Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shaw Butte Recreation Area

    4.4 (28 reviews)

    Shaw Butte Recreation Area Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Shaw Butte Recreation Area

    Recommended Reviews - Shaw Butte Recreation Area

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Phoenix
    Ivy S.

    My entire life I've looked at this mountain. This mountain has stood over my childhood memories. Its there, still, in my family photos. Its shadow constantly there. Oddly enough, not once did my family ever venture onto the mountain to explore. Its right there and we never took a walk or ventured over, ever. I was raised by fat alcoholics so that could be the issue. Or maybe they thought hiking was for hippies. Could be both. I brought my man to Phoenix to see the glory that I was raised in. Our first morning there we got up before the rain and headed over to the visitor center to start our hike. We were told there were petroglyphs on the mountain so my goal was to find those. The map was confusing and I had to use our AllTrails app to get better accuracy. We never found the petroglyphs. We did almost go to the peak with the TV towers but I said screw it. I want petroglyphs and the views from almost the top are fine. I loved the quartz stone everywhere. You can see where the veins of the quartz goes through the hills. The colors are gorgeous. The views are gorgeous as well. Definitely study the map before you come and plan accordingly.

    Royce K.

    As all of our great trails in the valley Shaw Butte is great nice four mile hike to the top of the towers great view of the valley and if you go inside the visitor center cold water and clean bathrooms my favorite spot or I ride my bike from

    Looking down from the summit
    Brett B.

    This is a 5 mile roundtrip which crosses some desert, and then up a road to some antennas and satellite dishes. It's a pretty easy hike, just annoyingly uphill for what seems to be a long ass time. Took a couple of wrong turns on the way back. Try to remember where you came from. Total time up and back was 01:31:11. This was my second of four mountains, one Saturday in April.

    You may park off 7th street too. Orange to unmarked to yellow takes you up
    Bonnie E.

    Well, here's the thing: this is still my favorite place to hike in all of Phoenix. I wake up thinking about it sometimes, like a lover calling me back! (too much?) But I do. And I go. I used to live nearby and I would walk the whole stretch of desert (trail 100) along Thunderbird, take the underground passage and walk more desert just to access the trailhead here. When parking: I've done the lot off 7th Street, where the "North Mountain Visitor Center" is or the smaller lot just off Tbird at Aster/Central. I MUCH prefer parking at the Visitor Center lot since it gives you a nice stretch of desert to walk (warm-up) prior to gaining elevation. My preferred route is to head northwest from that parking lot along trail 100 (orange on the photo), then you pick up that unmarked line continuing northwest (on map shown) until you connect to the yellow Shaw Butte trailhead. It's up and up from there. It winds a little. A little steep but then levels out pretty nicely while still gaining elevation. This is a considerably easier hike and generally much less crowded than either Squaw Peak or Camelback but of course, keep that adequate hydration and nutrition handy. Very few shady spots on this one. At the top, there's a mess of antennas and such but I'll never forget on one of my first hikes here, a man launching a hang-glider off the back side (up by antennas and pointed out toward White Tanks.) I believe they still do these launches, but much less common than in the past. It was a cool site to see. Speaking of launches...flew over my mountain bike handlebars! Stupid! Not on the trail, but back at the parking lot - new placement of one of those concrete parking stops - took me down. We laughed. Thankfully! We used to also do a terrific calf work-out on the back stretch of road up near the top (paved and steep!) And this, sad but true..haven't seen "the lone burro" in a very long time. I did say "hello and adios" to him last time - some ten years back. I had a feeling. I would love to see a burro again around here, but those days may be gone. I've only done the full loop a couple times, I found it somewhat slow "around the back" so I always just descend by retracing my steps. As always, free access, free parking! Thanks, Phoenix!

    Robert M.

    Our hike up to the towers began at the trail just south of the visitor center. This portion of the trail, about a mile or so, was mostly flat through the desert and allowed us to get in a great jog before reaching the base. Trail markers are not clear and there are a few options up to the towers, some easy and some difficult. We had to ask a few hikers along the way if we were on the right path heading in the right direction. We were pointed in the direction of the difficult hike which of course we took. So up we went steady, resting and short bursting all the way up to the towers. We reached the towers, rested for a bit, took in the view and began our descent on the opposite side of the mountain. The north potion of the slope led us back to the flat-lands and yet another sprint/jog to the visitor center were we came upon a group people in a T'ai Chi session. That was nice. Tip: This is a great hike if you want to include some sprint/jog activity. Hike Length: 5 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderately strenuous Facilities: Water, restrooms and a very nice visitor center with staff.

    David L.

    Just finished a long hike. Felt pretty good. Today instead of hiking up the butte I took trails that travel west and circle around. The Sonoran Desert fauna today was a little scarce but I did hear an owl, saw a coyote, a rabbit and a variety of small birds. The flora was exceptionally green especially with the grasses up, which actually look like winter rye from peoples yards. One qt of water was more than good. The air temp was a little chilly but I really enjoy days like today.

    Tonia B.

    I had planned on doing a lot of relaxation this weekend, but wouldn't you know, the weather had something else in store, and I couldn't just hole up and avoid the outdoors. Yesterday I wanted a relaxing stroll, but was sick of the city, so I drove on up to Shaw Butte to do a relaxing loop. Parking in this location is limited, and a little awkward (almost slashed my tires through the do not enter section) but it doesn't seem to get as crowded and should suffice. The entrance has a map of the area and trails you can take. The path was fairly easy to follow and I did manage to stay on a path (tho not always the one I was supposed to be on) at all times. I also managed to get myself back to my car, so that's always a bonus. There were a few others there that had managed to get themselves lost due to unclear path marking, but one look at a map and it's easy to get your bearings straight again. The path was beautiful. Not completely scenic, as parts still have the road visible, but it was quiet and peaceful and the sky was gorgeous that day. I pretty much had the trail to myself most of the time with everyone pretty evenly spaced out and ended up doing some dance hiking to my iPod without injuring myself on the trail, which speaks to the ease of the hike. Not really any steep parts or loose rock on the loop trail. Perfect for low maintenance hiking days. It was my first trip, but I don't see it being my last. Seems like there are plenty of trails that start there that would be fun to venture on.

    Just some rock climbing
    Danielle G.

    I love this trail, it's especially good for early morning hikes with my dogs. It's not too steep and doesn't require an immense amount of rock climbing at any point... So my little chihuahua and dachshund are able to do it without any problems. My favorite part about this hike, is going off trail, you get great views of the entire phoenix area and you can do some serious rock climbing if you want. Like everyone else has said, keep an eye on which way you came from.....you can get lost and it's a pain in the butt trying to find your way back. I like this trail cause I rarely see it getting very busy (unlike camelback) and it seems like a peaceful/mild hike. Definitely one I'll be coming back to.

    The summit as seen from the foundations of Cloud 9
    Mr K.

    Something has to be said about the little guys of Phoenix's hiking universe. In a land where people switch from hiking Camelback to Piestewa Peak and then back to Camelback, the big cluster of trails that sprawl over north Phoenix can easily be overlooked. But I think it's great to take a break from the norm and explore new places once in a while - and also to step back and hike for hiking's sake and not think about "this climb is going to burn x calories at y heart rate in order to leave me with -z% body fat." A bunch of these said trails in north Phoenix fall within the Shaw Butte Recreation Area, which I initially hiked back in spring and have been returning to since then, and I will say that I completely underestimated the experience because let's face it, Shaw Butte is ugly. At least from afar. If you're driving north on I-17 and look to the east, you'll see this nondescript brown hill topped with an antenna farm paired with it's just as ugly sister, North Mountain. Doesn't really attract you, does it. But it's a great hike nevertheless. You park at a small lot in a residential neighborhood on Central Ave just south of Thunderbird and head into the Shaw Butte area. From here, you have two options - you can head up counterclockwise to the summit by taking the service road (which 99% of the people do - including families with kids, older folks taking leisurely walks, avid joggers, etc.) or, if you're like me, by following Trail 306/100 clockwise along the floor for about 1.5 miles until you start ascending Shaw Butte from the south side. I actually enjoyed walking on a flat surface for such a distance - I really appreciated the desert landscape a lot more as well as the view of the downtown skyline as the trail made its curve. The ascent itself has some parts which are reminiscent of Piestewa's stairmasterism, but they don't go on for nearly as long and level off time and time again for you to enjoy the views. As you're getting closer to the summit, you'll come across the foundations of Cloud 9, a fine dining restaurant with a sweeping view of the Valley which was only accessible by a 4x4 on the aforementioned service road. It burned down in the 60's and was never rebuilt. Now a graffiti-ridden ghost, it's cool to stand here and imagine what a restaurant here would have been like, especially back in the early 60's when Phoenix was a fraction of its current size. Then you can continue back onto Trail 306 and head up to the summit, where you're in antennae city. Oddly enough, most people who take the service road up from the north side don't walk around and hang out here. I'm usually just hanging out here by myself. Actually, let me correct that. I'm usually just hanging out here with a couple of iguanas who're sunning themselves on the rocks adjacent to the one I'm sitting on. I sit here for about 10 minutes, taking in the view looking south (usually), eating a snack, chilling with the iguanas, and then continuing in my clockwise direction by heading down the service road and back to my car. For me, this loop is usually a 2 hour excursion. As I said, most people usually just stick to the service road to go up and down, so you have a good chance of having the whole trail on the south side of Shaw Butte all to yourself. No jostling with other people. No stepping to the side to let someone who's doing their third consecutive ascent whiz right past you. Just you. At whichever pace you want to go. This is by no means minimizing Camelback or Piestewa Peak, because they're awesome hikes in their own right, but Shaw Butte and other north Phoenix trails bring me back to appreciating hiking and exploring again. At least in the city. Sure, they're nowhere near as tall, intense, eyecatching or crowded as the big guys, but they're still sitting there as part of the Phoenix Mountain Reserve, so why not hit 'em once in a while? It pays to mix it up now and then. 4 stars.

    Looking at North Mountain from Shaw Butte
    Oshnnsun I.

    This is a quick trail that will get your heart pumping. No services so take enough water but great view from atop Shaw Butte! If you are lucky, you'll get to see parasailors hovering above you.

    Ebony K.

    This is becoming one of my favorite trails. I start at the N. Mtn visitors center and take the long, rocky, but definitely worth it trail up to the towers. I have been trying to run most of it but I always get winded once I get to the base of the incline. Be careful as it is pretty rocky and your trip down can be dangerous if you are not careful. Especially if you tend to run down like I try to do. I am happy to say I am not as winded as I use to be when I first started visiting this trail. One of these days I will run from top to bottom.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 41
    Thanks 6
    Love this 33
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ivy S.
    142
    2169
    6181

    3 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 19
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 38
    Thanks 0
    Love this 34
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David L.
    165
    327
    1170

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B G.
    120
    99
    410

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg W.
    4
    10
    36

    6 years ago

    Excellent hiking area, right in the middle of Phoenix. Highly recommend it!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mr K.
    192
    380
    278

    18 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Oshnnsun I.
    46
    104
    161

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bridget Y.
    251
    175
    17

    16 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Thomas I.
    45
    205
    6

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Shaw Butte Recreation Area

    Review Highlights - Shaw Butte Recreation Area

    I do the Shaw Butte Loop starting at the trailhead at 7th Avenue and Peoria (just north of the police station).

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 4,955 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix - Tea house

    The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix

    4.0(486 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    I loved my experience here at the Japanese Friendship Garden! For starters, this area is peculiar…read morefrom the rest of Phoenix, making it stand out from the other attractions enlisted here. It creates a beautiful environment that not many can experience outside of Arizona, and it is highly recommended to visit for anyone that is seeking a quiet, peaceful, calm, and beautiful setting with jaw dropping scenery. I went with one of my close friends and we both enjoyed the experience we shared. There were benches around to sit and admire the views, along with bridges to get a closer look at the koi fish and ducks. However, the best part was how many ducklings there were following their mamas. I had never seen anything like it, and it was truly an experience to remember.

    Wowww, I have heard about this garden for sometime but finally I made it happen to visit…read more As soon as you stepped in-- you already find yourself in the right place; calm, peaceful, beautiful and simple. The garden is well maintained and organized, quiet place for give yourself quiet time and meditation. The garden is not that big place to walk around, but it's definitely worth it if you feel like need to escape and looking for nature therapy--this is the one! Give yourself more time to sit back and enjoy the greenery. The staff is super friendly and welcoming! I will definitely come back again soon.

    Photos
    The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix - Bike Rack at the garden entrance

    Bike Rack at the garden entrance

    The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix - This drink wasn't my favorite but it quenched me thirst

    This drink wasn't my favorite but it quenched me thirst

    The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix - Purple flowers

    See all

    Purple flowers

    Anthem Community Park - playground without wood chips

    Anthem Community Park

    4.4(78 reviews)
    18.0 mi

    Anthem Community Park is honestly a beautiful, well-maintained park. The ambience is great, it's…read moreclean, and there's a huge variety of equipment and sports areas. I'd give the cleanliness and overall park quality a 10/10. There's something for all ages, and it's easy to spend a whole afternoon there. The train is definitely cute and fun for kids, but it's a bit overpriced at $5 per ticket, even for a one-year-old. Unfortunately, our experience with the train staff really took away from it. The woman taking tickets was extremely rude and didn't speak to us at all -- no hello, no eye contact, no thank you, nothing. It honestly felt like she didn't want to be there or interact with families. I was trying to make it a fun moment for my child by having them hand over the ticket, but they actually got scared and hid behind me. The woman selling the tickets, on the other hand, was very kind and welcoming. The park itself can also get very crowded, and we noticed older kids sometimes take over the younger kids' play areas, which can make it hard for little ones when there's roughhousing or inappropriate language. That's not really the park's fault, but it's something to be aware of if you have small children. Overall, it's definitely worth visiting at least once because it's a beautiful space with tons to do. I personally prefer smaller neighborhood parks for a calmer experience, but Anthem Community Park is great in terms of facilities. The biggest areas for improvement would be crowd management in the play areas and better, more family-friendly staffing for the train.

    Anthem Park is a beautiful and clean well maintained park. It's quite amazing to see how much they…read morehave there for everyone of all ages. The ducks in the water are refreshing to watch and one can walk the park and enjoy the serenity and peace. It's a nice spot for a picnic and other kids sports events. There is also a train ride for kids that costs $5 I believe.

    Photos
    Anthem Community Park
    Anthem Community Park - Curious Ducks

    Curious Ducks

    Anthem Community Park - Anthem Park

    See all

    Anthem Park

    Shaw Butte Recreation Area - parks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...