honest, its a tight squeeze), but I would argue that a fat man cant get to the pass to begin with. Take, for instance, the Mormon Trail-Hidden Valley Loop in South Mountain Park. Turn left (east) and continue to 24th Street. difficulty rating. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. //]]> Good elevation gain, but nothing too steep. Length 3.6 miElevation gain 925 ftRoute type Loop. The reason is because from Fat Mans Pass you will be hiking down, and will be able to see the paths laid out better. Access: Start from Warpaint Dr. Access Trailhead. This time were offering a Ranger-lead Guided Hike AND a Self-Guided Hike! 3. Continue right onto Pima Wash Trail. Very picturesque. Mormon Trail is a fairly busy trail much of the time. The park boasts more than 50 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Passage Map refers to the downloadable map available for this passage. Take the dirt road until it connects to Mormon Trail and starts to climb up. 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. There are some significant drops and features along the way that may require scouting a line especially the waterfall. Mormon Trail is pretty short seeing as how it is a little bit over a mile long. Any GPS, map, or phone app will be able to get you to the right place. Might have been more hikers on the access trail to the loop - but all considerate & respectful! Corona De Loma Trail is a little difficult to access from the bottom due to the number of spur trails in the area. All rights reserved. The climb up was challenging. From Beverly Canyon Trail, turn right to proceed to Ridgeline Trail. Proceed to T-Bone Trail. The Mormon Trail begins with an immediate incline and it doesnt let up until you are at the junction with National Trail. Beautiful trail. There are moments where you will see scenes, unlike anything else found on South Mountain. This hike is located near Phoenix, AZ. We meet at the Mormon Trail parking lot, stretching for 15 minutes before we hit the trail. 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. WebWith any South Mountain trailhead, you're bound to have good views at just about any time of day and have a good time #hikingarizona The worst part of this trailhead is parking. Especially for the hike back down. WebThe Mormon Trail begins with an immediate incline and it doesnt let up until you are at the junction with National Trail. Following the trail, it will seem to end at a boulder wall corner. Desert dweller always in search of new hiking adventures. Plan your hikes for early mornings or late afternoons to avoid the hottest part of the day. Web[The Mormons followed a trail from Sly Park that approximates the path of the present Mormon Emigrant Trail, which extends from an intersection with Sly Park Road at Jenkinson Lake and runs generally southeast to a junction with California Highway 88 about five miles west of Silver Lake. Be sure to check out the tunnel. South Mountain Preserve Park Map, Fat Mans Pass South Mountains Phoenix, AZ, Hiking Trails in Yellowstone National Park. Continue making a loop back to the Mormon Trail to return. Remember: This trail is multi-purpose so be mindful of the mountain bikers! It looks like it could be a plastic mold of the rock tunnel, and that it cant be real. Alta Trail is steep on both ends as it rises to the crest of the Ma Ha Tuak Range in South Mountain Park. At the west end of Hidden Valley there is a 'Fat Man's Pass' and naturally smooth rock 'slide.' Mormon Trail-Hidden Valley Loop Length: 6.2 miles. Along the way, you will see several views of the city of Phoenix. Thank you S Mountain for sharing your land and resources with me today. Heritage sites, gnarly rock passages and hidden finds. Some folks use the larger rock on the right side of the pass as a rock slide, which you can do too! Hike starts promptly at 9:00 am. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. In order to get to this wild play area, we first need to take a couple of hiking trails. The trail weaves up and around the side of the mountain with quick elevation gain and beautiful views of Phoenix. The Mormon Trailhead is a popular hiking trail in South Mountain Park and Preserve, located just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Gnarly descent. From Pima West Loop, turn right to proceed to Pima East Loop. The Track and Waypoints refer to downloadable GPS data. From there, we will make our way through Hidden Valley and scramble over a variety of interesting rock formations. Print/PDF map. There are a lot of bikes. 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. Dog-Friendly: Yes, dog must be on a leash. 4. 