Fork 'em, Devils. If you attended ASU, you have probably climbed "A" Mountain. It's a rite of passage as a Sun Devil. Did you even attend ASU if you haven't stepped foot here? It's a tradition for me to hike this mountain on New Year's Day. You got to start the new year heading in the direction you want to go: upwards and forward. Hayden Butte Preserves is a very doable and easy hike in the heart of Tempe. Come for the sights. read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - City view. - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Pretty easy hike. Trail could use some maintenance- missing/washed out steps. Not too crowded at 8am on a warm Sunday. No bugs or overgrown shrubs. Rails toward the top for safety and easy to grab/hold onto for stability. We finished in 33 mins and that includes a couple stops to take in the views and catch our breath after a set of steps. read more

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One of the most convenient and popular hikes in Tempe is the "A" mountain, also known as Hayden Butte Preserve that is located in downtown Tempe right near the "River." And located along the side of ASU football you will find this hike that features the 60 foot A that has been on this butte since 1938. The Leonard Monte Trail begins behind the Tempe transportation Center and the Hayden Butte trail is located behind Tempe Mission Palms. Both of these trails come together on a paved path that gets your heart moving then a series of wooden steps and rock climbing! At the top you will be rewarded with beautiful views from this short heart pumping hike! Note the trails becomes busy on nice winter weekends. For summer heat, the trail is not shaded. read more

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Randomly discovered this gem when deciding what to do on a Sunday morning. Due to a little arts festival, getting to the pay lot was a little tricky, but it's right at the base. The presence is very well kept and clean. It's an easy-ish one. I have little legs so I had to use the rails to climb a few times. Great views from multiple lookouts. I appreciate the local organizations who work to ensure the piece of history is preserved. read more

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One of the best bang for your buck hikes in the valley. Super short, challenging on the way up. Your legs will be burning. Affectionately known as "A mountain" due to the large letter A at the top. It really should be referred to as "A Stairmaster". One year my honey and I hiked up this 30 times for the A mountain challenge. It was fun, we won a T Shirt lol. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a short hike with great views that is so accessible in the confines of downtown Tempe. We brought a friend visiting from out of the country here on 11/23/24 and he lucked out with one of the best sunsets I've even seen up there. The view to the west is perfect for catching some beautiful sunsets. read more

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This is a great inner city work out. Mt husband and I will occasionally do this for exercise. Tonight it was to watch the sunset. read more

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This small little nature preserve is on the ASU campus and is made up of a couple of small trails and hills next to the stadium. There are plenty of signs along the trails that inform you of the plants and critters you may see along the way. Your reward when you get to the top of the hills is an amazing view of the city and surrounding areas. This was a great way to spend some time and get in some fresh air during my stay in Tempe. read more

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I actually love this hike for those of us who hate crowds and need a quick 1- 1/12 hrs hike to clear our heads. It's therapeutic honestly!!! Going here early mornings are best to beat school Children crowds. We ran into one school field trip crowd but, they were up and down so fast that you couldn't even get up all of the way before they were already coming down. We did the senior walk up and the kid run down. I like that there is parking in the lot for$3 hr or $15 for the entire day which makes it convenient. (Accepted payments are Cc and debit cards only) Overall, a great way to start your day before it starts to get hot out by 9AM. read more

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Quick hike in a great part of Tempe- close to a lot of shops and restaurants. The view leaves a bit to be desired- you aren't looking out over nature like some of the other options in the area- you are mostly looking at Tempe with some distant mountains. And airplanes are constantly flying overhead. The path is partially paved but is steep at times and I slipped a couple times in my tennis shoes. Round trip takes about 30 minutes. There isn't a great spot at the top to lookout as the trail ends at a locked gate at the top of some stairs (however about 50% of the hikers jumped the fence..). read more

(From February, 2022) In the middle of downtown Tempe, you're tempted to go up to the top for the spectacular views of this preserve. From the bottom, it's a long way to the top, until you start walking and you get yourself a nice pace. Then as you walk, you'll feel that sharp pain in your legs. What is it? That's the steepness of the hill beating you down. Do you turn around and say enough? Or do you power through it? Of course you power through and keep climbing. Then comes the rocks and uneven pavement. After, you're up top thinking you're the king/queen of your universe! The view is breathtaking; suddenly you realize, how am I gonna get down? The climb was well worth it with the exception of trash/debris on the pathway. Make sure you wear proper footwear, some people tried walking this in sandals; that ain't gonna cut it! read more

