Not sure if I should be reviewing this listing or the one for the South Mountain Activity Complex,…read morebut I'll do this one since I came here for the Holbert trail. I've been here a handful of times, but not too often since it's pretty far from home. I was planning to stop by a local coffee shop in this area, so I decided to do an early morning hike beforehand. It's pretty easy to get to this trailhead, and their hours year-round are 5am - 11pm (gates open and close). I wish they would open a bit earlier during the summer, but I got there a few minutes after 5 anyways. I'm always surprised at how few people/cars I see in the lot, I anticipate it being busier. They recently completely construction here and there's a beautiful pavilion now. Several restrooms and water fountains, which is great. Last time I came here, they had rerouted the beginning of the trail to the northernmost part of the parking lot, so that's where I thought it would be. Took me a few minutes to orient myself from the map because I didn't realize there were multiple bathrooms. Holbert trail is nice and there are a few switchbacks before connecting to Dobbins Lookout, which can be reached by car and has a parking lot. I decided to make the small detour to the lookout and spend a few minutes walking around; I like the little house they have. I really didn't like all the trash I saw lying around; I picked up a few napkins, straws and bottles. Not sure if it's flying out of the trash cans or people just being lazy, but it made me sad. I continued on the trail to the National trail, and made it a loop by connecting to the Kiwanis trail and finally Las Lomitas back to the trailhead. I ran into maybe a dozen people, tops. There are so many parking spots available here and the only time I've seen it full is when I did the Phoenix Summit Challenge in November last year. There are probably other times when it gets busy, like when there are events and such, but usually it's so empty. Maybe because it's the hottest part of the summer. This is one of the trailheads that will close from 8am - 5pm when there is an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service, so be aware of that. I do want to explore the National trail more, so I plan to be back.

On a Saturday afternoon, I checked out Holbert Trailhead at South Mountain Park. Finding the trail…read moreisn't super easy as it's a bit hidden but here are instructions on how to get there: enter the park and follow the signs that point you to the visitor's center. After passing by the visitor's center, follow the road until you hit an area under construction. The road will make you turn left and then it will bring you into the parking lot. In the corner of the parking lot by the construction, you'll find the entrance to the trail. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's get to the good stuff. Holbert Trailhead is listed as a "moderate difficulty" trail on AllTrails. By the way, if you don't use AllTrails, I highly recommend that you download the app. It keeps track of where you're at on a trail (to make sure you stay on track) and also keeps track of some cool stats for you like the amount of time you've spent on the trails, the number of miles you've hiked, the elevation, etc. Rating Holbert as a moderate trail is fair. The first half of the hike is at an incline as you're scaling the mountain. You'll come across a lot of uneven rocks so it's not easy. Make sure to bring plenty of water. You'll eventually reach a fork where one path will continue on Holbert and the other will take you to Dobbins Lookout. Take the path on the right to get to Dobbins Lookout which is one of the most spectacular nature views in Phoenix. To get to Dobbins, depending on your pace, it will take you about an hour and a half. Once you arrive, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of Phoenix and surrounding suburbs. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you walked there instead of driving there like a bunch of other people you'll see at Dobbins. From there, you'll return along the same path to get to the beginning of the trail again. The return trip will be quicker as you're going on a decline. It will be harder on your knees and you'll have to be careful with your footing, but it will be less strenuous. All in all, it should take you anywhere between two and a half to three and a half hours depending on how long you chill at Dobbins. All in all, a top hike!

My daughter and I had never kayaked before and Dylan made the whole experience great! From helping…read moreus feel comfortable steering the kayak to telling us all about the salt river, and taking amazing photos and videos, it was a great day! It was so much fun and we will definitely do it again next time we are in AZ!

I met Dylan over a year ago at a networking event, and ever since, I've been excited to share his…read moreincredible services. He owns Buzzed Up Adventures, where he and his team offer exhilarating guided kayak tours through Arizona's stunning waterways, like the Salt River, along with kayak and SUP paddleboard rentals. Dylan provides an unforgettable experience for visitors and locals alike who want to explore water sports outdoors. His top-quality equipment and thorough preparation ensure a fun, safe, and memorable adventure, all at competitive rates. Having lived in AZ since 2014, I was amazed to discover his services and am so grateful we connected. I highly recommend Dylan to anyone seeking a fantastic Kayak or SUP experience. AAA+++.

We love the brand new Activity Complex at South Mountain. It has a ton of parking, lots of shade…read moreunder the pavilion, lots of restrooms with sinks, soap, and water refill stations and water fountains. The new ramadas are very nice too, some are large, others are smaller - all rentable. What I really loved was the design, the pathways mimic mountain edges and the water pathways are marked like rivers, and mountain ranges have infographics and are named in the indigenous language with a snake taking you to the sign. Shiny and new, come take a look! Then hike the Holbert trail for a nice view of Phoenix.

Brand new addition to South Mountain park with access to hiking trails, a pavilion, and ramadas…read more There are also restrooms and water fountains and plenty of parking. This is a beautifully designed concrete modern structure and all of its paths and landscaping complement the surrounding desert. There are also information boards about the mountains visible from the park. Phoenix has outdone itself with this new complex!

Such a gorgeous and interesting place. Feels like an escape. Trail is not hard…read more -parking on the street -wear pants you are okay with sliding down a granite rock with -bring grippy shoes if you want to climb rocks -mostly just a long walk -be aware of mountain bikers

The hike up to Fatman's Pass via Mormon Loop Trail is not very difficult. Completed the hike and…read morejust over two hours with ample stops. I am a moderate hiker, not novice but not advanced by any means and thought this trail was fairly easy even after a long summer of not hiking outside in the brutal Phoenix heat. The trail is very rocky and requires a close eye on your footing to not trip. The trail is mostly clearly marked. However, there were a few instances where I had to pull out my AllTrails map just to verify that I didn't veer off the trail down a wash or an unofficial pathway that other hikers has created. Fatman's Pass should be actually be called Not-Fatman's as the opening between the two rocks is very narrow. I could barely fit with my Camelback on my back and my hat on my head. Others have reported there is no shade along the trail; however, I did find a few shady spots around noon on a November day. There's also ample shade at the pass itself. I chose to take the loop counterclockwise and glad I did! My original theory was that it looked to be a sharper incline going uphill and I prefer to do that versus a steep decline. But to my surprise after the pass, there were very slippery, smooth granite rocks that we were sliding across even with proper footwear. I decided to use five points of contact and slide down on my bottom, just to make sure that I didn't slip and fall. I saw a number of hikers with their dogs and think this trail would be okay in the cooler months with plenty of water. But I would feel very nervous about taking my own dog on those slippery granite rocks. Maybe I'd hold my dog in my lap and slide down and pretend I was on a playground with a friend at the bottom to catch us. lol! I saw several chipmunks, dragonflies, and even a small snake (not a rattlesnake) on the trail. Not very buggy and pretty clean minus a couple not-picked up dog poops. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead and plenty of street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. There is no bathroom or water station so make sure to use the bathroom and fill up your water before hitting the trailhead!

Gary and the team at AZ Kayaks are awesome. The online booking process is super fast and easy, as…read moreis getting loaded up and returning the rentals. They have everything you need to haul a kayak or SUP on the roof of your car. I've rented 3 or 4 times now and I feel very comfortable with transporting up to the lake solo. This store is a super convenient location and opens early enough to beat the crowds and heat. I highly recommend if you're going up to Saguaro Lake. Check out the full moon rentals! Enjoy!!!

We had an awesome experience renting from AS Kayaks and Paddle Boards! Ezra and Derek were both…read moreincredibly friendly, laid-back, and easy to work with. They were very accommodating and made the whole rental process smooth from start to finish. They even took the time to help us get the paddle boards securely strapped down, which we really appreciated. Their positive attitudes and willingness to help made the experience even better. I'd definitely recommend AS Kayaks and Paddle Boards to anyone looking for a fun, stress-free day on the water. We'll definitely be back!

On Thanksgiving Day, rather than multiple helpings of turkey and everything else, I decided to take…read morea hike at Mormon Trailhead. This trail is part of South Mountain Park and Preserve close to Tempe. I did check and see if they were open on Thanksgiving, and indeed they were. They were just closing a little earlier than usual. I arrived around 3:00 p.m. and didn't have any trouble parking in their small parking lot. The trail starts right by the parking lot. Mormon Trailhead is an intermediate hike. There are small portions of the hike where you have so climb (nothing crazy) and there is some incline and decline. If you're going at a decent pace, it will take you two hours or so to get through the loop. The highlight of this trail is Fat Man's Pass. There are also some cool rock formations to see. And of course, scenic views of Phoenix from your elevated vantage point. It's not an easy hike and not a difficult hike. I even saw two small kids on the trail, though I am unsure if they did it all. My hike ended up being a sunset hike. Always chasing sunsets! I believe they typically close at 8:00 p.m. but check their website to be sure. At a certain hour, they will close the front gate to not allow people on the trail too late. The exit is still open but there are spikes which prevent people from coming in using the exit but allows you to leave with your tires unharmed. Pro Tip: Download the AllTrails app. It helps you make sure you stay on track (as there are multiple trails in the area). One of the coolest things about Phoenix is the accessibility of nature. It's always a relaxing experience for me, being one with the outdoors. This has been one of my favorite hikes I've tried out so far in the area.

I came here for a sunset hike and it was stunning! There's a small parking lot I got a space in and…read morethere's no fees here. I hiked about 2.5 miles on the Mormon Trail with 700 feet elevation gain. It's a nice little workout and the views are incredible at sunset. If you wanted to hike longer this trail connects to some other ones.

Simply the best rappel experience you could ask for . Ryan our guide was amazing. He was…read moreknowledgeable and patient but also willing to explain every step. I would recommend them highly

We went for the Escape Package with four people of varying ages (20s through late 50s) and varying…read morefitness levels. The guides Ryan and Alex were great and very accommodating with us throughout each activity. Booking was a little difficult through their website/phone, but once you manage to get through to an actual person and go on the course, you will not regret it! If you go in the summer, go as early as possible; the experience is definitely well worth an early wakeup.

Easy little hikes - bit of a drive out of the way but so worth it. One of the rare natural bridges…read morebuilt in this way

I just finished a 3 day, 25+ mile hike through the Tonto Forest(I started walking from Scottsdale,…read moreto Fountain Hills then up 87 North through the forest stopping to hike various trails). I was carrying about 50 pounds of gear. I had a great time. The wild horses in the Verde River was amazing! Then I really enjoyed the landscapes and Saguaro Lake and Salt River Canyon were major highlights. I saw alot of gorgeous birds(hummingbirds, eagles, cactus wrens etc.). The only negative(a big one) is no water fountains/running water at ANY of the federal recreation sites and the Saguaro one even closed up all their toilets! There was also no electricity available to charge my phone. That would have knocked it down to 4 stars but the natural beauty of the Forest is so amazing, I still rank it a 5 overall.