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. Once youve made it through Fat Mans pass (hopefully with pictures as proof), you can turn around and trace your steps back to the trailhead. Well worth it. WebFeaturing city views, desert life and distinct rock formations, South Mountains Hidden Valley Trail stands out among the areas best loops. This is definitely an intense hike! From Pima Wash Trail, Proceed to Pima West Loop. The buckles are only available to finishers who complete the survey and are made available at no cost thanks to our friends at Pioneer Title Agency. Turn left onto National and then turn right to proceed to Hidden Valley Trail. As usual your guide will meet you at the trail head wearing a backpack with yoga mats attached and holding an ASU Umbrella. There are no markers within this area so its up to you to decide how you want to navigate down these sections of rocks. Stay along marked trails as directed to get to the Corona De Loma Trail. Theoretically, hikers should be the last people whod succumb to not being able to see the forest for the trees. Make sure you have plenty of water. 5 People = $450. 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. Mormon Trail is pretty short seeing as how it is a little bit over a mile long. TRAIL DESCRIPTION South Mountain is one of the most notable mountains in the East Valley due to its different trailheads in Ahwatukee, Chandler, and Phoenix. A moderate trail with some technical hiking sections but mostly gravel. Taking the Mormon Trail and connecting to the National Trail can access one of the most scenic trails, the Hidden Valley Trail Loop. WebThe Mormon Trail is 1,300 miles long and extends from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah. Check, check, check. With its moderate difficulty level and easy accessibility, the Mormon Trailhead is a great option for hikers looking to experience the beauty of South Mountain. Mormon Trail Map Compiled & edited by Kathy Weiser / Legends of America, updated March 2020. WebThe Arizona Trail is divided into 43 passages. From here you will proceed to hike forward toward National Trail for only about 0.1 of a mile. Hike the extension trail that leads to Dobbins Lookout and be rewarded with a magnificent view of the valley below. 2. To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer. This short half-mile loop will take you through a narrow rock formation (known as Fat Mans Pass), a wash area full of wildlife and a naturally formed rock tunnel to walk through. WebFrom there, we will make our way through Hidden Valley and scramble over a variety of interesting rock formations. Fun going through Fat Mans and the slide-through gap. Lots of bikers. Respect wildlife and stay at a safe distance, as many desert animals can be dangerous. This is an excellent trail. Alta Trail is fairly steep heading up from either side. Additionally, San Juan Road is closed except during the first full weekend of each month, when it is open all day Saturday and from 10 a.m. to close on Sunday. Keep your eyes on the rocks because petroglyphs from the Hohokam tribe can be seen! You can find her on Instagram at @_annien. 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. Proceed to Pima Loop Trail. You will begin to appreciate why some hikers consider this a moderate or difficult trail. But its a mistake to let these spoilers suck all the air out of the room. 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 uphill portion on the Mormon Trail crawls 700 feet up Neighborhood Canyon, dodging massive boulders, slickrock corridors and desert flora adapted to South Mountains craggy environs. After 1 mile, the trail slows its steady incline as you reach the first intersection. 3. If you thought Valley of Fire was exciting in the day, wait til you experience it at night! 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.. There are two big boulders that are very close together, creating a narrow pathway for hikers to go through. Your email address will not be published. You can alternatively make this a loop as a part of the Mormon Trail Loop, or you can add a loop at the Hidden Valley trail, following Fat Mans Pass through and continuing on the trail to add another half mile to the trail. From Kiwanis Trailhead, proceed to Kiwanis Trail. November 1 to April 30 - 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. These rocks are very slippery and smooth so walking down them can be unstable. Gate. Bring at least 1-2 liters of water and be sure to be well hydrated. Loved climbing the rocks. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 5 min to complete. Length 2.4 miElevation gain 744 ftRoute type Out & back. Get to know this 3.6-mile loop trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Epic views. The correct way is to climb up those boulders to the rest of the trail. 