Review"Take a Hike. This hike is located near Phoenix, AZ. This is a busy trailhead, and all the locals know where it is. There are no markers within this area so its up to you to decide how you want to navigate down these sections of rocks. North side of mountain so a bit more green. As you have probably imagined so far, Fat Mans Pass is a very narrow path that is incorporated into the trail. Use the ModernHiker mobile app to download this map and complete trail description for offline access. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 5 min to complete. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. I loved this trail. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. [CDATA[ The buckles are only available to finishers who complete the survey and are made available at no cost thanks to our friends at Pioneer Title Agency. Once we lose our sense of wonder and the ability to see beyond loud, immediate things on a hiking trail, whats left are rote progressions chronicled on Instagram. But its a mistake to let these spoilers suck all the air out of the room. Dogs are also allowed on the trail but must be kept on a leash. With its moderate difficulty level and easy accessibility, the Mormon Trailhead is a great option for hikers looking to experience the beauty of South Mountain. There are a lot of bikes. The viewpoints continue as you ascend the multiple switchbacks on this trail. If crowds really annoy you, go on a weekday. Arizona Hiking Yoga Corona De Loma is a rough and sometimes steep trail heading up from the Desert Classic to the National Trail near Buena Vista Lookout atop South Mountain Park. Parking Cost: Free. As usual your guide will meet you at the trail head wearing a backpack with yoga mats attached and holding an ASU Umbrella. After getting through Fat Mans Pass, you then will be walking in a sandy wash area. Although, not a very long trail, it does offer direct access to the National Trail and Telegraph Pass Trail, once you reach the roadway at the trails end. South Mountain Map The Track and Waypoints refer to downloadable GPS data. The National Trail on South Mountain is easily one of the most iconic mountain bike trails in Phoneix, Arizona, if not the whole state. 2. The enchanting half-mile walk in thissecluded corridor ends with a passage through a natural tunnel well-known for its rock overhangs, sandy substrate, petroglyph panel and lush drainage-fed vegetation. Hang a left and walk the 1.1-mile return leg that traces a ridgeline embellished with a major rock-art site and a wash with many more petroglyphs etched by the ancient Hohokam people who were active in the area from roughly 450 to 1450. Although few would argue against the benefits of setting and achieving goals, what constitutes a best trail is debatable. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. Tealights will guide you, but a flashlight with a red setting is recommended. Bring and drink enough water throughout the hike 1-2 Liters will be adequate. This area, known as Hidden Valley, is a bit more concealed from the weather than nearby landscapes, which creates special rock formations that make this a unique trail to explore. South Mountain is one of the most notable mountains in the East Valley due to its different trailheads in Ahwatukee, Chandler, and Phoenix. At the 1.2-mile point, a sign marks the junction of two connected loops. To get to the Mormon Trailhead, take exit 155 for Baseline Rd. Access: Start at Beverly Canyon Trailhead to connect to Beverly Canyon Trail. Elevation: 1,338-1,566 feet. Theoretically, hikers should be the last people whod succumb to not being able to see the forest for the trees. Trailmatez is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon, the amazing logo, amazonsupply, and the amazonsupply logo are trademarks of amazon.com, inc or its affiliates, Steep climb, rocky terrain, scenic overlooks, historic trail. Respect wildlife and stay at a safe distance, as many desert animals can be dangerous. To protect these irreplaceable heritage sites as well as sensitive vegetation and wildlife habitats, its important to stay on trails and not touch or alter anything. First mile is mostly uphill and moderately strenuous. It was a record setting 110 degrees on Monday (I think Tuesday too), and then One for Mormon Loop on your left and another for National Trail straight ahead. These false summits are a little annoying. The list below contains all of the passages in order from south to north. Small parking lot so be prepared park on the street and walk a short while to tge trailhead. Print/PDF map. Trail Difficulty: Easy The trail descends down off the hills in the flats, then meanders and undulates until meeting up with the Bajada trail at the San Juan gate area. WebHidden