Super easy hike up to Hole-in-the-Rock Plenty of parking in the area with trails up either side to the money shot. At 11a in the morning, there were plenty of people around to follow up. When you get through the smallish opening, you are greeted with vistas of the city in the background. We stopped on our way out of town and it was the perfect spot to reflect about our time in Phoenix. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This place is sooooo crowded. It's a beautiful view and parking is plentiful although you may need to walk a bit more from a parking lot. But from the base of the "trail" to the top, it was really only .25 and very easy. There were a few spots that could be tricky for older people but overall, this was a very easy and a well graveled walk up. I came on a Monday afternoon and there were crowds already. I couldn't imagine enjoying it when it's more crowded on a Thursday/Friday/Sat kind of afternoon. The views are different from the back to the front. So make sure you actually go through the hike and see the other side! Not a hike worth calling a hike. More like a mini adventure climb if you will. read more

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Hole-in-the-Rock is a MUST SEE scenic attraction and easy hike for anyone visiting Phoenix. Located in Papago Park, you follow signs inside the park to find parking. There is a small parking lot directly below the Rock, but good luck finding parking especially if visiting around sunset. There are also many parking lots nearby a short walk away. Picnics are also a must, as there are ample picnic tables to chill and take in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Here is information about the hike itself to the top of the rock, directly from the City of Phoenix's website: Trailhead Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Trail Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Difficulty: Easy Access: Start at the Papago Park Visitor Center and proceed to Hole-in-the-Rock Trail. Description: The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail is a very short natural dirt and step path that wraps around Hole-in-the-Rock Butte to a large viewing hole in the butte. This short trail wraps around Hole-in-the-Rock Butte to a large wind eroded hole. This very popular trail guides users to a large hole in the butte where visitors can look over the Phoenix metropolitan area. The portion of trail along the backside of the butte incorporates a series of steps. Distance: 0.2 miles Elevation Change: 200 feet As expected on a Saturday around sunset, the hole in the rock was super crowded, but it was still very possible to find seating to take in the sunset. The view was absolutely breathtaking. Absolutely 100% recommend this free but stunning view, at the low cost of hiking 0.2 miles! Reference: https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/parks/activities-facilities/trails/papago-park/papago-trails.html read more

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Easy hike for those wanting a birds eye of the city and reportedly gorgeous at sunset! It was busy even when we went in the afternoon but still found a few places to sit and take in the view. We were able to hike up and back with a fairly long time for pictures and sitting all within about a half hour. Parking is plentiful as well, as people are coming and going quite often. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Hole-in-the-Rock is an easy must see and do when visiting Phoenix/Tempe. It is situated in Papago Park with easy trails, ample picnic areas, and plenty of free parking. It is conveniently next to the Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens so WIN-WIN. From the parking lot, it is an easy 5-10 minute uphill trail walk to the Hole with breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Some opportunities for childrent to try scrambling up some easy rockfaces on the trail as well. Don't miss this great stop! read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Hole-in-the-Rock, Phoenix, Nov 22, 2025. This is a short "hike" on a natural dirt and step path in the urban Papago Park in Phoenix, leading to the Hole-in-the-Rock geological formation. The Hole Is a natural opening/arch in red rock butte, offering views of the Phoenix skyline and the surrounding desert landscape. Many people come for sunrise and sunset views. Access to the park is easy. Parking is plentiful. Admission is free. AllTrails classifies this hike as an easy 0.3 mile out-and-back hike with a 45' elevation gain. The city of Phoenix has it as a 0.2 mile trail with a 200' elevation change. My Fitbit measured 0.72 miles with 89' elevation gain. I'm glad that my husband and I experienced this natural site, but I can't say that we loved it. There were hoards of people, kids, and dogs on leash on the mid-morning that we were there. The official path and signage wasn't obvious so people were climbing up to the Hole from the front, back, and sides. Once at the Hole, it was difficult to take unobstructed photos as others were also trying to take their selfies. The trail also had a few steep slippery natural gravel spots. We later hiked the longer (only 0.8 mile) Big Butte Loop Trail, also in Papago Park -- and much preferred that trail. read more

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If you want epic desert views without the three-hour strenuous hike, Hole in the Rock is your spot! This is an iconic, short walk (calling it a "hike" feels like a lie, as it only takes about 5-10 minutes to reach the "top") that leads you right into a massive sandstone portal. The view looking out over the Papago's oasis' with the city skyline in the distance is stunning. It's a great place to sit in the shade of the "cave" and catch a breeze. A few things to note before you go: Go to the Backside: Don't try to scale the steep front face if you're not surefooted. Follow the smooth path that wraps around the back of the butte for an easier walk up. Parking & Crowds: This is a family favorite so parking is a bit of a scramble, especially at sunset, so arrive early or prepare for a walk. And lastly, Footwear: While it's a very short excursion, the pathway is loose and the rock inside the hole is smooth. We saw a lot of people slip and fall because they were in less-than-ideal footwear. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - View from the top of the - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Great place to see the sunset, but be prepared to share it with 200 of your new besties. But seriously, it's worth it. Go! read more