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One of my favorite places to hike. I'm a beginner so it's kind of steep but I put my head phones on and keep it moving read more

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The views make this short steep hike totally worth it .. sunrise or sunset you'll want to be on top for the 360 degree views .. watch the airplanes taking off and landing at the nearby Phoenix Airport, ASU campus, the shuttered flour mill, City of Tempe, Tempe Town Lake and the mountains that surround Phoenix .. its breathtaking! The parking situation is tricky.. I usually just pay the $3 per hour and park in the lot at the foot of the trail on Mill Ave & Rio Salado. I'd rather not get a ticket by parking somewhere unauthorized or getting my vehicle towed. Plus there's always parking in this lot. The hike is steep, straight up for most of the hike until about midway where you encounter the stairs.. steep stairs but there's a rail to hold onto. There are places to stop and rest on your way to the top and it's a fairly short hike up. This is a busy trail. read more

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I went for a jog in downtown Tempe Arizona. I ran past the entrance to this mountain which is off of Mill Street and decided to hike up it. The climb is pretty steep but it is a paved road and very easy to navigate. Once you get to the top of the paved road they will be a lookout with scenic views. If you want to get to the very top of the mountain you will have to navigate a stair case of sorts all the way to the top. You will have to watch your footing in some sections because it is very uneven rock. Once you get to the top there is a gate which was padlocked when I went. I'm only 5'3" and it was very easy to get over. The top has gorgeous views of Tempe and Phoenix. I only give it four out of five stars is because there was some graffiti and trash. Overall it was a very easy hike with gorgeous views. read more

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This place will always just be known as "A" mountain to me. I grew up in Tempe and ran for the track team at Tempe High. Part of practice for us was running from school (on Broadway Rd) all the the past ASU and up this mountain and back. It was brutal. But I will always have fond memories of those days despite the heat we had to run in. Hayden Butte Preserve is a really popular destination for Tempe folks. It has several short paths you can take. The Hohokam were the prehistoric inhabitants of this area back in the and drew tons of petroglyphs on this mountain. Charles Hayden opened the flour mill and a ferry service at the base of this butte back in the 1800's. You get a great shot of the flour mill when you climb up the mountain. ASU has the traditional Lantern Walk to the "A" and rival schools like the Tucson Kitty Kats love to come paint the "A" to their school colors. I personally like to come up here to gaze at the Valley at night. Points of interest to look at are Tempe Town Lake and the Valley Metro light rail. You also get a great shot of ASU campus and Sun Devil Stadium. It's always a nice reminder for me of where all my money went. read more

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Excellent place to go for a walk along side or to the top of the mountain. Beautiful views from start to finish. I recommend taking water on your walk. read more

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I have seen the ASU A on the mountain since 1998 when i first moved here after the Marine Corps, never hiked it or knew there was a path until my Yelp Friend Joyce checked in here. Obviously had to follow in her footsteps with my daughter. Real easy hike that took less than a hour with many breaks for pictures and me catching my breath. Fun quick outing for the whole family. Now off to another Joyce recommendation for lunch read more

Very nice hike up a meager hill The steps are steep, gravel sharp and rigid I was grateful they had handrails to hold on to The climb will get your heart going but it appears al ages were able to do the hike to the top of the hill. read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

A-Mountain... parking in the lot below has a price... venture over to the beach park to add to your quick hike... even make it more challenging by walking up and down and run up for training! read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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1. The view is always stunning. You will never, never, never ever be disappointed when you reach to the top. It's astonishing spectacular to just sit there, sipping on your water. It's not uncommon to just chill at the top for a long, long time --- even after the sunset has ended. 2. The best time of the year to visit this majestic place in Tempe is winter. Why? The weather is cooler. There are festive lights until early January. Therefore it is not a bad idea to visit after Thanksgiving or in December. Once January comes around, the lights are taken out. Time your visit! 3. This hiking trail is on the mountain. The mountain is right across the beautiful river and an abandoned mill. It is adjacent to downtown tempe which you can walk into quite easily. 4. This place is very touristy, very busy. Be mindful of people because there are many of them! Happy hiking! read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Beautiful place on earth - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

