Whatever you call it - Piestewa, Squaw Peak, or Phx Mountains Park - this is a remarkably accessible Sonoran landscape lodged in the middle of the nation's fifth largest city. Still free, with mountain expanses most visitors never explore. Indeed, the park experience can be starkly divided between The Summit Trail and Everything Else. On weekends, ascending the crag is akin to strolling in a parade, albeit at a dusty, jagged 16% incline. It's hard to find weekend parking, but it's an excellent 60-90 minute overall (up and down) workout, with ample cougars for you Wild Life lovers. I'm more enamored with Everything Else. Not just the Circumference(302) and Nature (304) paths you pick up at the back of the parking lot. But all the marked and unmarked trails beyond. The 1A horse trail, the 8 and 8A on the east side, the VoAZ, 202, 8B and irregular link connectors, and the granddaddy 100, which runs west from Tatum, under the 51, thru North Mountain on 7th St all the way to Seventh Ave in Sunnyslope. It's mindboggling to think you can hike (or mountain bike) 20 miles or more in the city with this kind of uninterrupted scenery, not once crossing a street grade intersection. I've seen a rattler, gila monster and three coyotes on the outer trails, but that's over decades and several hundred hours in the preserve. It's quite rare to spot anything but birds, rabbits or squirrels. But, as I say, the scenery, relative solitude and physical and spiritual benefits of exploring these myriad mountains and valleys is priceless. Bring water, and for longer hikes, skin protection. read more

Great hike....fairly steep which allows for an excellent leg workout. I was dripping sweat by the time I reached the top!!! Beautiful views as well. read more

This is a fun little hike which for the most part is an easy going path with just a handful of spots that are tight or a bit tricky to navigate. Depending on your pace, you may work up a sweat going up, but it's not overly arduous or daunting, and the view at the top is pretty fantastic. read more

I've been on this trail many times with my brother who lives in Phoenix. I love the fact that there are so many cool hikes right in the middle of the city. After reading the other reviews, I have to say that I think the hike isn't nearly as strenuous as many of the other Yelpers, but then again I'm not attempting to do this midday in June (I have been a desert rat for WAYYYY too long for that!). I actually like the "stair master" effect of this trail. Great workout and a gorgeous panoramic view of the city from the top! read more

The first time you hike to the summit, it will kick your butt. I was lapped by a man about 30 years older than me (who, in my defense, was training to hike the Grand Canyon). Towards the top, there are railings to grab because it is so steep and rocky. But the view at the top is worth a million bucks, and you'll feel like a million bucks when you get to the bottom! It gets easier each time you do it :) read more

One of my favorite places to hike. Usually packed but parking is not too bad. It has 3 or 4 different places to hike with different levels of difficulty. I usually hike the fat and easy ones. Lol read more

I've recently started hiking Piestewa Peak (I feeling like I'm cheating on Camelback) and I think I'm in love! This is a great hike that gives the stairmaster a new name. The views are amazing and its not too crowded. Parking can be hard to find but it's worth the hunt for a spot to hike this awesome trail! read more

Squaw is the easier of the two tough Phoenix city hikes. I say this because parking has always been easier for me (I park in the little lot just before the gate to the park) and because you never have to use your hands, so you can just carry a bottle of water without worrying about it getting in the way later. That said, you need strong legs for this or else you will feel the pain and burn. Lots of people enjoy running up or down, but I'd watch out if you have bad knees or ankles. I have bad ankles, so I hike down swiftly, but avoid the run. Just like Camelback, there are incredible views from the top which make the toil worth it. read more

I am not sure if I should give it 5 stars for being a fun trail with great views or 1 star for making me puke at 5: a.m. In June '11 I was looking for a running trail and saw this on Alltrails. I got up early to beat the sun and went to tear this trail up. Parking lot was almost full and the trail was pretty crowded. I hit play on my ipod and started running. It did not take long for me to see this is a Hiking trail and not so much a Running trail. My pace went from 8 mm to 10 mm to 12 mm. Not far from the top I hit the wall. I sat and enjoyed the view as I revisited that morning's protein shake. After a half hour on my back I headed back to my car with my tail between my legs. You got me this time Piestewa, but I will be back read more

Must go early to beat the heat in March! It was windy at the top but the view was beautiful! The terrain was rocky and having hiking shoes was helpful! read more

Great hike. A lot safer than Camelback mountain

Went up with some friends. We're in our late 20s and considered to be in pretty good health, but I have to say, some of these verticals really took our breath away. There were a number of older folks who were definitely locals running the route-very impressive! The view hiking up is great and the top makes the 1 hr 15 mins well worth it. The hike down was obviously much quicker. read more

Beautiful views very difficult climb!! The sunset is just stunning. It's very rocky, uneven, broken stairs, jagged edges all over, broken stones, ups and downs but the higher you go the more beautiful it is! Go when the sun is going down because you sweat and get hot fast while hugging and puffing. Don't forget your Water!! read more

not sure why they changed the name from squaw peak. sup witdhat? now, back to happy thoughts. it's my 2nd favorite hike in phx. i've seen someone seriously injured on this mountain in the past (not happy times). the very last climb right before you reach the top scares me the most. it feels like you can/will fall right over the side of this monster. you have to be in some type of shape to get up this mountain but i still think it easier than camelback. i have no idea how people run up and down this peak but everytime i go, sure enough somebody runs right past me. oh and camelback is my #1 read more

Awesome hike. Great cardio. incredible view.

Great hike to the top. Shocked at the number of really small children! Want to do it at night. Bring lots of water!

Being new to Phoenix I had to experience the Peak. Let me just say hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! My first hike was awesome dispite the fact I was ill prepared without water. Of course, the massive headache later was "educational." My next trek I came armed with my fanny pack loaded with two water bottles. I find that pacing yourself is best. It does get very steep near the summit but that makes it all the more rewarding once you get there. TIP: Make it out early in the day and be prepared to have a siesta when you are done. Overall, I love the rush of feeling that I have faced nature, conquered myself and once again taken the peak. This is definitely a must do. read more

I love running Sqaw! My dad almost died walking it, but he made it and enjoyed it. (Definately happy I didn't push Camelback) Less crowds at wierd hours. Can get cold at the top and if you want to be absolutely ridiculous and run 50k feeling like you are in the middle of the dessert there is actually a group that meets here and does this Wednesday mornings :) read more

Its a good hike, but nothing to write home about. Parking is HORRIBLE, even if you arrive early. The trail to the summit can be steep at times, and has A LOT of "steps", if you will. Prepare for your thighs to burn and quiver in agony. The summit view to the East is awesome, as you can see the entire Phoenix Mountains Preserve stretched out below you, but the views to the West aren't stellar. Youll be greeted with an endless sea of homes, and SR-51 right below you. Its a decent workout, but the trail is often overcrowded, especially during the winter months when every Tom, Dick, and Harry is here from New York/Alberta/Washington/Minnesota/Montana/Colorado, etc. read more

I've been hearing about "Squaw Peak" from my patients and from friends! I came on a Sunday afternoon around 1pm. Parking is easy to find. I got my Camelback, sunblock, chap stick, and iPod ready! The round trip hike is about 1-2 hours depending if you walk or run it. I heard parking can get full really fast, but I didn't have that problem. Most of the pavement is rocks and dirt. When I was about to reach the top, I did find myself using my hands to climb to the top of the summit. That's where work out gloves can come in handy for next time! I would recommend hiking shoes, and make sure they are sturdy! I also tripped a few times on my way down! It is possible to land on cactus so I would recommend staying on the beaten path! This was an awesome hike that I will have to do more often! read more

Awesome. If you are not a regular runner/hiker, this is not easy. Someone told me it was a 40 min hike. Nonsense. BRING WATER.

If you are a more experienced hiker this seems to be the place for you. Otherwise people who leave their dogs off leash makes this very dangerous. And some of the hikers let their dogs on a leash jump on you. Not cool when you are standing on a cliff. Just wasn't for me but might work for other people. read more

You can get up in 20 if you are a runner in great shape, 30 if you are a pretty good hiker, 40 if you are in shape but not an avid hiker. Anyone can make it to the top if you take your time - and its worth it! A steady pace with no stops takes about 30 minutes. Down ranges anywhere form probably 12min-1 hr depending on your confidence. I saw lots fo out of shape people who were towards the top so its doable if you have a whole day to spend but real hikers can probably do it on their lunch break. Easier than Camelback, but you can make it as hard as you want by going faster. Parking is better than Camelback so that is a bonus. read more

I really like the loop trail, it is a nice, relatively long hike and not too strenuous. I do not love the peak trail only because it is so ridiculously crowded almost every time I have been there. That being said the view is totally worth it! read more

One if my favorite bikes, great Beja and just enough cardio!! High recommend and very busy at times

Like this mountain.. good trails for all ages and experience levels. However I do not like the sworms of gnats ( not that anybody's to blame for them except Mother Nature) read more

Piestewa Peak - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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located in the middle of the damn city...plenty of parking during non-peak times...plenty of trail space...friendly people. this place is one of our favorite jams. HOWEVER during nice weather times on weekends? dang son, if you're not there by 7/8 a.m. you are parking in the neighborhoods and it's a hike TO GET TO THE HIKE. compare it to Camelback Mtn though and this place is the mall of america. but in arizona, hiking is our beach, so it's crowded. (go during June/July/August afternoons for the place all to yourself and some crazy dehydration hallucination) piestewa peak (i still call it "squaw peak") is a beautiful park that looks like a painting. it could benefit from a few extra rangers and trail maintenance, but for an old west-y activity location, i can't imagine a better place in all da state. read more