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Any age or abilities you can enjoy whether you're at the bottom or the top. Mind your step and be sure to take in the moment. Don't forget to take pics! read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Couldn't find the parking kept going into the botanical gardens but you turn in where the phoenix zoo is. It's very easy and if you have knee problems take a walking stick. Way too crowded for me I want to try the mountain across the way next time. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hole in rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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If you want a great view and only have 30 minutes and not a huge hiker, this is your hike. Quick 10 minutes hike from the parking lot and you make it to the top! Great views of Phoenix. Honestly, it gets packed after 9am read more

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Every bit as fun as it looks. Easy, simple hike for most anyone . . . families with small children, couples, seniors and hikers, although for hardcore hikers it may not much of a challenge. Adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo. Plenty of free parking made up of several small lots scattered around the base of the park. read more

Easy parking, easy hike, gorgeous view. It was HOT .. 90° at 7am ... got out early enough that there was lots of open parking and spots to sit and enjoy the view. Keep to the designated trail, take your trash out with you. Enjoy all the views the desert has to offer. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - What a view! - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This was an amazing stop on our trip- the hike wasn't too bad . It is great for beginners. The moccasin is not too far from the airport. Parking was very convenient read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Short little hike, great for photo op. There is also a playground, picnic tables,, and easy parking.

I haven't been here in years. I forgot how nice it is to watch sunset here. That being said, it'll be busy in the hole in the rock at that time. Other parts of the day might be less busy but sunset truly is the best time. If you're a tourist this is a great and easy thing to check out. I would not call this a hike, it's a short walk around the rock up to the hole/ viewing area. It's definitely busier now than in the past, word is out and people like to come here. Fair warning- areas of the rock face are slippery! Don't try to climb the slide of the mountain that has no grip. Don't be THAT person who falls off and ruins the chill vibe lol. read more

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A must-do when in the Phoenix area. An incredible feat of nature. There's a small pond nearby, with cranes catching small fish. Palm trees and cacti galore. Great spot for hiking to the top, if you have the knees for it. read more

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Quality/Quantity - I am told this is not as popular as the "Camelback" trail, but I really enjoyed it. Plenty of parking, but some spaces are tight, so be careful of poor drivers. In my opinion, it is an easy 0.3 mile hike to the hole. But then my daughter wanted to climb to the top of the hole, which was not as easy. And she quit, so only my guest and I did it. Atmosphere - Cool, fun, and a easy tourist place. Beautiful views. We came on a very busy Sunday afternoon. Many nearby attractions: Papago Park, Papago Golf Club, Grass Clipping Public Golf Course, Phoenix Zoo, Hall of Fame Fire Museum, Governor Hunt Tomb (white pyramid), etc. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1892. Well actually the hole was formed anywhere from 6-15 million years ago... read more

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Hike trail Level easy Next to the zoo Parking available Restrooms available Free Various trails Great view point Crowded Arizona to do list read more

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Spending a couple of days in Phoenix with no plans. I decided to take an uber out to this spot because it looked interesting. The uber driver drops you off and picks you up right at the bottom of the rock. The climb is not steep at all. Where it does get steep, they've created steps out of the rock to make it easy. Even in the middle of the day on a Wednesday, there were plenty of people there. (You'll see in the pictures and videos). Some people had their dogs. There were also mountain bikers around the bottom. There was one restroom open and it was pretty gross. I saw two others, but they were both locked. I saw hummingbirds and some chipmunks. The views are great! After climbing to the top of Hole in the Rock, there's plenty of other trails and places in the park to visit. The tomb of the first governor of Arizona, the Botanical Gardens, and the zoo, are all within walking distance. I probably spent less than an hour on Hole in the Rock and then walked over to the tomb and then to some other rock formations to climb. read more

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It has been years since I was here and thought it would be fun to do after dropping off my foster puppy. The location is next to the zoo. There is plenty of parking, maintained bathrooms and ramadas for picnicking. It was a Tuesday around 8 in the morning when we went. There were only a few people who were there but heading down. It's less than half a mile from the parking lot to the inside of the hole. The trail is marked. It is a quick and extremely easy hike that leads to a beautiful view of the city. read more

