Proceed left to Desert Classic Trail. Yes, leashed pets are allowed on the trail. Enjoy the trail! Wear hiking boots or trail shoes if you have them due to the rocky and nature of the trail and loose gravel. Tags: Arizona, AZ, dog-friendly, Fat Mans Pass, hidden valley, hike, Hiking, Mormon Trail, National Trail, Phoenix, Photography, South Mountain, State Park, Trail Write-Ups. Access: Start at Mormon Trailhead to proceed to Mormon Trail. Moving your way to the top of the first hill only rewards you with another couple of hills to hike up. This is a popular rest and picture spot! Dogs are also allowed on the trail but must be kept on a leash. {{current_weather.dt | momentjs( atts.date )}}. Learn how to create your own. Sign in. 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. I would like to think you're ripping the band-aid off straight away. Access: Start at the Park Main Entrance. Geronimo: For shuttling huckesters. Arizona Hiking Yoga 2. There will come another point soon after where the trail seems to end at a long wall of humongous rocks. Thank you S Mountain for sharing your land and resources with me today. It looks like it could be a plastic mold of the rock tunnel, and that it cant be real. This is a busy trailhead, and all the locals know where it is. Access: Start at the Park Main Entranced. So while it may get you breathing heavy and your heart rate up, it wont take too long to do so. Review"Take a Hike. We will then reconnect with the Mormon Trail to make our way back to the parking lot. In just under a half-mile, the trail encounters Fat Mans Pass. The parking lot for the trail-head will be on your right, at this curve. 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. The Mormon Trail begins with an immediate incline and it doesnt let up until you are at the junction with National Trail. Required fields are marked *. Access: Start at Warpaint Dr. Access Trailhead. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. This makes a good loop starting from the Pima Canyon Trailhead. As you continue, the ending of this loop will not disappoint. At the 1.2-mile point, a sign marks the junction of two connected loops. North side of mountain so a bit more green. Mormon Trail is pretty short seeing as how it is a little bit over a mile long. All of the above are regarding the Central Avenue entrance to the park. The reason is because from Fat Mans Pass you will be hiking down, and will be able to see the paths laid out better. Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Review"Take a Hike. Turn left onto National and then turn right to proceed to Hidden Valley Trail. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Passage Map refers to the downloadable map available for this passage. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 34 min to complete. Climb straight up and over these rocks as well. The most direct path is to take Mormon Trail to National and then to Hidden Valley. As usual your guide will meet you at the trail head wearing a backpack with yoga mats attached and holding an ASU Umbrella. The climb up was challenging. 6. From here, Fat Man's Pass is about .5 miles away. Moderate 4.7 (6597) South Mountain Preserve. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. by Dylan James | Feb 17, 2023 | HIKE, HIKE-Phoenix | 0 comments, Id like to give credit to alltrails for some of my imagery. 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. Completing the Mormon Loop and then heading back down to the parking lot is just over five miles. Watch your footing, but make sure to look up from time to time to drink in the panoramic city and boulder sceneries! Some of the marble boulders were very slick, so we negotiated them on our butts. Seeing as how Hidden Valley is located off of National Trail (which runs the entire length of South Mountain), there are multiple ways of getting there. Then after a short distance you will meet up with a second marker indicating to turn right onto National to get you back to the Mormon Trail and head back to the parking lot. 4. 5. Because its close to town, the route can get very busy. Print/PDF map. WebTrailheads - South Mountain Park/Preserve. Travel south on Mormon Trail to turn left onto Mormon Loop Trail. Your email address will not be published. Proceed on Lower Corona until you can take a left onto Corona De Loma Trail. We will go at a relatively fast pace of around a 20 min/mile for the group. The trail is steep and rocky, with loose gravel and occasional switchbacks. Follow Piedras Dr. to connect to Kiwanis Trailhead. 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. Fat Mans Pass is one of the most popular hikes near Phoenix, AZ. Bring and drink enough water throughout the hike 1-2 Liters will be adequate. 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. Hikers should come prepared with plenty of water, appropriate footwear, and other necessary gear for a safe and enjoyable hike. This short half-mile loop will take you through a narrow rock formation (known as Fat Mans Pass), a wash area full of wildlife and a naturally formed rock tunnel to walk through. 2. Park at the San Juan Rd. Join us for one of my favorite hikes at South Mountain. Mormon Trail: Also called 24the Street, since it starts or ends at the 24the street lot. 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. Lots of bikers. The trail went over South Pass, then worked its way through the mountains. Activities: //