If this hike didn't have such good views, it would probably be a one-star. The good: Hiking at sunset, you get a fantastic view of Tempe. This is the time to do it. They have several overlook spots and generally a lot of space to lounge. I would recommend this as a cheap date if you both own good, supportive shoes. It's also super close to the light rail. The bad: This hike is super short and alternately very steep or very easy. It's not a workout but it's also not highly accessible. It's the worst of both worlds. Depending on where you start, the trail is not the most clearly marked. The ugly: The parking situation. read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Sunset - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Great little hike if you're in the mood for a quick booty burner! Beautiful view of Tempe/ASU from the top. It is pretty well maintained and I hardly ever see trash or vandalism up there. Keep in mind it is quite steep and will definitely get the heart rate going! Wear exercise shoes, not sandals!! Also, on a COOL day an athletic dog can enjoy the hike with you. read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Good little hike to the bluff area that overlooks Tempe to watch the sun set over downtown. Kids were able to make the pathway to the top and it was cool to watch the planes fly right over you to the airport. read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Sunset over downtown - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I consider myself pretty active but this hike kicked my butt. It is very steep and I found myself getting winded and fighting to catch my breath but the views were amazing. Shocked that some people don't consider this a workout.. while it is short, I thought it was pretty intense. I personally wouldn't recommend this for everyone. You have to have the mental and physical stamina. Would definitely do it again! read more

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Nice hike. It's Mostly paved and has stairs but there are some rocky spots towards the top. If you have Little kids they may struggle.

If you're looking for a awesome experience with a challenge accommodated with a amazing view A-Mountian is it!!! This hike has a steep paved incline to Start then a typical mountain hike in the end, if physicality is not your strong point no worries just when you think you can't go another step it's over!! there's also rails and stopping points along the way this is a Great for tourism but please remember it's challenging for beginners read more

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A Mountain is my favorite mountain to hike. The hiking trail isn't intimidating as some of the other mountains in the area. It's family and pet friendly. A great place to get a good cardio while enjoying some awesome views of the city. read more

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This place provides a very short hike. There is one main trail at the beginning but then it splits off a little later. When the trail splits then there is a longer lower trail with a short steeper trail at the same time. The two trails meet up again at the asphalt area. The asphalt area is quite steep. The beginning of the asphalt starts lower at the end of the longer less steep trail. The higher shorter steeper trail meets along the asphalt where it had already been going up since lower on the mountain. I haven't seen any wild animals on Hayden Butte. The planes can be seen quite well from the top of the Butte. It has a good view of the river for now until there is more buildings. Due to the buildings already there, most of the river is hard to see already. It is a good short hike. At the mid point, there is a seating area and a rock wall. read more

This iconic Tempe preserve better known as 'A' Mountain is centrally located right in downtown Tempe and in the heart of ASU campus, thus given "A' for that reason. Spotted easily by its 60 FT concrete letter on the side of its peak. The trail going up is fairly negotiable with short challenging areas that include handrails for those needing it. The days were still warm and we opted to go early morning. One young hiker, half way up, had overheated and they had called the paramedics. So be prepared and bring plenty of water. Its a nice quick hike .. if you dont want to drive too far out of town as well as a butte-e-full view of the surrounding city. We're fortunate to have a mountain right dab in the middle of our DT... so peeps take advantage of this 'Butte' ! :-DII read more

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"Fight, Devils Down The Field Fight With Your Might and Don't Ever Yield Long May Our Colors Outshine All Others Echo From The Buttes, Give 'Em Hell Devils!" Oh "A Mountain," I didn't even know you had another name even though it was kind of hinted at in the Fight Song... Oh well! Anyways, I'm surprised there's even a Yelp listing for this tiny hill! Since I'm feeling nostalgic, I'll write of my days in BIO100 when our class was forced to hike this little mountain and my lab partner slipped and stabbed her hand on some cactus. I wonder if I still have the picture... So the hike is fast and easy like a drunk bachelorette in Las Vegas but you're not coming here for exercise --- You're coming here because ASU made you or because you want to catch the amazing views. Parking is plenty and there are numerous of good eats nearby. Sun Devil or not, come visit this landmark of good old Tempe... unless you're a Mildcat with a paint bucket. Maroon and gold for life! read more