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We came here hoping to catch the sunset but we were a bit too late. No worries. My girlfriends and I did the short, easy hike to the top and was able to catch a small glimpse of the sun setting. There was plenty of parking. There were a lot of side trails getting to the top. It was free! Great views! read more

Parking entrance: Near the roundabout, enter the driveway that leads to the Phoenix Zoo. However, the free spacious parking lot to Hole-in-the-Rock will be right before the actual Phoenix Zoo parking lot entrance. I believe you make a left whereas the Phoenix Zoo is straight ahead. The tiny arrows and signs are pretty small, and challenging to look out for if you are the one focused on driving haha. There are public restrooms if you need to take a bio break before venturing up to hole-in-the-rock. A quick 10-minute walk up the sandy and semi-rocky pathway to hole-in-the-rock. There isn't quite an official evident pathway but it's pretty obvious which route to take. Also, there are a lot of tourists and I appreciate that there are also Park Rangers on duty so you can follow either or. The pathway is strictly sand, rocks, and boulders with a few stairways. You do not need professional hiking shoes or an ample amount of hiking gear/resources for this "hike." I walked up with New Balances, and my partner walked with Air Forces, so whatever shoe you're comfortable walking in will do for the most part. As you reach the top, you overlook the city, a small desert pond near the parking lot, and just an overall scenic view. It's nice and shady when you reach the top, so it's a nice reward if you end up hiking during a hot day. As a tourist, this was one of my highlights for our Arizona weekend trip. read more

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Literally a hole-in-the-rock. This is located near the Zoo and not too far from the Desert Botanical Garden. Spacious parking lot (free). You can see the hole-in-the-rock from the parking lot if you can't or don't want to hike up. The hike up to the hole in the rock is literally less than 1/4 mile. Some parts can be a bit steep or slippery due to the loose gravel. Definitely a cool spot to check out and might as well check out the other places nearby! read more

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For those looking for an easier climb or those with younger kiddos, this is a fun experience that offers something for all levels. The entry is well marked, I parked in the first lot so I could experience more of the walking trails around the rock. You can just imaging the many years of erosion that has formed the rock, and it makes you wonder what it will be link in another few thousand years. I enjoyed the extra trails which had some educational markers along the way. There are a few different ways up to the perch. My ankles were a bit beaten up, so I stayed on the rear side of the hole, but there are some stair features and a flat area on the main viewing side. Had I gone with someone, maybe I would have gone through, but my view was nice enough. No, it's not a huge mountain or long hike, and no, you are not going to see crazy views, but what you see is nice, and it was a lovely experience while visiting the Phoenix area. read more

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It's a short hike, depending on where you park. It's a beautiful view from the top, worth taking pictures. read more

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I'm so glad I got to explore this stunning hiking spot on my day off. The weather was perfect, and we lucked out with a prime parking spot. Despite being a popular destination, the views and atmosphere didn't disappoint. I felt grateful to have experienced this place today. Good for beginners too. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This was a great spot to visit if you're in the area visiting and want to get more of a nature scene/hike/walk. Great picturesque spot!

10/10 recommend!! Do yourself a favor and come up here to watch the sunset, it definitely attracts a lot of people but it's very enjoyable and one of the best things you can do. Super easy walk up, I would say you do have to "hike" up a little bit but I say that hesitantly because it's nothing crazy. read more

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This is a quick, free, easy 5 min mini hike up the rock. Located inside the Papago Park next to the zoo. Parking lot directly next to the "hole" is tiny but cars are always coming and going. There are a ton of short flat trails nearby as well. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - View from parking lot - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is a nice park located within the whole Papago Park area. It seems to be quite the attraction as you can climb up it by walking a nice path up the backside to get to the top and the proverbial hole (though there are a few) at the top of the rock. I was hobbling around an an arthritic knee, so I did not hike up, but it is definitely well worth watching others hike up and then almost plummet to their deaths as they decide to ignore the megaphone demands from the Park Ranger telling them not to exit the hole and climb to the top. We got such pleasure watching people, especially dads and their kids try to climb up, then get stuck and try to figure out how to get down. It's really like the bunny hill of hiking spots in Arizona, so if you're looking for a tougher climb, there are certainly better areas: McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Camelback Mountain, Sedona's Red Rocks, etc. But their are nice areas to sit and watch people be dumb and not heed the warnings not to climb in certain areas. We didn't see anyone fall. That would have been tragic. Darn it. read more

My friend recommended going to check out the Hole-In-The-Rock since it is a tourist spot. The positives are... 1. Easy to drive to. 2. It is a quick hike 3. the trail is very easy 4. it's not far from the parking lot. Fantastic views of the surrounding areas once you get to the opening. Some people even go to the very top to survey the lay of the land. The peak times are before Sunrise or Sunset. read more

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I was visiting PHX, and of course, I had to visit this! It's pretty well known, but mostly anong tourists and not locals, lol. Nestled close to the zoo, and on the same main road as the Desert Botanical Garden, it's fairly easy to find. It has a good-size parking lot. So you can get close if you're driving up. It also sits right next to a park, with covered patio benches. This could be useful if you wanted to make a day of it. Going up the rock, and then having lunch or enjoying a snack under the patio. When I came to visit mid afternoon, the place was crowded. So go during off-peak times if you want a cool IG worthy picture without other humans. It's a nice view, especially I bet at sunrise or sunset. I saw some reviews saying the hike was super easy and others saying it was hard, I think it's how you feel, no right or wrong answer. I will say it's easy to follow your own path, and kids were going up the rock with various levels of difficulty, as some areas are steep. I presume you could make this more challenging if you wanted to. Or maybe even rock climb up. I did see one gentleman go up with a mountain bike. But do that your own risk, as it is not a flat surface. Or you can follow the crowd and work your way up based on the dirt path that you can sort of tell on the ground if you look close. Mostly, it was people of all ages hiking up and down. Sadly, it's not a well delineated path, so be careful. But I did see a sign that they are working on better path signage for visitors. Maybe markers all the way up to the top will be helpful via the safest path. read more

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This is a must see! But you must be able to walk up without stairs to get to the opening in the rock. You can look out and see the area around Phoenix. No charge to get in and many walking paths around it. Amazing to find this gem so close to the city. read more

I was looking forwards to going to Papago Park although I'm a bit confused what is in the park minus this rock and the botanical garden and the zoo. We found parking very easily which is nice because seems like a lot of places in Arizona, especially scenic places, are hard to find parking to. It's around a 10 minute walk from the parking lot all the way to the top. I would imagine on a day where there are less tourists like myself the place would be more beautiful as you can take a picture through the hole-in-the-rock to the Phoenix landscape. However, the day that we came, there was a lot of people and it was hard to manuever around. Overall, definitely come visit when you're in the area but be mentally prepared to not be able to take "the picture" because there are too many people. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - So many people - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

One of the most touristy things to do in the Phoenix area is to visit Hole In The Rock. It is literally a hole in a rock. My friends and I flew in bright and early and had some time to kill before check in at the hotel. This seemed like a good way to do just that. It was a short 10 minute drive from the airport area. It is located in Papago Park which has all kinds of neat things to do like the zoo and botanical gardens. Finding it was easy and there was a parking lot right at the base. I am not a hiker by any means and I would classify this as an extremely easy hike to the top. The paths are clear with just a gradual incline. You can veer off path and make it harder I'm sure. When you get to the top of the trail, you gotta do a little bending and maneuvering to get through the whole and take in the views. We came early and it was already pretty busy up there with everyone trying to take the perfect pic. Overall, I thought this was a fun outing that I would probably do again if I come with some other first timers. read more

Really great place to go and visit. Doesn't take long to park and go up. I will say that for someone not from the area it was very tricky to find the place with its tricky roads. Located next to the private Phoenix Zoo so you can visit after. People usually will gather during sun up and down. Come check it out. read more

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I'm not sure I have much to add that others haven't already said, but since I visited, I'd like to write a little review to remember it. The hole in the rock landmark is a small trail, not a difficult hike at all, that leads up a small hill to a rock formation that is just what the name claims-a hole in a rock. When we visited, there were several other folks there at the same time. This is a popular photo spot and very family friendly, since it's not a tough hike-keep that in mind if you're looking for a private, quiet spot for a romantic outdoor experience. It may not be a destination for an entire outdoor adventure, but the hold in the rock is worth a quick visit, especially if you're at the zoo already. read more

Hole-in-the-Rock - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Super short and easy paced trail that leads to a very scenic view! We went after brunch so the weather was warm and slightly breezy. I heard late afternoon is a popular time to come because you get a beautiful view of the sunset. We still got a lot of good photos here. Also parking was free! I think it is dog friendly because there were people there with their dogs. Only downside was that there were a lot of cigarette buds at the top. It would be nice if people didn't litter at a popular tourist attraction. read more

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The girls and I tried balancing our margarita consumption by taking the light 2.5 mile hike to this hole in the rock. What a beautiful view from up top. You'll feel safe and secure traveling on well maintained roads and steps, and capture some amazing photos. The parking situation was a bit confusing, but we figured it out. It's probably best to park closer to the zoo. There are bathrooms and picnic tables along the way. More like the graveyard for picnic tables, but they'll do if you need to rest. read more

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