If you look up the top attractions in Phoenix on TripAdvisor, Dobbins Lookout will be toward the top of the list. For good reason. Located in South Mountain Park, Dobbins offers picturesque views of Phoenix and surrounding areas. There are two ways to get there: (1) you can take the easy way and take a scenic drive up to a parking lot right next to Dobbins or (2) take Holbert Trail to Dobbins which will be about an hour an a half hike. Naturally, I took the more difficult route and was rewarded for my efforts with all that Dobbins has to offer. You'll see people sitting on the various benches and ledges to enjoy the views. You'll see people snapping pics. And you'll even see vendors in the parking lot selling Native American art and jewelry, drinks, and snacks. While I wasn't there during sunset, I hear it's a spectacular place to come at that time. read more

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Other reviews say it all. Best views of the area and unparalleled sunsets. Good parking; some merch and jewelry vendors are there. It's not good if you're unsteady on your feet unless you want the views from the parking lots, which aren't bad. Unsteady feet beware. It's not Chiricahua, but it's pretty good and a hairpin corner steep drive. Lots of hiking from easy to over-the-mountains is available. Drive slowly; it's a narrow passage with bad visibility in some areas. read more

The perfect spot to visit on a trip to Phoenix! While it is a bit of a drive out of the city, it is 100% worth it to get a view of all of Phoenix. The drive up can be narrow at times and some people will come flying down the mountain. Once you get up the mountain, there are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the view. The parking can be limited during the peak visiting times so make sure to plan accordingly with plenty of time in case that is an issue. If you are visiting Phoenix, you must stop here!! read more

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Dobbins Lookout, Phoenix, AZ, Nov, 2025. Driving up to the Dobbins Lookout was a highlight of our recent vacation in Phoenix. This lookout is in South Mountain Park and Preserve (see my separate Yelp entry), which is one of the nation's largest municipally-owned parks. You can hike up to the lookout on the Holbert Trail, which is reputably a steep uphill on a rocky trail. We took the easier option -- the 5.5 mile road that takes about 25-30 minutes to drive up. This scenic, gradually climbing road is shared by motorized vehicles and mountain bicycles, and is an adventure in itself. It features blind corners, narrow sections, and some treacherous drop-offs. The lookout is at 2,330', the highest point in the park that is open to the public. The highlight is the panoramic 360-degree views of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Camelback Mountain, and the Sonoran Desert. There are also old masonry structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a shaded structure, benches, and a primitive restroom. There are other lookouts to check-out nearby, and you might consider going up early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and sunrise or sunset. Entrance gates are open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., although hiking trails are still open after 7 p.m. and you can exit until 11 p.m. Admission and parking is free. read more

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One of my favorite lookouts in all of Phoenix! Doesn't matter the day, I'm always floored by how vast our city is and how beautiful the sky can be. The hike to Dobbins Lookout via Holbert isn't a joke though, so go prepared, bring lots of water, and wear sun protection. read more

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Dobbins Lookout is always a vibe. The feeling you get when you reach the top is so relaxing and beautiful. I have lived in AZ all my life and this is a place I can never get bored of visiting no matter how many times come. The views are amazing, great for all occasions, take a camera as you will want to take pictures. read more

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Dobbins Lookout at South Mountain offers one of the best panoramic views of the Greater Phoenix area, and this visit was made even more special by a lineup of classic cars. The combination of timeless vehicles and stunning desert vistas created a truly memorable morning. At nearly 2,330 feet, Dobbins Lookout provides breathtaking 360-degree views that showcase the sprawling city below, framed by rugged desert landscapes. The drive up is scenic, winding through South Mountain's beautiful trails and cacti-filled surroundings, and the atmosphere at the top is serene yet lively, especially with unique events like vintage car meetups. This spot is perfect for early morning adventures, sunset lovers, or anyone wanting to take in Arizona's natural beauty with a dash of cityscape charm. Whether you're here for the views, the photo opportunities, or the peaceful vibes, Dobbins Lookout never disappoints. Saluti read more

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Sure you could drive straight to the top & lookout, but the full hike was absolutely worth it Starting at Scorpion Gulch, a neat glimpse into history of the area, beautiful horses, and an easy flat path to the trailhead Ample parking, well signed- a 4&half miles out and back path with lots of views, some challenging incline, but spacious trails to navigate Top is a bit crowded from everyone who just drives up, but house was a neat view read more

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I will say : the best sunset view in Phoenix ! You can drive along this spot and see downtown Phoenix from there ! Thinks to know before drive up / South mountain preserve closes the main gate at 7pm Several points to by before get there You can keep going 3+ miles and go up the renovated Gila View From south mountain towers read more