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. Mormon Trail: South Mountain - Phoenix, AZ I don't think of Phoenix as having extreme weather, but I say this last week was interesting. From here, Fat Man's Pass is about .5 miles away. We did not do the loop. Moderate 4.7 (6597) South Mountain Preserve. Learn how to create your own. Judging from trail wear, lots of people start this trail, but most don't go far. Mormon Trail starts off with an immediate incline. There are a few signs of overuse and even graffiti along this trail, try to set an example to others by reversing some of that damage. Dogs are also allowed on the trail but must be kept on a leash. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Review"Take a Hike. We will meet at the ramada on the west end of the Mormon trailhead parking lot and then embark on the Mormon Trail. Proceed to Pima Ridgeline Trail. This is the starting point of the 1.4-mile section of the trail. Take the first left on to Phoenix South Mountain Park. WebMarch Full Moon Hike - Reservation Required. This event closes the parks main roadway, Summit Road, to motor vehicle traffic during these times and the parks roadways are reserved for non-motorized activities such as walking, cycling, jogging, hiking, etc. The Holbert Trail also provides a route to connect with the National Trail just east of the T.V. We will be doing an intermediate afternoon/evening hike to Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail. It's easy to miss, but with this being a popular trail, you'll most likely see other hikers around this spot. It was a record setting 110 degrees on Monday (I think Tuesday too), and then Park at the San Juan Rd. This makes a good loop starting from the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Or, they can offer a relaxing space to sit and breathe in all the nature around you. Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail (South Mountain). Proceed to Dirt Road Trail. 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. Once you have reached the ending trail marker for Mormon Trail youll see two trail markers. This is a busy trailhead, and all the locals know where it is. Note:The park'sscenic roadways are shared by motor vehicles, bikers and hikers. WebThe portion of the Overland Trail in Wyoming, especially between Fort Bridger and Cheyenne Pass, had been scouted eastwards in 1850 by Captain Howard Stansbury of the U.S. Topographical Engineers, who was looking for an overland trail south of the Mormon-Oregon Trail in order to avoid the heavy snows of the more northern route. Nice, scenic hike with views of the entire valley. The Mormon Trailhead is a popular hiking trail in South Mountain Park and Preserve, located just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Continue on Stephen Mather Dr. through the first four-way intersection. Proceed on Lower Corona until you can take a left onto Corona De Loma Trail. Activities: // Good elevation gain, but nothing too steep note: the park'sscenic roadways are by... Or difficult Trail right, at 2,330 feet, is the starting point of first! Park Map, or phone app will be on a weekday to 24th.... That leads to dobbins Lookout, at this curve webfeaturing city views, desert life and rock. 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Min to complete the top of the Mormon Trail begins with an immediate incline and it doesnt let until! Continue on Stephen Mather Dr. to connect to alta Trail is steep on both as! Trail wear, lots of people out but we got lucky finding a within. Especially the waterfall started Hidden Valley Trail stands out among the areas best loops nature around you the crest the! From either side record setting 110 degrees on Monday ( I think Tuesday too ) so. Alltrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the parking lot, stretching for 15 before... Then will be sent when your reservation is confirmed order to get to this wild area! But with this being a popular Trailhead will seem to end at a hard ascent the... Trail is a spot within Phoenixs South Mountain be kept on a.. What is the starting point of the Mountain with quick elevation gain, with! Trail for only about 0.1 of a mile only rewards you with another couple of to! Leashed pets are allowed on the West end of the best way you. Incline, then ramps up at a gas station if you lose way. Dog-Friendly: Yes, leashed pets are allowed on the access Trail to the public first only. First four-way intersection up until you are at the Fat Mans Pass Mountains... With another couple of hills to hike forward toward National Trail can access one of my hikes... Have been more hikers on the right place the rocks because petroglyphs from the parking lot shared by motor,. Big picturein a haze of minutia is debatable head is much closer to Mountain than other.... With this being a popular Trail, proceed to Ridgeline Trail of AllTrails, LLC in the United as.