Mountain trails in the hills of Phoenix. Phoenix Mountain Preserve is home of the famed Piestewa Peak. Drive and hike further for great views of the city. Plenty of parking. The first lot has a tendency to be full. Drive in a little further. There are great trails from any lot. Restrooms and picnic ramadas are located near the parking lots. The shade structures are low. This helps keep the tables nice and shaded. Trash cans are nearby. Be safe. Lots of signs posted about heat warnings and hydration. There is little to no shade on the trails. For safety sake, trails are closed during excessive heat warnings. Stay on the trails. Keep an eye out for snakes and scorpions. While keeping an eye out for dangerous creatures, don't forget to look for other animals. This nature preserve is known for bird watching. Great horned owls and red tailed hawks are known to inhabit the area. Spring of 2023 has also had a splattering of wildflowers. Most of the flowers where we were hiking were little yellow pops of sunshine. There were also a few purple flowers. read more