Mountains are to me a cleanse for the soul.This trail was a 1100 gain off of 145 th in Scottsdale. We were lucky enough to discover this trail after meeting a Scottsdale local who recommended it. We found parking at the entrance although there is parking down the mountain another 500 feet away from this one if full. Even though it was 56 degrees at the start it can get warm as the trails are a moderate climb in parts but with good trail shoes and balance you most likely would not need hiking poles . The views from different points are worth a view and we were lucky to go early on a Saturday where the trails were not crowded. It was dog friendly and clean.No facilities so definitely need to bring water or drink of choice. Return: definitely for the views read more

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A lovely hike. It has some elevation gain but is not overwhelming. There is also a lovely false peak a bit over a mile from the top which is a nice rest or place to stay as the rest of your party does the last bit of the hike. Lots of cute desert plants as well! read more

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Great hike spot! Nicely groomed trails, family friendly, please do heed recommendations, though - do not hike when it's too hot.

Went this morning with my wife and it was beautiful. I am relatively new to hiking. This was a great trail with some moderate climbs. I would highly recommend giving it a try. Bring water and wear the correct footwear. read more

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What a beautiful thanksgiving day hike!! Hope you have an awesome day with your loved ones! Total mileage 4.64. Not too far RT, however we went up to sunrise peak and so it continues to gain elevation. It was definitely some good exercise! If you're not hiking regularly or in good shape like the folks I saw trail running, your legs will hurt. Mine sure do! I haven't been hiking much lately lol. There are lots of rocky areas and you need to pay attention. I like hikes that I can space out and lose myself in nature but this hike requires you watch your footing more than the scenery, so not my favorite thing. However there are many great views to stop and take in the sights. - we completed our hike in 2.5 hrs including breaks and having a snack on the peak - dogs allowed - parking lots available x2 - people were friendly - no trash found, trail is clean and clearly marked read more

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One thing I love about living in the Valley is the many opportunities of hiking that we have, and thanks to a friend I have added Sunrise Trailhead to my list of places to hike. For those who are in great shape this might not be challenging but for some it could be, but what I can say, if it was hard the 1st time for ya, keep coming back and it gets easier! Total milage is under 5 miles and there is some elevation gain. The trial is marked well. It's definitely great exercise. Now that the weather is great again you might see me out on this trail! Happy Hiking Season in the valley! read more

First day I went closer to sunset and signs were posted that the parking lot closes at 530pm I belive. So I only went up half way bc I didn't want to get locked in. The next morning I went up a little after sunrise and it was a great hike with lots of views. Definitely very windy so be prepared read more

Sunrise Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

My first official trail hike in Arizona. I am not an outdoorsy person so my review is a bit partial, but this was a lot of fun. 2+ miles to the peak with elevation gain of 1100 feet. It is challenging climb but not terribly so. Going down is trickier for an inexperienced hiker like myself. There are few snakes here and we encountered one, but this could be a rare occurrence. Clean trail and no garbage. The view from the top is incredible! read more

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Whew it's been a while since I've reviewed anything, thanks COVID-19. Anyways, hiking has been a bit difficult with social distancing but it's so nice to get out into nature. I like Sunrise trail, it's moderate but provides enough of a challenge to get a good workout in. It's beautiful and quiet, not much parking at the Trailhead but quite a bit in the overflow lot, which is a short walk away. This is not a shaded trail, so be aware and bring water and wear sunscreen. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is well maintained and this site is no exception. Water fountains available but no bathrooms here. On my most recent hike, we saw a deer of sorts! Beautiful creature, thought it was a large plastic bag initially haha. I would suggest hiking early in the summer, we began around 6:10am and ended after 8am. It was hot, but this trail provides relief with some wind and some shady areas. Would recommend! read more

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Hiking in this area is a blast, and I just love when there is a parking lot at the trailhead. The hike to Sunrise peak ascends 1095' and it's a 4.4 mile round trip. This was a rocky trail to the top and you're gonna want some good shoes for it. Also pack enough water and take your time to admire the beautiful scenery. read more