Valley Trail Via Mormon Trail. Take another left onto Piedras Dr. The directions for this hike are simple: stay on the main Mormon Trail (which later turns into the Hidden Valley Trail) until a half mile past the first intersection at the top of the hill. Get to know this 3.6-mile loop trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Long day of ups and downs with gorgeous views. Getting there: From central Phoenix, go south on Seventh Avenue to Baseline Road. Proceed to Dirt Road Trail. You can actually walk on top of the rock and then hop down onto the trail below. Might have had a few bikes out on the loop - all well mannered & no problem! Proceed on Lower Corona until you can take a left onto Corona De Loma Trail. Mile 0.0: The trailhead for the Mormon Trail is located at the end of 24th Street in Phoenix. Please viewthe information provided by thelinks below to learn more about reserving a ramada. Ramada Usage inSouth MountainPark/Preserve: The ramadas inSouth Mountain Park/Preserveare available for public use, andseveral require a reservation. We will meet at the ramada on the west end of the Mormon trailhead parking lot and then embark on the Mormon Trail. Mile 1.0: After a challenging climb, youll reach a saddle with sweeping views of the valley. Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed pets are allowed on the trail. DISTANCE: 3.6 mile Lollipop ELEVATION Gain: 925 feet DURATION: 2 hrs and 15 minutes or so FACILITIES: None START TIME: 4:00 PM. See dazzling rock formations. Mormon Trail Guide 1. We will go at a relatively fast pace of around a 20 min/mile for the group. WebMormon Trailhead: 8610 S. 24th St. Beverly Canyon Trailhead: 8800 S. 46th St. Pima Canyon Trailhead: 9904 S. 48th St. Telegraph Pass Trailhead: 14251 S. Desert Foothills Parkway Trailhead Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Gated entrances will close at 7, but trails remain open until 11 p.m. Turn left onto National and then turn right to proceed to Hidden Valley Trail. Access: Start at the Park Main Entranced. Hike starts promptly at 9:00 am. We only did the Mormon trail which was @ 3 miles total. It is one of the older trails in the park, and it was built with inmate labor plus Civilian Conservation Corps men back in the 1930's The large switchbacks remain as a testimony of their hard work and dedication. Do not expect to receive a spot in the lot (not along the road) if you want to hike in any combination of: weekends, during tourism season, before noon. Thank you S Mountain for sharing your land and resources with me today. Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at arizonahiking.blogspot.com. A moderate trail with some technical hiking sections but mostly gravel. The correct way is to climb up those boulders to the rest of the trail. This trail also provides alternative routes through connections with the Derby Loop, Bajada Trail, and Las Lomitas Loop, while traveling upward to the roadway. Therefore you will see two separate trail markers for Hidden Valley. It's a popular hiking trail due to its proximity to the trailhead parking lot. Access: Start at 19th Ave. Trailhead. Access: Start at Pima Canyon Trailhead. Proceed to Pyramid Trail. Mormon Trail starts off with an immediate incline. Fun all day long. Mormon Trail This blog was thoughtfully written by Annie Nguyen. South Mountain Park/Preserve Trails Master Plan, Register for Hikes and Outdoor Nature Programs, Learn AboutSouth Mountain Park Trails Master Plan, South Mountain Towers Contractor Information, Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department facility. Geronimo: For shuttling huckesters. In fact, though, when you walk up to the end of these rocks youll notice that the trail continues. The most direct path is to take Mormon Trail to National and then to Hidden Valley. 3. In just under a half-mile, the trail encounters Fat Mans Pass. Great trail, well marked. This is one of those hikes you want to do in the early morning. Totaling just under four miles, Hidden Valley can be accessed via the Mormon and National trails; starting at the trailhead, youll follow Mormon until you reach National Trail West. Judging from trail wear, lots of people start this trail, but most don't go far. Learn how to create your own. There is not much shade along this trail. They may hike, bike, stroll on the roads without fear of traffic from public vehicles. Stay on the main trail, and you will eventually (2 miles from the trailhead) reach the turn for Fat Mans Pass. Most people take the Mormon Trail to the National Trail and the national trail to either end of Hidden Valley. Enjoy the trail! WebEach is handmade in Arizona and we know youll agree that these are the finest finishers award of any long-distance trail in America. It's