Loved every minute of this mountain. First time hiking, and I would say I'd definitely go back anytime, but mainly at night when the view is most gorgeous and most people start to leave and it's not many people up, hiking. If you really want a good workout, this is the place to go. I must say you do have to be careful though, some of the rocks are slippery as hell. Only con like most hiking trails and etc is watch out for rattlesnakes. read more

A great hike after a long day. The view of Phoenix during sunset was unforgettable. There were lots of folks on the trail so I felt safe as a solo hiker. The saguaros were beautiful and lots of other desert flora to gaze upon on this lovely little hike. I was visiting from out of town and found this to be the perfect drop-in spot to soak in the desert glow. Beware of parking however, it was very busy and neighbors were upset about all the cars. So my advice is to be thoughtful and kind when parking! read more

For the guy who wrote this.. "But for the record people.... It is, and will always be known as SQUAW PEAK !! Have you checked into why it was renamed to Piestewa Peak? A native American soldier named Lori Piestewa who was the first woman to die in combat overseas was from that area. It is dedicated to her and the two children she left behind. It's not just because someone up and decided hey let's just change the name. After all, the country she died for just happens to be the country you live in. read more

Holy crap this mountain is rough. Made it to the top but now gotta go down. Don't need jabz leg class today

Summit trail is about 1.1 miles long and is the hardest of all. It took us about 35 min to get to the top and about 30 min coming down. It's a great workout, make sure you take appropriate shoes; I took my running shoes and were too soft for the rocky trail. The trail offers great views of the city along the way, rewarded with a magnificent view from the top. There is a water tap at the bottom where you can refill your bottle. And there's plenty of parking too. Take sunblock too. Great little workout in the middle of the city. Ah, and dont fidget with your phone, I dropped my Iphone and cracked the screen :( read more

World's largest stairmaster! Yikes. But a great workout. The parking here is much better than offered at Camelback. Recently I got to the summit and the bees were swarming, so beware. This hike ihas great views, and a streneous ascent. read more

Could we be any more fortunate to have a mountain preserve in the middle of our city?!?! I hike this mountain and the hundreds of trails that make up this area, at least 5 times a week!! The parking can be terrible but for those of us who hike on the weekdays there is usually no problem, especially when it gets warm and the wimps stop hiking :). The circumference trail is my favorite, it covers almost half of the Summit trail and dips off down the back for about another hour or so of great up's and downs. Make sure your Camelpack is full for this one though, it kicks buns! The full Summit trail is THE buns kicker, but once you make it, you can be the queen of the world, or king, whichever suits your fancy :)!! And did I mention the competitive monthly rates for this kind of workout??? Oh that's right, it's free :)!! See you there.... read more

I wish I would have started this hike early in the morning because the sun throughout the hike is killer. It was my first time taking this on and I started off strong, feeling invincible. Not even at the halfway mark, I was gasping for air. Pace yourself, thank goodness my boyfriend had water and was encouraging. As I kept truckin' I finally see a "stairway to heaven", and I will tell you, by no means was it an easy climb to the top of this peak. Steep steps to get to the top, but once I got there, I felt a cool breeze air, took in the most beautiful views and enjoyed a few gulps of water. Back down was much easier but by then I had spaghetti legs. A good reminder to continue to climb and hike to get into better shape. Left with sore legs, a great tan and an enjoyable way to start my day. I highly recommend. read more

nice hike...keeps going up and up and up ...and up and up! trails are easy to follow and nice views at the top. cacti blossom with flowers too. everyone was so very nice! i sprained my ankle on my way down..and ooo i was sooo close to the bottom. tried to be a champ and slowly limp down, but everyone who passed me offered to help. a bit embarrassed but good memories with this mountain! read more

My wife and I climbed Piestewa Peak for her 40th bday on a hot July morning. While I wouldn't recommend it as leisurely climb for most, if you are used to moderately strenuous workouts in the heat, and have plenty of water and a snack, you should be fine. I was impressed by the view at the top, and can understand why it is a favorite for the locals. Get an early start thought, because you won't find much, if any, shade on this climb. read more

Nice hike for beginners and kids. Rock & dirt trails. Could've used a hiking stick for a few areas but not a necessity. Will hike this trail again. read more

Nice semi-challenging hike. Slightly less known than camelback. Get here early in the summers. No dogs though.

Easy to get to from downtown, steep but only 1.3 miles. weird thing about this hike is that you keep thinking you can see the top only to realize it is a false summit. the final 50 yards or so is very steep, not technical, just tiring after everything else. Lots of people on this hike. I met one woman who was on her way up for the third time in the day as a work out. read more