Dobbins Lookout - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Nice drive, great view. Scorpion gulch was interesting to walk around. The road up to the top was fun, I imagine it would be great fun on a motorcycle. read more

Up we go, we watch the city below--in a perfect view! I've been wanting to visit Dobbins Lookout for quite some time, and finally, I got the chance. Standing at the top with an elevation of 2,330 ft, the view is absolutely breathtaking and panoramic. It offers a stunning 360-degree view of the sprawling city below, making you feel like you're truly on top of the world. For someone who loves high-altitude places, Dobbins Lookout is one for the books. There is a structure--a large stone shelter with a big opening that serves as a lookout; after all, that's why this place is called such. Behind this, there's a sundial pointing to various landmarks around the city. There are also concrete benches where you can sit and be engrossed with the scenery, or you can sit or stand on one of the big rocks. We came here mid-afternoon. I'm pretty sure this will be a perfect spot to watch the sunset. Just a heads up, the restroom here does not have a door or running water. Make sure to use the toilet before driving up here. Dobbins Lookout, built in 1933 by Civilian Conservation Corps during Pres. Franklin Roosevelt administration, was named after J.C. Dobbins, Chairman of the Phoenix City Planning Commission. read more

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Great drive. Absolutely beautiful. Wish the city would employ someone to drive between the lookouts and kick out the selfish rude idiots who blast mariachi music. read more

This has to be one of the most beautiful and most scenic locations in all of Phoenix. From this vantage point, you can see the entire valley and the city of Phoenix below. This is the perfect place to come for amazing views, especially to watch the sun set. I came about 2 hours before sunset and what an amazing sight to watch the sun slowly settling down into the horizon behind the mountains. If you go to Phoenix, this has to be the top of everyone's list. The experience and sight is something you will always remember :) read more

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Hiking up to Dobbins Lookout via Holbert Trail is a solid workout with a great payoff. The trail is about 2 miles each way and has a steady incline--not too hard, but enough to get your legs working. The best time to go, though, is the sunset. The view from the top is wide open and looks out over all of Phoenix. When the sun goes down, it's pretty awesome. It can get a little crowded, but there's space to spread out. You can drive up too, but hiking makes the view feel more earned. Just bring a flashlight if you're coming down after dark. read more

Our friends took us to the top of South Mountain Park aka Dobbins Lookout one afternoon. The drive up to South Mountain Park was smooth due to the roads being impeccably paved. The winding roads were also wide enough to accommodate cars driving up or down at the same time. It's hard to think this well-maintained park is free to the public. At the top, we could see Phoenix in its entirety, which was super cool. Dobbins Lookout is easily accessed by car without any hiking. read more

Dobbins Lookout - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Beautiful views of PHX. The drive to the top is about 20-30 minutes and is very scenic. Just keep your eyes on the road if you're driving as it's a long way down. Wait until you get to the top, park your vehicle, and overlook all of PHX. So beautiful. Just so you know, there are restrooms at the top, but not very private. There's a half wall separating the stalls but no doors. You're basically peeing into a hole with anyone to see you. Also, no running water....so maybe use the bathroom before you drive up. There's an old structure at the top that you can go in and rest or stay out of the sun. But the real view is looking over the valley. read more

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Beautiful views of the city. Might be hard to find parking on the weekends and towards sunset. read more

Dobbins Lookout - Sunset at Dobbins Lookout - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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You want a great view of Phoenix and the complete Valley of the Sun? - this is it. At an altitude of 2,300 feet, on a clear day you can see almost forever. East, West, North, South! Beautiful - this is perfect for nature lovers, picnickers, hikers and all! The view of this cauldron-like landscape surrounded by mountains is a magnificent experience of the Southwests characteristics and beauty. A must visit if in Phoenix! read more

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This place had some fantastic views. You go up a winding ride to the top, which was 2,330 feet above the city. There are a lot of different places to explore and definitely a lot of photo opportunities. The only reason I rate it 4/5 instead of 5/5 is the bathrooms ... people weren't kidding when they said there were no doors! I have Crohn's though so I was definitely glad they had them, but I also definitely pinched my mask on tighter because it smelled really badly. It did have TP though, but no sinks. Overall though this provided a really nice view of Phoenix so I would go back again sometime for pictures. read more

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I have to give this a 3 rating; the views are beautiful but when you're up there the traffic and people are INSANE. We were there (for our 3rd time) last Sunday 4:30pm or so, and it was so crowded that people were parked down the side of the road from the parking lot, also in the disabled parking stalls (without any indication they belonged there) - basically wherever they could put their car. It was extremely unsafe for anyone trying to maneuver their own car and for people walking. Phoenix Parks Department, you need to have staff up there whether or not it's the weekend. The scofflaws and bad drivers at the top make it very hard to enjoy the beautiful scenery. (And yes, I will be contacting the Parks Department personally as well.) read more

Beautiful views of Downtown Phoenix from the Dobbins Lookout in South Mountain. You can either hike like we did, a moderate hike of 3.4 miles in and out or take the scenic drive up for the views. Prime spot for views of the valley and to watch the sunset. Highly recommended if you are visiting Phoenix and looking for a quick outdoors or leisure activity. read more

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This moderate trail is not for the weak so first timers start as early as possible to avoid the heat. Me and my gf came here during our vacation in PHX and we did have a great time, the only bad part was that we chose the hottest day of the week to come give it a try. After walking half way through the trail for about an hour we decided to walk back once we were half way done with our water , then drove up to the top of the mountain. The view up top is very breathtaking and worth ever second, truly a memory I will never forget. read more

This is at the top / end of the road into South Mountain Park. We started from the south entrance. To condition drivers to going slow, the first half mile or so has speed humps ever 200 yards or so. It serves its purpose, so you are not speeding as you start climbing. There were a couple of points where it looks like they do (or did) collect fees for entrance, but no one was on duty the day we went (Presidents' Day, so maybe that was special...?). The total length of the road is just over 5 miles. The first mile or so is flat, but after that you are ascending along the side of the mountain. On the way up you are on the 'inside' of the curves. On the way down, you are on the 'outside', occasionally with no guard rails. If you have a fear of heights, this might not be the road for you. I didn't think it was too bad, though. At the top, there is an intersection for various points (the TV towers, etc.). Signs are well-marked for the lookout, though. We were initially skeptical of whether we'd find a parking spot, but we got one just before we had to exit the loop-lot and circle back. Later, as we walked back to the car, more spots had opened up. I was only here briefly, so I have no idea how consistently it is crowded / open re: parking. We walked from the car up to the first observation platform. You also pass some people selling (Indian, I assumed) jewelry. The first platform has good views. The slightly lower and larger stone structure probably has similar views but we did not walk down there. It was a sunny day and we could readily see all of Phoenix spread out in the valley below us. We didn't stay that long, but the views were worth the drive. In the summer, I'm guessing this place is quite hot. read more

Dobbins Lookout - View of Phoenix #2 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Visitors do not require tickets for entry. The location can be reached via a 20-minute uphill drive, with certain areas lacking outer railings, thus it's important to drive cautiously. The breathtaking sunset view is incredibly peaceful, and if you stay a little longer after sunset, you'll be able to admire the twinkling lights of Phoenix and Scottsdale's urban landscape. read more

Beautiful lookout point - steep and winding drive up, and sometimes terrifying on the way down after sunset...but the views are worth it! You get unobstructed views of downtown PHX, Papago, and Camelback. The city is not as visually close as I thought it was, but you can't get this view elsewhere (I suppose this technically applicable to any view). During sunset, you can see the sun slowly disappear behind the rest of South Mountain. Don't leave too quickly after the sun sets, because even after the sun is gone, it throws beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and blue into the sky. Paved to the lookout building, and scramble further down on a rudimentary trail if you want to get a closer and more private view of the city. Photoshoot hot spot for high school kids, couples, and newlyweds alike. Restrooms here as well. read more

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Wow what a view! Definitely worth going for sunset. It was packed, and had to get creative with parking. Show up early if you want easier parking. Incredible views. The drive down in the dark will get your heart rate going! read more

Dobbins Lookout - Dobbins Lookout @ sunset - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The drive up had a lot of curves. Definitely take your time. The view was amazing. We saw people sitting, having lunch and talking. It was so peaceful. Definitely a place to check out. read more

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Cool views, beautiful drive! We got engaged up here, perfect. Can be busy on weekends but we went during a weekday and it wasn't too bad- found parking pretty easily but has a history of being busy. There are little side parts on the road to stop at too. read more

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Hands down, THE best place to watch the sunset over PHX. A drive up South Mountain through winding roads leads one to this epic lookout. One doesn't even need to walk far to pick a spot, and there's a lot of spots on the lookout to choose from! It's cool to see how vast the city is, compared to other cities in the country, and how the natural landscape surrounds it :') If I ever move to PHX (which will be never LOLOLOL) or visit again, I'd come here very often! read more

Dobbins Lookout - May 2022 sunset IG: @ohmyono - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Dobbins lookout is a great free activity in the Phoenix area. The views are phenomenal and the drive up the mountain is lots of fun. read more

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Dobbin's Lookout is a lovely, not-so-hidden gem to catch a beautiful, Phoenix sunrise or sunset. The further you are from the Dobbins monument, the more tranquil it is sanz crowds with benches. One can get to lookout via one of the hiking trails (Holbert, East Mineral), which are about four miles roundtrip. However, most people choose to drive to Dobbins. There is one driving lane up to the lookout and one down, both of which are narrow and steep for about 20 minutes. Parking at the top is free but it can be hard to get one of the 50 or so spots, so plan your trip accordingly. Bathrooms are located at the lookout. read more

Dobbins Lookout - Dobbins Lookout sunset - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Beautiful views from the top and on a clear day you can see for miles! It's a five mile drive to the top on a winding road so be careful read more

Dobbins Lookout - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Great place to see south Phoenix! You can drive up here. It might be a bit dangerous at night time but just go really slow. It's a nice view! Okay place to take pictures. read more

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It's a beautiful lookout spot to see Phoenix. It was a narrow and windy road to reach the peak. The time I ascended to the top, the sun was started leaning on the western horizon. The elongated shadows of the south mountains was casted on the valley . God started painting the Western sky with changing shades of red. Night gently dropped the curtain and stars started twinkle as the city lights lit up the valley. The moon showed up with her bright face to lighten up the sky. It was a gorgeous view to enjoy. Come early and stay longer to see and appreciate the beauty. It will be a great night to remember. read more

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Dobbins Lockout is worthy of a trip to see. It's worthy of many trips. An improvement project was just completed and the lookout has recently been reopened to the public. The view is breathtaking. You can hike up to it or take a long winding drive up the mountain. I decided to take the drive and found that interesting enough. There were a couple of places where you could pull of the road and take time to appreciate the view. It is pet friendly and a beautiful spot to take photos or just relax. read more

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What a gift and an unexpected treasure. This is a great option for people who can't hike but one incredible views. You drive for about 20 minutes up to the top of South Mountain. It is completely free and located at the top of the largest municipal park in the United States. And it's beautiful. We went at sunrise and there were only a few people there. It was quiet and majestic. This review is not doing it justice. All I can say is that it is the perfect place to take a visitor or just a wonderful place to watch the sunrise or the sunset. It's 100% worth the trip. It cost absolutely nothing. You can hike, bike or drive all the way there. You can take a picnic if you want. You can propose there if you want. It's got parking. Are you sold yet? Actually, I shouldn't make this review too good because I sort of like that it's not overly crowded. :-) read more

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1. The sky was beautiful on a gloomy day. I absolutely love it. It was dark and the view of the sunset was very minimal, but the cloudy sky was majestic on a gloomy day. 2. The drive to the top is very scenic. There is no need to rush. However, it is important to be careful because it is easy to take your eyes off the little road. You will not be bored once you make it to the mountain at the entrance because the remaining drive to the top is blissful. 3. There is a lookout, which is a little building known as the lookout that you can stay in the shade and stay protected from the element --- sun or rain. It is quite picturesque! 4. There is a little hike nearby, and it is very short, though it is not very obvious. You may have to look hard because the trail is not marked. 5. There is limited parking at the top. I recommend patrons to be mindful of this. 6. I recommend drivers to be safe as you're driving up or down. There are sharp corners. Have fun! read more

Dobbins Lookout - God is hiding behind the cloud. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The views and sights here are amazing from the moment you arrive at the gates to the very top of the lookout. I planned on getting here towards closing on a summer weekday and it wasn't all that packed. There's plenty of parking once you make your way up the winding roads which I suggest you don't do anything over 15 mph for safety. Check it out! read more

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Quite a long curved driving from north entrance of South Mountain Park. Great panoramic view to Phoenix city, better with a clear sky. Visited in early May, already very hot, exposed under high noon sun, no clouds, the city was in haze. Seems it would be ideal to come up at sunrise/sunset time, or at least with some cloud shade, probably in spring or fall. And at normal peak time, there were full of people around - bad for shooting pictures too. read more

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What a fun winding drive with a lovely view. Looking out on the city is very calming once you're up and settled in. PLEASE please please pick up after yourselves. Lots of people will bring a lunch to enjoy with their family, friends, loved ones. There are so much trash on the ground and in the lookout building that it breaks my heart. Keep Arizona beautiful. read more