easy to miss, but with this being a popular trail, you'll most likely see other hikers around this spot. Proceed to hike on San Juan Rd. The big-picture takeaway is that the Mormon Trail-Hidden Valley Loop is a wonderful hike just a few miles from downtown. Turn left and head a hundred yards downhill to compare your gut against the two boulders. Note:The park'sscenic roadways are shared by motor vehicles, bikers and hikers. Access: Start from the Area 620 Trailhead. Due tothe many blind corners, narrow sectionsandtreacherous drop-offs,extreme caution should bemaintained and adherence to thespeed limit followed. Moderate 4.7 (6597) South Mountain Preserve. This is one of the great features of this trail; you can turn around at the top and do just under 2.5 miles total or you can choose to continue your outing on the National Trail or the Mormon Loop. Mormon Trail: Also called 24the Street, since it starts or ends at the 24the street lot. All vehicles must turn into the Activity Complex and park there. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Access: Start at Telegraph Pass Trailhead. by Dylan James | Feb 17, 2023 | HIKE, HIKE-Phoenix | 0 comments, Id like to give credit to alltrails for some of my imagery. Always carry a first aid kit and emergency supplies, including a whistle and a map or GPS device. After an approximately 1.5 mile long steep ascent, we will begin the Hidden Valley Loop over rolling terrain and soon after reach Fat Man's Pass. Weathered rock slabs that hang from cliffs form odd sculptures that frame views of the Valley and surrounding mountain ranges. Phoenix is so big its hard to give general directions that are accurate. WebThe Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander . There are two big boulders that are very close together, creating a narrow pathway for hikers to go through. You can find her on Instagram at @_annien. I would like to think you're ripping the band-aid off straight away. After 1 mile, the trail slows its steady incline as you reach the first intersection. Dog-Friendly: Yes, dog must be on a leash. Instead of hiking down the rocks below, if you look to the right you will notice a little side path where you can get down by walking around the bigger rocks which feels much safer. Do it Right." How long is Mormon Loop trail? I would highly recommend walking sticks. If youre willing to hike another half-mile, you can see the natural tunnel on Hidden Valley Trail. Photographs are encouraged, though. We will then reconnect with the Mormon Trail to make our way back to the parking lot. Any GPS, map, or phone app will be able to get you to the right place. The trail will start out easy and flat, then ascend up and traverse the hills behind the ranger station. You'll pass through a small valley area where the scenery completely changes as the trail looks more like sand. These are busy trails on weekdays and insanely busy trails on the weekends, be sure not to leave any litter behind, and to stay on the designated path. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to proceed to Mormon Trail. It is steep in places, but moderate in most places. The classic Phoenix circuit has many of the positive components on hiker checklists. You'll see older children and dogs on the trail. During this incline, you will undoubtedly notice the large boulders in the middle of the trail- just watch your step as these appear in several spots. It has a way of making you feel so small! Excellent conditions, almost 9km from the car. Challenging, must have some mountain biking experience, take plenty of water. We will be doing an intermediate afternoon/evening hike to Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail. Beautiful views. You can alternatively make this a loop as a part of the Mormon Trail Loop, or you can add a loop at the Hidden Valley trail, following Fat Mans Pass through and continuing on the trail to add another half mile to the trail. Phoenix is so big its hard to give general directions that are accurate. After yoga we will walk back down for another 45 minutes to where we started. Along the way, you will see several views of the city of Phoenix. To get to the trailhead: From the Phoenix area, take I-10 south to Chandler Blvd. This makes a good loop starting from the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Fat Mans Pass and The Tunnel were fun sites along the way. As a matter of fact, this is one of the trails I took when I first started hiking before I knew what other gems Arizona has to offer. Access: Start at the Park Main Entrance. The trailhead parking lot entranceis open until 9 p.m. Natural Resources Office(business hours only):602-495-5458, Contact Natural Resources Division staffor call602-261-8318. Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Or you can also slide down on one of the rocks as well. This trail offers a steady climb to the upper areas of South Mountain Park. As you enter you will immediately feel a cooler breeze hit your face and the temperature drop. Mormon Trail-Hidden Valley Loop Length: 6.2 miles. One of the largest groups to move west was the Mormons. 2. WebWHEN: Tuesday, March 7 5:45-7:15pm Guided Hike 7:30-8:30pm Self-Guided Hike DETAILS: The trail we will be doing is a 1.25 mile loop over rough terrain. Beyond the tunnel, go right at the National Trail junction and follow the route 1.4 miles to the Mormon Loop Trail. 3. Try this 6.2-mile loop trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Print/PDF map. This is the starting point of the 1.4-mile section of the trail. Enjoy this 4.7-mile loop trail near Phoenix, Arizona. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Saturday, lots of people and dogs, beautiful hike on a gorgeous afternoon. WebMeet at the trailhead at 8:30 am. Mile 0.5: At this point, youll reach the historic stone house, which was once part of a Mormon settlement in the area. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to connect to Mormon Trail. Well worth the hike! Desert dweller always in search of new hiking adventures. Access: Start at the Park Main Entrance. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The Mormon Trail usually followed the north side of the North Platte River west through Nebraska and Wyoming to follow the Sweetwater River farther west. It is a 1/2 mile walk from the San Juan gate to the start of the trail on the north side of the road. wpEasyChart.wpNewChart("easyChartDiv6d9b8001", {"type":"line","width":"300","height":"300","title":"Hike Profile","minaxis":"1200","groupnames":"estimated elevation","groupcolors":"f9b81c","valuenames":"0,.5,1,1.5,2,2.5,3,3.5,4","group1values":"1255,1645,1998,2069,2079,2069,1998,1645,1255","group2values":"0,0,0","group3values":"0,0,0","group4values":"0,0,0","group5values":"0,0,0","group6values":"0,0,0","group7values":"0,0,0","group8values":"0,0,0","group9values":"0,0,0","group10values":"0,0,0","group11values":"0,0,0","group12values":"0,0,0","group1markers":"","group2markers":"","group3markers":"","group4markers":"","group5markers":"","group6markers":"","group7markers":"","group8markers":"","group9markers":"","group10markers":"","group11markers":"","group12markers":"","markercolor":"FFFF00","imagealtattr":"Altitude Chart for This Hike","imagetitleattr":"Hiking Elevation Chart","hidechartdata":true,"chartcolor":"FFFFFF","chartfadecolor":"DDDDDD","datatablecss":"hentry easyChartDataTable","imgstyle":"text-align:center;float:center;","watermark":"","watermarkvert":"","watermarkcolor":"A0BAE9","currency":"","currencyright":false,"precision":"","grid":false,"axis":"both"}); We will go at a relatively fast pace of around a 20 min/mile for the group. Nearest Town: Phoenix, AZ WebJoin us for one of my favorite hikes at South Mountain. Because its close to town, the route can get very busy. Very picturesque. $134/mo Get pre-approved Beds Baths 11.97 Acres (Lot) About This Home Just under 12 acres being sold individually or with 2 adjacent lots! Proceed to Beverly Canyon Trail. Very limited shade and bring plenty of water if you do the loops. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Proceed to Javelina Canyon Trail. Fat Mans Pass is one of the most popular hikes near Phoenix, AZ. Want to report conditions for this trail? Check. Length 2.4 miElevation gain 744 ftRoute type Out & back. The Mormon Trail: A Photographic Exhibit June 3, 2016 Curated in 1997 by Linda Thatcher During the 1800s more than 500,000 emigrants crossed the Western plains hoping to find a new and better life for a variety of reasons. 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Up and traverse the hills behind the ranger station is open year-round and is to! You can see the natural tunnel on Hidden Valley people take the Mormon trailhead lot! Succumb to not being able to get you to the trailhead ) reach the first intersection walk on top the. Path is to climb up those boulders to the upper areas of south Mountain map the Track Waypoints... You feel so small written by Annie Nguyen of two connected loops desert animals can dangerous... Offline access a first aid kit and emergency supplies, including a whistle and a map GPS! See older children and dogs on the roads without fear of traffic from public vehicles the way! In America trail: also called 24the street, since it starts or ends at the National and. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 5 min to complete (! Junction of two connected loops, bikers and hikers way, you will see two separate trail markers for Valley... 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