It's a good and great hiking trails with good difficulty and beautiful wildlife and views

I like to hike here a lot as this is probably the closest yet still gives me the workout I need. It is 2 miles one way to the peak, and sign is there to tell you when you are at 1.2 miles and 0.2 miles to the peak. Trails are mostly sand and gravel, make it easy hike. My daughter was four when she first made the hike to the peak without being carried. I like to get there shortly before sunrise to enjoy the view of rising sun. I stop to look back to enjoy the sunrise. 360 degree of panoramic view from the peak is so beautiful. Enjoy the Scottsdale and Fountain Hills area view. the Fountain goes up every hour on the o'clock, so I like to time myself to be at the peak when the fountain goes up at the Fountain Park in the town of the Fountain Hills. The Year-around tallest fountain doesn't go up if wind is too strong. Easy hike for me as I hike almost every week, but like any other desert outing, I always bring plenty of water with me. Wearing good pair of shoes help as it is easy to slip on gravel when descending. Parking is limited. But they do have overflow parking just down the street. read more

Sunrise Trailhead - Half way sign - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Great hike, bit busy especially on a weekends. Amazing views! read more

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Can you see houses and the freeway from here? Yes. Although less than ideal when hiking it's still a great challenging hike to the summit. It does offer a spectacular view of the entire Phoenix valley. There are technical sections of the trail so be prepared. read more

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This is my favorite hike in Arizona. Every time I hike the trail, I love it more. It has beautiful view the entire hike. Huge saguaro cacti, well made trail to follow, and overall the hike isn't too easy or too difficult. There's usually other people hiking but it's never crowded. It's a good trail for dogs too. read more

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Easy to get there, very beautiful trails and magnificent views. I like it because is not to crowded. Parking is a bit limited, so if you can carpool its the best way to do it. No toilet in the entrance, but there are drinking water fountains for people and dogs. There are some wild poppies and lupine are in blooms right now (February). You can see the fountain hills from top, it's beautiful! I will definitely comeback when the cactus are in blooms, I wonder what month it will be since I'm new in This area. read more

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What makes a great hiking trail? Well, to name a few things: 1. Beautiful Scenery 2. Panoramic Views 3. Well Maintained, Easily Navigated Trail 4. Safety 5. Minimal Crowds 6. Clean And those six things are my top reason for hiking Sunrise Trail. As a native Arizonan, and avid hiker, I've literally hiked most of the main Arizona trails. In college, our team used to run up Piestewa Peak on a daily basis. I've hiked Camelback Mountain countless times. The problems with Piestewa and Camelback are the parking and crowds. It's almost impossible to get parking at Piestewa during peak hours, and Camelback parking, it's almost impossible not to get a ticket around that Paradise Valley neighborhood. Sunrise Trail is currently not a super well known/well used trail, so there's always a place to park. But the parking lot is pretty tiny, so I might be screwing this up for myself by reviewing this trail. From start to finish, the trail is very pretty. There are numerous saguaros, and other cacti all over. It's a pretty lush trail, especially for the desert. Obviously, in the spring, everything is in bloom, and it's much prettier. The trail is well designated with signage. The first half of the trail is on the south side, and at the halfway mark, it saddles the mountain, and you can see the Phoenix valley for the first time on the trail. I like to take some time there and get some photos. The rest of the trail is again on the south side, until you reach the base of summit. From there, you can see the Fountain Hills valley to the north-east, and the Phoenix valley to the south-west. I've included a photo of that gorgeous view below. There's a sign there, designating the altitude and stats. From there, the trail gets a little steep and rocky. Still manageable though. It's about five minutes to the top. The top is a BIG payoff with 360 views of the whole valley. Absolutely amazing! CONCLUSION This a very manageable trail for first timers and avid hikers alike. Worth the trip. I love it here. 5/5 RECOMMEND OF NOTE *Limited Parking. *No public restrooms. *Water fountain at the trailhead. read more

