Piestewa PeakThis Phoenix Trail is Steep but the Views Make it all Worthwhile on Phoenix's Most Popular Hike Go to Piestewa Peak sections: What Makes Piestewa Peak SpecialIf you want to do like the locals do, take a hike up popular Piestewa Peak during your Arizona vacation.What is it that endears this steep, craggy Phoenix mountain to Valley of the Sun residents? The peak is easy to get to - it’s in north Phoenix - and it offers a little bit of the Sonoran Desert in the middle of the busy city. But most of all, it is the amazing views from Piestewa’s summit that keeps bringing people back. Supposedly - sometime in the 1930s - the wranglers at the nearby Arizona Biltmore Resort built the first trail up the mountain to take guests on horseback rides.
Observant hikers can still see an old iron hitching post just above the one mile marker where the horse trail used to end. The trail to the top was eventually finished in the early 1960s after Phoenix acquired the land to set aside as a park. Over the years, the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail has become the most popular Phoenix area hiking trail. Roughly ½ million people trek up the trail annually, making it the second most hiked trail in Arizona after the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail. It is not unusual for the trail to see 4,000 - 10,000 hikers per week. Many hike the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail in the morning with the sunrise. This Phoenix trail is also the hike of choice for those "in-training" to hike the Grand Canyon. Piestewa Peak rises 2,608 feet above the valley floor. Much of this Phoenix mountain is composed of schist, a type of metamorphic granite that is formed under conditions of extreme heat and pressure deep within the earth. Although the rock is quite old, the mountain shapes were formed about 14 million years ago when the earth’s crust was gradually stretched from northeast to southwest. This geologic event formed the basin and range topography you see in the area today as the mountains became elevated (the ranges) and the valleys (or basins) dropped down between them. Location of Piestewa Peak ParkPiestewa Peak is part of the Phoenix Mountain Park and Recreation Area which encompasses the peak and surrounding lands as well as Dreamy Draw Park to the northwest.
The mountain is in northern Phoenix not far from the city’s border with Paradise Valley. It is an easy drive to the park from several popular resorts including the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Camelback Inn. Old timers know the mountain as Squaw Peak. The mountain was renamed in 2003 to Piestewa Peak (pronounced py-ESS-tuh-wah) in honor of Pfc. Lori Piestewa, an Arizona native and member of the Hopi tribe. Piestewa is thought to be the first female soldier killed in the Iraq War and, possibly, the nation’s first Native American woman to be killed in modern combat operations. Piestewa Peak Hiking TrailsYou can hike several trails in this Phoenix mountain park.
However, it is the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail that draws the most visitors. The Summit Trail is only 1.2 miles long but make no mistake - it’s a tough, very steep climb. You start at 1,400 feet and climb to 2,600 feet in only 1.2 miles - a total elevation gain of 1,190 feet! With an average grade of 19%, it deserves the nickname of "Phoenix’s stair climber." The trail’s popularity makes it a great place for people watching as you’ll see everyone from super-fit joggers to senior citizens. Piestewa Peak Summit Trail switchbacks through a landscape of ocotillos, saguaros, barrel cactus and palo verde trees. After spring rains, the slopes turn a vivid yellow from the many blooming brittlebushes - a low shrub with silvery leaves and golden, daisy-like flowers. With such difficulty, why does the Summit Trail draw such crowds? It’s all about the views. Hikers who make it to the top are rewarded with an amazing 360° view of the Valley of the Sun. To the north are the Bradshaw Mountains near Prescott. To the south are the South Mountains and the Sierra Estrellas.
To the east, the legendary Superstition Mountains and to the west, the White Tank Mountain range. Below you, the Valley of the Sun spreads out for miles. Though the Summit Trail is most popular, there are other trails in the park. For those who don’t want the challenge of the summit, there are two easy nature trails, one at Piestewa Peak and the other at the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area. They are short, scenic and good for kids. To walk around the mountain, take the roughly 4-mile long Piestewa Peak Circumference Trail. This half-day hike circles the peak, providing a variety of scenic vistas, lovely desert scenery and very few hikers. The Perl Charles Memorial Trail is a moderate 4.8-mile loop trail that descends into a quiet valley. This valley is the largest valley in the Phoenix Preserve system.
The Quartz Ridge Trail has a short 3.4-mile loop and a longer 4.6-mile loop. Both are good hikes for those interested in geology and seeing wildlife as well as wildflowers in spring. With fewer people on this trail, you have a good chance of spotting roadrunners, coyotes, rabbits, and lots of reptiles. For those who aren’t up to a hike, both Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw have picnic areas with shady ramadas. Plants and AnimalsThis Phoenix Mountain Park and Recreation Area preserves a piece of prime Sonoran Desert habitat right in the middle of the city.
Tall saguaro cactus, spiny jumping cholla, prickly pear and barrel cactus grow on rocky slopes along with creosote bush, palo verde and mesquite trees. The preserve is home to many Arizona desert animals including horned lizards, cottontail rabbits, kit foxes and even coyotes. Cactus wrens, curve-billed thrashers, red tailed hawks and great horned owls are just some of the over 54 species of birds found here. If you’ve hiked to the top of the peak in winter, you may see one of the bird world’s fastest flyers – the white-throated swift (Aeronautes saxatalis). Related to swallows, the swift is said to reach speeds of more than 200 mph!
You’ll see them swooping and arcing over the canyons as they catch insects on the wing, chattering to one another all the while. The best time to see wildlife is in the early morning and early evening hours. Quick-eyed observers may spot large chuckwalla lizards sunning on warm rocks. Keep an eye out for gila woodpeckers nesting in holes in the sides of saguaros and coveys of Gambel’s quail darting across the paths. Fast Facts: Piestewa Peak, Phoenix ArizonaWhat to See: Outstanding 360° degree views from the summit; variety of desert plants and animals; wildflowers in spring after good winter rains. What to Know Before You Go:
Visitor Facilities: Picnic ramadas; restrooms; drinking water; fire pits; benches. Call to reserve picnic ramadas. Camping: Fires and overnight camping prohibited. Horseback Riding Allowed: Yes, on certain trails. No horses on the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail. Pets Allowed: Yes, with one exception: no dogs allowed on the Summit Trail. Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Admission Fee: No. Location: 9 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix. Closest Town: Phoenix. Directions: Take Lincoln Drive or Glendale Avenue (they become the same at 16th Street) to Squaw Peak Drive, just west of 24th Street. Take Squaw Peak Drive into the park. Summit trailhead is marked #300. Management: City of Phoenix. Phone: (602) 262-6862 for Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department main number. Restrictions: Dogs, equestrian users and bicycles are not permitted on the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail. Note on Desert Safety:
Summit Trail Info: Distance: Summit Trail is 2.4 miles round trip. Hiking Time Estimate: 2 hours for Summit Trail. Difficulty: Piestewa Peak Summit Trail is strenuous; other trails range from easy to moderate. Elevation Change: 1,400 to 2,608 feet for Summit Trail. Safety Note: Trail conditions are constantly changing. Before starting out on your hike, check with the public land agency that manages the area for current conditions or closures. Trail conditions can vary with season, weather and maintenance status. Return to Phoenix Arizona Vacation page from Piestewa Peak page
Legal Disclaimer: Each person has their own limits and capabilities. We cannot anticipate every hazard or possibly know your abilities and limitations. When you follow any of the hikes we mention, you assume responsibility for your own safety. It is your responsibility to be aware of traffic, road and trail conditions, weather, terrain, wildlife, your abilities and those of any companions as well as other factors. Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. The information in this review was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the park before making reservations and/or travel plans.
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