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South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona has many miles of challenging trails in beautiful desert scenery. (In summer, be at the trailhead before sunrise to avoid the heat.)
To download trail data in GPS Exchange format (.gpx) compatible with GPS mapping software right click on the link below:
To view the trails as a printable topographic map in Adobe Portable Document format (.pdf) left-click on the line below:
GPX map by Dave Wissenbach
Send Mail To: Dave Wissenbach
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Copyright 2005 by Dave Wissenbach
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Phoenix City South Mountain Hiking Trail Guide
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Google Earth viewing of SouthMountain.gpx
Dirt Section of Pima Canyon Road from the parking area to the Mormon Loop trailhead.
The Mormon Loop is the easiest way up for mountain bikers, avoiding the steep, rocky stepped section of the National Trail.
National Trail. The National Trail runs almost the extend of South Mountain Park from East to West. Just the section from Pima Canyon to the Buena Vista Lookout is mapped here.
Telegraph Pass. This trail is too steep to ride and very popular with hikers. Hike your bike on the telegraph pass trail to make a loop from the Pima Canyon entrance of the park from South mountain down to the Desert Classic trail.
Desert Classic Trail. This fast and fun trail contours around the south side of South mountain. There are lots of rollers on the trail, so although the net elevation change is very little, there are many rollers and whoop-de-doos which make this trail fun but strenuous. This entire trail is rideable, even by beginning mountain bikers. 8.16 miles one way, with 100 feet net elevation change but total elevation gain and loss of almost a thousand feet.
Corona Loma Trail. Expert riders and foot traffic only, because this trail is steep, loose, rocky and exposed. (I walked about a third of the trail and still managed to go over the bars once on the ride shown here.) The Corona Loma trail is an unmarked steep descent to the Desert Classic trail which starts just west of the Buena Vista lookout where the National Trail leaves the road. (Take the low trail to the west -- the trail will switch back towards the east, follow the wash at the bottom of the canyon below for a while, and then climb over the ridge to the south.
Desert Classic Alternate. Connection between Desert Classic and the lower part of the Corona Loma Trail. From the Desert Classic trail heading East, take the left fork in the trail to head through the rocks before you reach the water tank.
The Ridgeline trail connects the Beverly Canyon trail to the Javelina trail by following a ridge with four peaks, each of which has a pretty good view of Phoenix and Pima Conyon.
Equestrian Loop. Easy trail can form a two and a half mile loop with the Desert Classic. Access off of Equestrian road at the Kyrene De La Loma school.
Beverly Canyon is a moderately easy trail which follows the powerlines from the Beverly Canyon trailhead just South of Baseline Road at the end of 46th St. Use this trail to make a loop with the Ridgeline and Javelina trails.
The Mormon Trail is steep and rocky from 24th Street to the National Trail. 700 feet of elevation gain in 1.11 miles. You will have a beautiful view of Phoenix from among picturesque boulders.
Javelina Trail. 2 miles and 500 feet elevation gain one way. Less bicycle and foot traffic than many other South Mountain trails in a nice quiet canyon off of the Beverly Canyon trailhead.
Loma Trail. 1 mile, 100 foot elevation gain. One of several easy mountain bike trails in the Loma School area which join with the Desert Classic Trail.
8 miles, 1300 feet elevation gain from the Central Avenue to the Gila Valley Lookout, following the San Juan, Telegraph Pass, and TV tower roads.
Buena Vista Road. Easiest access to Hidden Valley.
Lower Loma. Rocky trail between Corona Loma and Desert Classic.
Helicopter pad trail. This short, steep loop trail off of the Desert Classic trail looks down upon an exclusive neighborhood in the Ahwatukee foothills. A short spur trail to the west leads to a large overlook known locally as the helicopter pad.
Pima Canyon Road. Access to South Mountain Park off of 48th street and Guadelupe. Don't let the private road sign near the access road confuse you -- the road to the Pima Canyon trailhead passes through a golf course.
Hidden Valley. Hidden Valley is a child's paradise with a tunnel at the lower end, a waterfall at the middle, and Fat Man's pass at the upper end.
Shortcut along wash through gated community from Desert Classic Trail to Desert Foothills Parkway.
The San Juan Road is newly paved but closed to automobiles. (A good place for hiking and biking in the winter.) Four miles and 400 feet of elevation loss.
Desert Classic to Warpoint Drive S
Desert Classic to Warpaint N.
2.4 miles, 1100 feet elevation gain. Very steep and rocky on the bottom mile. Not as busy as many of the other South Mountain trails.
The main branch of the Geronimo takes you through a Scout camp. I slowly pedaled my bike through a girl scout camp cooking breakfast. The girls all stared like I was some kind of space alien, and the parents politely tried to ignore me. Better take the East Fork of the trail next time.
The Holbert trail descends from the National trail at the first road crossing just west of the Buena Vista lookout. The very top section of the trail between the paved roads is fast and fun. The main section of the trail from the road down is rideable only by the extremely skilled and certifiably insane mountain bikers because of numerous ledge drops with rock piles at both the approach and departure.
Comment - SAN JUAN
Description - San Juan Road trailhead. San Juan Road is closed to vehicles and is now a trail.
Comment - Beverly Canyon Trailhead. 8800 S. 46th St.
Description - Alternate trailhead for South Mountain just off of Baseline Road west of I-10.
Comment - Telegraph Pass Trailhead
Description - Telegraph Pass Trailhead at Desert Foothils Hills Parkway and 6th Street.
Comment - 10-DEC-05 3:57:53PM
Description - Hermit Cave.
Comment - National Trail Mormon Trail Intersection.
Description - The national trail to the East of here is very steep and rocky and more suitable for hikers than bicyclists.
Comment - Beverly Canyon at Pima Canyon
Description - Beverly Canyon trail intersetcts Pima Canyon road here.
Comment - Pima Canyon Trailhead
Description - Pima Canyon Trailhead, South Mountain Park. Very popular for trail runners, hikers, and mountain bikers. On a weekend morning hundreds of cars will be parked here. To get here from take Pima Canyon Road a hundred yards north of the the junction of 48th and Guadelupe. If you see signs from an exclusive development warning you that you are not welcome, you are at the right place. Pima Canyon Road is bordered by the golf course on either side to the trailhead.
Comment - Ridgline Trail at Javelina Trail
Description - West end of Ridgeline trail at Javelina Trail, just east of the end of the Javelina trail on the Mormon Loop trail.
Comment - Mormon Triail Mormon Loop Juntion
Description - Intersection of Mormon Loop Trail with Mormon Trail
Comment - Kyrene de la Loma School
Description - Kyrene De La Loma School. Access to a corner of South Mountain Park with good trails for beginning mountain bikers. Several short trails starting here join with the Desert Classic trail. Advanced mountain bikers can use this point on weekends to access the Desert Classic trail while avoiding the craziness of the Pima Canyon trailhead.
Comment - Twenty Fourth Street Trailhead.
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Comment - Mormon Loop Javelina Trail
Description - Upper end of Javelina Trail at Mormon Loop Trail.
Comment - Buena Vista Trailhead
Description - Buena Vista Trailhead.
Comment - Ridgline Trail at Beverly Canyon
Description - East end of Ridgeline Trail at Beverly Canyon Trail.
Comment - Intersection of National and Mormon Trails.
Description - The big rockpile marks the junction of the Mormon and National Trails. Heading up on a mountain bike, bear right, or you will be carrying your bicycle for much of the next mile. (For a nice quiet hike free of those pesky mountain bikes, keep left.)
Comment - Gila Valley Viewpoint
Description - Hang Glider launch and a good viewpoint of the Gila Valley and the Estrella Mountains
GPX Embedded Web Link (opens new browser window)
Arizona Hang Gliding Association South Mountain Page
Comment - Central Avenue Entrance
Description - South Mountain Park at Central Avenue.
Comment - 25-DEC-05 3:31:38PM
Description - South Ridge East End
Comment - 25-DEC-05 3:57:03PM
Description - South Ridge West End
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Description - Hidden Valley Lower Trailhead
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Description - Fat Man's Pass is the upper terminal of the Hidden Valley Trail.
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Description - Tunnel near the lower end of Hidden Valley.
Comment - 28-JAN-06 11:16:26AM
Description - South Mountain Park Road Ends Here. Park with restroom adjacent tot he Highline Canal trail.
Comment - 04-FEB-06 8:37:16AM
Description - Warpaint Trailhead. Popular place for on-street parking to access the Desert Classic Trail
Comment - 04-FEB-06 9:27:33AM
Description - Shortcut to Desert Foothills Parkway
Comment - 04-FEB-06 9:29:09AM
Description - The pedestrian and bicycle shortcut to Desert Foothills trail avoids the weekend craziness of the Telegraph Pass trailhead for you people who ride your bikes or walk to the trail. (Only way through the gated community for the unwashed masses.)
Comment - 04-FEB-06 11:12:25AM
Description - Lower trailhead, without parking, for the Geronimo trail, which climbs to the Buena Vista Lookout.
Comment - 28-JAN-06 11:09:23AM
Description - 28-JAN-06 11:09:23AM
Comment - Turn East for Geronima
Description - Turn East for Geronima
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