What a gorgeous trail! Beautiful views. Clean and well maintained. There is a parking lot at the trail head with water fountains and maps. This hike kicked my ass. It's uphill til you get to the top of the mountain (I mean duh but it was still surprisingly difficult for me). You're basically climbing stairs for 2+ miles til you get to the top. Took us about 2 hours. A GREAT work out though! The whole time I was just thinking "thighs and glutes, thighs and glutes!" read more

Sunrise Trailhead - Great trail! - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

This is a great workout! Definitely not what I expected at all. My friend made it seem like a stroll in the park until you got to the top but I definitely felt the burn once were done from this one hell of an inclined trail from the start. Seems like a longer trail than most trails ive been on in the valley. Definitely have to get here early like before 7 am to miss all the traffic like any other trail but its definitely not as busy as camelback which is definitely nice. So if you are looking for a different view of the valley and a great workout this is definitely a great trail. read more

NO BATHROOM AT TRAIL! PEE BEFOREHAND (or behind a cactus...like I had to...). Awesome switchback trail. And it wasn't crowded at all. There were maybe 10 people at the top when we arrived, but only ran into 2-3 heading up. Since it's a switchback (zig-zag pattern), the trail is on a consistent gradient making it manageable for any fitness level. Some parts might have you breathing heavy but this trail isnt occupied like Camelback, so you won't be in anyone's way if you decide to break. The last .25 miles to the peak is steeper than the rest, but don't give up, the view is awesome! Lots of loose rocks on trail so wear good hiking shoes. read more

Sunrise Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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This is one of my favorite trails to hike, hands down!! It's been a while since I be been up this trail and in mad at myself for letting it escape me for so long. Tucked away and secluded...well groomed and not overcrowded...challenging enough to consider it a workout but still able to be enjoyed by kids and dogs...and not to mention it has some INCREDIBLE views and scenery. Excellent trail to say the very least! read more

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Really like this trail, a challenging trail not for the weak of leg. Started our climb at 9am and took us an hour to hike to the peak. Water fountain located at the bottom of the hill as well as dog waste bags. Great views of Phoenix with little areas to rest on the way up. I got quite upset at people walking their dogs in the heat. Dog owners I can't stress this enough, don't walk your dogs when it's above 74F it's cruel for your dog! If you insist on brining your dog up this mountain do it early in the morning when it's a lot cooler and make sure to bring lots of water. I'd like to see some of these dog owners walk bare foot up this mountain with a fur coat on in 80 degree weather... Sorry for my rant, great hike and I highly recommend. I am from Canada so this was a great way to see Phoenix from high up. read more

Sunrise Trailhead - Photo was taken at one of the rest spots on the way to the peak. - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

great moderate trail for a sunrise hike. during the week, plenty or parking near the trail head. read more

Make sure you hit the first outlook about 1.5 miles in from the trailhead. Gorgeous view of Scottsdale from the mountain ridge. Lots of saguaro cacti to look at along the way. read more

2nd best trail I've hiked in the Phoenix metro area. Tom's Thumb in Scottsdale is my number 1. Certainly not easy and for everyone, but worth the effort. As always, bring a hat, and plenty of water. Wear sturdy shoes people. Leave the flip flops in the car. Things I liked: It's only about 10 minutes from where I'm staying. The trailhead has water for people & dogs, great parking, & is easy to get to on paved roads. The trail itself is easy to follow, well marked, and a reasonable distance, about 4 miles round trip to the top. The views are great, even during the middle of the day. I went during the week, and there were lots of hikers, but not an overwhelming amount. Things I disliked: Not much really, but I have to say, the trail can be treacherous. It is very rocky with lots of slippery gravel. Be careful. Consider using a walking stick or sticks, mostly to help you on the way down. A bathroom at the trail head would have been nice. read more