In the daytime when the temperature is blowing past a hundred degrees, I'm not climbing a small mountain. But first thing in the morning (before coffee!), I'll give it a try and experience the view. Only 72 degrees at this point. No excuses. Street parking and a pay lot at the base of the Butte. Clearly marked trails, the first half of which is pretty well paved. There's a base station at that point with a pretty good view of Tempe and you can feel accomplished if you get this far. But hey, I was feeling a little guilty for that plate of chili cheese fries from last night and so I pressed onwards. The top half of the Butte has been laid out with concrete and railroad tie steps that take you to about 95%. At the point, there's something close to a path of hard scrabble rocks with a hand railing that will take you right to the top. From the top, a great view of Tempe and the various sky scrapers that are all shorter than this "mountain." You also get a very good view of the field over at Phoenix Sky Harbor with the occasional aircraft zooming overhead. It's a decent incline and a nice hike in a mostly controlled environment that's busy enough to feel safe and it's close to development and services. The trailhead is at 1180 feet and the summit is at 1495 feet. That's a decent climb for a city boy. read more

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If you're like me and you enjoy hiking and scenery, prefer mass transit to driving and have time management issues, Hayden Butte Preserve is the perfect spot. Even though it's in a city, steps from the light rail, it has plenty of views, cacti and rocks and it just takes minutes to get to the good stuff. read more

A quick urban hike is what this little mountain offers. Located right in Tempe, my friend and I finally made the short climb to the top on our latest visit here over the weekend. It literally only took about ten minutes to the summit. There is a mixture of dirt, asphalt, and rocks along the way and the first half is steeper than I expected. This is a popular spot so expect lots of other people of all ages, but the views are fabulous and make the short trek up the mountain worth the effort. read more

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While visiting Arizona, a couple friends and I stopped here. Pros: Nice scenery, great for a quick photo op, rails on the trail, clear path for most of the hike, 1 mile Cons: No signage to let you know if you're on a beginner trail or expert trail, once you get to the top you can't really enjoy the view unless you travel beyond the "gated off" area. Overall, it was a nice workout. I'm nowhere near in shape, but was able to complete the hike. read more

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Nice quick hike for the am. Nothing too crazy but the incline can be a tad much but overall great hike for beginners and can get a great view of the tempe/Phoenix metro area read more

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It's a short hike, it's a steep little incline, the views are amazing at night time and morning especially from where ever angle you start at! If you stay a little longer on the top you will be able to see airplanes coming in to land in the airport! Definitely a view read more

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If you are in downtown Tempe near Mill Avenue and the Salt River then this is a great little spot to do a very short hike that goes straight uphill and then straight back down. It's kind a like going to the gym and using the stair mill only outside so not quite as boring. You get great views of pretty much the entire Phoenix area until the nothing of the desert begins from up top of the mountain. The only real bummer is whenever you're in Tempe parking is a pain in the butt. You have to find a meter that doesn't have a ticket saying that you can't park there but your credit card in and remember to get back because people ticket and tell you in no time at all. PS: don't park anywhere that says only for the customers of that place. Not even for five minutes or you will come out and your car will be towed. read more

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Not going to big on this. Nice hike. Good for quads and calfs. $3/hr parking. Very nice view in the evening. And surprisingly not too dark since everything around is lit up. read more

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This place is a large hill (almost 1500 feet high) located in the middle of Tempe that is great for hiking! I saw it as I passed by on the train and am glad I checked it out. It is a short hike but provides a good workout as it is a bit steep, especially as you get closer to the top. At the very top is an antenna station that provides a great spot to get excellent views of the city. read more

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This is a nice hike. I'm [very] far from being in-shape, but hiking Hayden Butte Preserve is very manageable for me. There's a good mix of flat trails, stairs, and steep inclines. Another good part... there are plenty of rest areas too! If you want to get a good workout in while hiking something less intimidating than Camelback Mountain, this is worth checking out. read more

You can either hike the rugged switchback trail or the paved straight-up vertical one. Take ya pick! The trails are super clean and parking was very easy. I didn't see any snakes so 5 stars. read more

Hayden Butte Preserve - Wow. Inspiration. Believe. Breathe. Set your intention. - Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona