South Mountain is one of the most notable mountains in the East Valley due to its different trailheads in Ahwatukee, Chandler, and Phoenix. 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. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. Trailheads - South Mountain Park/Preserve. WebThe Arizona Trail is divided into 43 passages. Photographs are encouraged, though. Although few would argue against the benefits of setting and achieving goals, what constitutes a best trail is debatable. The trail is steep and rocky, with loose gravel and occasional switchbacks. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Around 1.9 miles you can go down the steep rock, or there is another path to the right. It's a popular hiking trail due to its proximity to the trailhead parking lot. Access: Start from Warpaint Dr. Access Trailhead. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Steep but decent footing. 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.' WebEach is handmade in Arizona and we know youll agree that these are the finest finishers award of any long-distance trail in America. Turn right (West) on Chandler Boulevard and continue going West until you reach the intersection with Ray Road. guidelines before visiting the trail. The viewpoints are the perfect spots to take small breaks or take in the city. The Ma-Ha-Tauk Trail starts off at a gradual incline, then ramps up at a hard ascent to the Cross Cut Trail junction. Hike the extension trail that leads to Dobbins Lookout and be rewarded with a magnificent view of the valley below. It took us almost 2 hours. Review"Take a Hike. The Mormon Trail begins with an immediate incline and it doesnt let up until you are at the junction with National Trail. Try Fat Man's pass without a pack on, and then the rock tunnels near it, so fun! Access: Start from the Area 620 Trailhead. 2. Once through the pass, you'll be able to enjoy some shade and a quiet rest spot. Access: Start at 19th Ave. Trailhead. Continue on Stephen Mather Dr. through the first four-way intersection. In fact, though, when you walk up to the end of these rocks youll notice that the trail continues. This is a popular rest and picture spot! Park at the San Juan Rd. Thought it was a scenic and the loop was perfect for timing. Length 2.4 miElevation gain 744 ftRoute type Out & back. 4. Don't worry, though, it is big enough for most adults to fit through. This blog was thoughtfully written by Danielle Rodriguez. Proceed to Pima Loop Trail. It would be terrible to let distractions asphyxiate its virtues. Travel south on Mormon Trail and proceed to National Trail. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 28 min to complete. Any GPS, map, or phone app will be able to get you to the right place. Get to know this 3.6-mile loop trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Bring at least 1-2 liters of water and be sure to be well hydrated. Fun going through Fat Mans and the slide-through gap. We will be doing an intermediate afternoon/evening hike to Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail. Enjoy the trail! No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Access: Start at the Park Main Entrance. 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. Very picturesque. The trail is hot and miserable even when the temperature is only seventy degrees. This trail also provides alternative routes through connections with the Derby Loop, Bajada Trail, and Las Lomitas Loop, while traveling upward to the roadway. Although the trail has been well marked until the loop, here is when some parts become unclear. Most people take the Mormon Trail to the National Trail and the national trail to either end of Hidden Valley. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Features: Steep climb, rocky terrain, scenic overlooks, historic trail. Access: Start at South Mountain Park Main Entrance. Mormon Trail is pretty short seeing as how it is a little bit over a mile long. 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. 3. Mormon Trail to Fat Man's Pass is easily one of my favorite hikes. The trail is easy to follow, the destination is great and like most South Mountain Park Trails, it's the perfect balance between a workout and killer views. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. So while it may get you breathing heavy and your heart rate up, it wont take too long to do so. Phoenix is so big its hard to give general directions that are accurate. Seeing as how Hidden Valley is located off of National Trail (which runs the entire length of South Mountain), there are multiple ways of getting there. My dog was tired (and overheated in early March), so pace yourself on this trail. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The passes furnish a natural crossing point of the Rockies. 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. Mile 1.2: The trail becomes steeper again as you approach the end of the 1.4-mile section of the Mormon Trail. The symbolto the rightof each trail name represents the Trail was amazing! From there, the trail continues upward to the top of the ridge, where hikers can connect with other trails in the park, such as the Hidden Valley Trail and National Trail. I would like to think you're ripping the band-aid off straight away. We added the Mormon Trail Loop for a more substantial hike. guidelines before visiting the trail. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. WebSouth Mountain Preserve. Remember: This trail is multi-purpose so be mindful of the mountain bikers! At the west end of Hidden Valley there is a 'Fat Man's Pass' and naturally smooth rock 'slide.' From the parking lot at the Mormon Trailhead, the trail immediately leads uphill. 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. This is the starting point of the 1.4-mile section of the trail. 3. Finally, you will end the loop at Fat Mans Pass, which is a very narrow passageway formed by huge boulders. Proceed to Dirt Road Trail. You can find her on Instagram at @_annien. Parking Cost: Free. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 34 min to complete. Plan your hikes for early mornings or late afternoons to avoid the hottest part of the day. Request Tour (602) 628-8175 Send an Email Highlights Here are some of the most popular amenities Patio Floor Plans 1 unit available 4+ Bedrooms 4 bed 3 bath 2283 sqft Therefore you will see two separate trail markers for Hidden Valley. Challenging, must have some mountain biking experience, take plenty of water. This trail is great for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. 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. The parking lot for the trail-head will be on your right, at this curve. We will meet at the ramada on the west end of the Mormon trailhead parking lot and then embark on the Mormon Trail. Infrastructure ImprovementProjectInformation: South Mountain Park/Preserve10919 S. Central Ave. Pima Canyon Trailhead*4800 E. Pima Canyon Rd. Some moderate climbing. Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail (South Mountain). 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. Additionally, the roadways throughout the parkare a favorite forbicyclists. Gnarly descent. 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. Be sure to check out the tunnel. The park boasts more than 50 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Join us for one of my favorite hikes at South Mountain. Judging from trail wear, lots of people start this trail, but most don't go far. Fun all day long. Flowers were in bloom and looking over Phoenix, Tempe, and Masa was awesome. WebTake Mormon Trail instead. WebMarch Full Moon Hike - Reservation Required. The route will lead you to a section where you are standing on a big rock looking out at the trail below you. 6. 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. Length 3.6 miElevation gain 925 ftRoute type Loop. The trail begins at the Mormon Trailhead and immediately begins to ascend up the mountain. as a novice hiker did not make it to top but would do again. To get to the trailhead: From the Phoenix area, take I-10 south to Chandler Blvd. Proceed to Pima Ridgeline Trail. The ubiquitous expression describes a common affliction of missing the big picturein a haze of minutia. The reason is because from Fat Mans Pass you will be hiking down, and will be able to see the paths laid out better. 2001 - 2023. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. WebMormon Details. Please viewthe information provided by thelinks below to learn more about reserving a ramada. Mile 0.0: The trailhead for the Mormon Trail is located at the end of 24th Street in Phoenix. Beverly Canyon Trailhead8800 S. 46th St. (Accessed via South Mountain Park/Preserve Main Entrance). The Mormon Trailhead is a popular hiking trail in South Mountain Park and Preserve, located just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. It's nothing but sketchy tech where wheel placement and speed are of the utmost importance. Moving your way to the top of the first hill only rewards you with another couple of hills to hike up. Review"Take a Hike. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to connect to Mormon Trail. Check. This is a busy trailhead, and all the locals know where it is. Excellent conditions, almost 9km from the car. There are several signs along the way that show hikers the remaining distance between the sign and a new destination. Chandler Blvd. From here you will proceed to hike forward toward National Trail for only about 0.1 of a mile. Just watch out. We will then reconnect with the Mormon Trail to make our way back to the parking lot. Beautiful trail. There are a lot of bikes. But, in case you are not able to fit, no worries! Again, this is nothing technical, its just how you want to decide what is the best way for you. 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. Mormon Trail Map Compiled & edited by Kathy Weiser / Legends of America, updated March 2020. Yes, you can ride a mountain bike on the road. Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Sonoran Desert. To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. 1. There are some significant drops and features along the way that may require scouting a line especially the waterfall. At times, there will flat rocks to hike down and/or up but the trail will be clear to see once over the rock section. Turn left (east) and continue to 24th Street. Mormon Trail This map was created by a user. Very populated trail. Nearest Town: Phoenix, AZ Mormon Trail-Hidden Valley Loop Length: 6.2 miles. Corona De Loma Trail is a little difficult to access from the bottom due to the number of spur trails in the area. This is a very popular area for hiking, mountain biking, and running, so you'll WebMormon Trail South Mountain I'd like to give credit to alltrails for some of my imagery The Mormon Trail The Mormon Trailhead is a popular hiking trail in South Mountain Park and Preserve, located just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. WebMeet at the trailhead at 8:30 am. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 43 min to complete. Hikers should come prepared with plenty of water, appropriate footwear, and other necessary gear for a safe and enjoyable hike. Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 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. This trail is suitable for most levels of hikers and can be used as an introduction for those wanting to get acquainted with desert mountain hiking. They're especially nice around sunset and sunrise. The next time you're in the Phoenix city limits, get out and try this hike! Take another left from Desert Classic to connect to Lower Corona. For the most part, this path is in a wash, which makes it clear and easy to navigate. To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Lots of rocks and hills. 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. 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