Great hike. Much easier than other trails in the area. Don't have to be in crazy shape but the view from the top is amazing!! Hiked it with my cousin while she was in town and there was a lady there who usually closes it up (and makes sure everyone makes it off the trail at night). read more

This trailhead is a hidden gem! I almost don't want to write about it so it wont get too crowded. It's classified as a moderate hike which I would agree with. Easier than Camelback or Piestewa and way less crowded. The trails are very groomed and are mostly sand, no loose rocks which is great for trail running. Being that this is out of the city, it seems to be a bit greener and a nice change from all the brown hiking trails in Phoenix. You also get some awesome views, if you time it right you can see the fountain in Fountain Hills going off. The hike is about 4 miles round trip with very few switchbacks making for a moderate but good workout. read more

Sunrise Trailhead - You can see the fountain in Fountain Hills from this trail. - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Great hike. 2 miles to the trailhead. Easy access to the trailhead with plenty of parking spaces. They have a few water fountains at the trailhead including a dog fountain. read more

Sunrise Trailhead - Midway point between the trailhead and the peak. - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Nice challenge but yet relaxing. Once to the top I was all by myself and enjoyed the breeze and my surroundings. Spotted a couple of lizards. As always, take water on any hike. I would do this hike again in a heartbeat. Took a few hours after taking account a few breaks and about 20 minutes at the top. Go do this hike! read more

Great trail for casual hikes with kids, but also great for a quick run up to the peak. Amazing views at sunrise or sunset, but watch out for the automatically closing gate. read more

What a gorgeous trail - shame on me for living in Scottsdale this long and not hiking Sunrise Peak until now! After my long, drawn-out acceptance that Camelback is no longer the epitome of hiking in the Valley, this trail provided much encouragement to escape the masses that now crowd more popular hikes and to continue exploring the amazing landscape that is Arizona. I would call this an intermediate hike. Nothing too technical required by way of footing, but the incline is fairly steady and rarely gives up. This of course means footing on the way down should be taken with care, as you may grab a granular patch gravel and find yourself slipping. The steepest sections don't last very long, making the majority of the hike very enjoyable without feeling too labor intensive or too mild - excellent heart-pumping but accessible climb. My dogs faired very well despite some rocky portions, and the trail was mostly wide enough to pass people coming up and down without too much pause. Traffic was steady but never crowded. I imagine lots of water is key on warmer days, but try not to pass this up in winter months, as it's truly breathtaking on a cool, crisp morning. Bathrooms at the trailhead are great, but you'll not find much hidden cover along the trail if you need to go again. May want to have a lookout with you :) The views. Holy crap the views. Plenty of places to stop and take it in, but the Peak itself will not disappoint. A 360 perspective out to 4 Peaks, over to Camelback, South Mountain and beyond. A real treat especially on a clear day. If like me you are a bit jaded about sharing more popular hikes with inexperienced hikers and tourists, go enjoy a lesser traveled trail and bask at the top in a much superior vista! read more

This was our first trail hike on our weekend in Phoenix. It did not disappoint! The views are beautiful and it's not terribly difficult.

This is a great hike in the Valley that I encourage everyone to try at least once. Its a bit strenuous, but worth the effort. Parking at the trailhead is somewhat limited, so keep that in mind. Bring the usual (water, hat, sunscreen) and perhaps a little extra and enjoy your hike! The views are amazing, especially to the SE towards the Superstitions. read more

Worth the climb! Starts at a very nice trailhead that has a seating area and at times a volunteer who will answer any questions re the trail. They will also make sure you have water! The hike is not overly exhausting, but it does have some climb to it. The trip though is worth taking it slow and enjoying the views! At one point you do have to 'look' for the trail to get to the upper views..just think UP.. Once to the top you can see 360degrees. You can also see the other trails that lead here, and also up and around the next 'hill'! Enjoy! read more

Start at 144th, good 2 mile hike to peak. Climb is about 1100 feet. Nice view at top