Piestewa Peak

Such a great hike! This trail is pretty intense. Keeps your heart rate up, which is what I love about it. The trail is easy to follow and the steps make it easier to climb. The parking isn’t great, it can get crowded quickly, especially with the nice weather. The summit has a great view of the valley and totally worth the heart pumping hike!

One of my favorite places to hike! I love it here. So many different trails with varying difficulty and length. Parking is not too much of a hassle either since there are multiple parking lots available. The summit trail gets busy (sometimes even at night) but it’s not too bad. Not a lot of people on the longer trails so if you want to just take in the nature and the view this is your best bet.
Be sure to wear sturdy shoes– hiking shoes would be best because the trails are not paved, so it can get pretty rocky and tough. Bring plenty of water plus a flashlight for night hikes.
It’s very convenient for someone who works till 5pm because the park gates are open till 7pm but the park is actually open till 11pm.
Good hiking spot for beginers as well as pros!
Enjoy and be safe!

Holy hike.
So… I had friends from out of town who wanted to go for a hike. Being new to Phoenix myself, I decided to troll through Unilocal.Checked out camelback and it sounded like a very intense hike so I looked at the second high rated hike which was this one.
We had two cars and both vehicles were able to find parking fairly easily. I think I waited about five minutes and was able to get a spot. There appeared to be three different lots.
Once we started the hike I guess I realized how out of shape I am and how steep this hike was :) oh boy oh boy. Word of advice, wear good shoes. But I couldn’t quit because lil kids were running past me and I people with babies were hiking with little effort. I figured, the top must be worth it.
Someone mentioned on Unilocal earlier the juice is worth the squeeze. Man were they right. The peak boasts some incredibly breath taking views.
Interestingly, the peak was speckled with orange peels people had thrown onto the ground. I wonder why oranges are the choice of snack for hikers versus other fruits. I pondered this fact for quite a bit as I appreciated the views.
Going down was sooo much easier. Loved it.
At the end of the hike, the whole party commented on how everyone had trembling shaking muscles :) great workout!

Wanna go to the second highest peak in Phoenix? Then this is the spot! However, you need to be fit and in shape. it isn’t a walk in the park.
Looking for an easy hike?
I took the easy route (orange) at the end of the road (Squaw Peak drive), Hike #304 is a nice easy hike (loop) with some darn nice views, easy paths, some steps, a bit rocky and uneven but overall an easy to semi-​moderate hike. It’s about 1.4 miles and took about an hour to do.
Parking really isn’t fun on the weekend. Don’t get trapped in some lots behind cars waiting, or you’ll be stuck for a while. I recommend «waiting» for a spot at the end of the road, at Squaw Peak Road as it gives you an opportunity to u-​turn freely and spot hikers coming down which gives you an estimate if the wait is worth it.
If you have already made it this far, keep waiting… it’s worth it! Really!
Sunset hikes are stunning as the Arizona skies scream color.
Simple rule always forgotten… always bring water!!!

Nice longish and strenuous hike in town and close to the airport. Lots of people of all fitness levels can be found making their way up this one. We found a survey marker at the top of the rocky summit-​cool! There were a few plastic bottles that people had dropped along the way. I carried a couple off to the bottom but wished I had brought a bag to carry more. I didn’t see this on any other trails in Arizona. This was a popular and busy trail, which I’m sure accounts for the small amount of garbage left behind. If I do it again, I’ll definitely be better prepared to pick up after my fellow humans.

I can’t even hike Mission Peak in my own state, but Piestewa? I went ALL OUT IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA HELLURRR~. This hike is extremely difficult but I conquered it. I can probably take on more difficult hikes now, now that I checked this off my hike to-​do list.
Breathtaking view at the top. There’s an easier route, but Elizabeth L. and May M. decided that we take the more strategically harder route so we did! The view is more lovely anyway.

Awesome area to do some scenic hiking for both beginners and intermediates. There are several trails to choose from: Trail 304 for beginners to the Summit Trail for the more intermediates/​advance.
Every trail was a wonderful view of the city and mountains. If you’re hiking the harder trails, I recommend bringing a lot of water and perhaps even a small snack. A lot of people hike the Summit Trail because it goes all the way to the top and you get a great aerial view of the city so make sure you step to the side if a line of people start to form behind you!
Great place to exercise — even saw a couple people go on hiking dates which is a cool idea.

Summit Trail is a really great trail that is easily accessible from the city. It’s just 1.2 miles total, but had pretty good elevation gain (1200 feet) and thus makes for a pretty good work out. It gets a lot steeper towards the end! However, the trail is really well designed and maintained, with lots of looser rock on the trail for some extra traction. The views are great starting from minute 1 of the hike, and it can be pretty tempting to always look down at your feet when you’re hiking to make sure you’re not in danger of slipping. But I definitely recommend a few breaks to at least see the awesome views of the city! Also, come prepared with water and/​or snacks! The 360 degrees view from the top is worth it!

I loved this hike! Was way more than I bargained for but worth every step! Don’t be discouraged when you think you’ve made it to the top, but it turns out to be the next turn. The view from the real top was gorgeous! I will definitely do it again!

Great hike to the top. Shocked at the number of really small children! Want to do it at night. Bring lots of water!

Really now, what more can one add about this magnificent gem in the middle of Phoenix? We have some of the best hiking spots right here in the middle of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the USA. Are we lucky or what? I adore all of our outdoor hiking spots in the valley, but this is consistently one of my favorite hikes. It’s just such an awesome experience climbing this peak. It’s like natures version of a perpetual stair climber machine. A great workout for sure with million dollar views when you reach the top. Yes, parking can be an issue, but if you are patient, you’ll find a space. Remember to try the circumference trails too to get more out of your visits here. Oh, watch for desert critters too-there’s many beautiful creatures that call this place their home. Lastly, know your hiking etiquette here and love and respect this beautiful place.

I’m not a huge outdoors hiking guy, but I do enjoy heading out to Piestewa Peak and get a good workout in and enjoy the scenery. I’ve lived in AZ for over 8 years now, and been to several good hiking areas, such as Camelback, S. Mountain, Papago, McDowell Mts, etc, but I would say PP is probably my favorite. Parking is never a problem and always friendly people on the trails.
For me this is a good challenging hike, it’s around a mountain, and think of it as a outdoor’s stairs machine. I’m a big guy, so carrying my weight makes it a great workout for me. The hiking trail can get pretty busy on early in the mornings, you’ll see some people run up and down, and some really in shape people. For me it generally takes about two hours. On the way up, I’ll stop couple of times to catch my breath and take in the scenery. When you know you’ll close to the top, you’ll see a metal railing, and when your at the top, it’s a beautiful view of the Valley. I would recommend this place for everybody.

Piestewa is a nice little in-​town hike. It isn’t long but it has some serious elevation gain for those looking to get in a work out. Very popular (especially in the winter and on weekends) parking is the real limiter here. I hike at a brisk speed and have never had a serious problem with the trail being too crowded but the parking lot is just its own monster. I recommend getting in early or… well, I don’t know a better option.
Still, if you have company in from out of town, it’s a great ‘things to do’ (if you can get them out of bed early) with a [basically] all skill levels hike and quality 360 views of the valley.
There are some sister hikes to the main peak that, admittedly, I’ve never done. Just not really interested — maybe one of these days.

This hike is fun but much more tough than I was expecting it to be! It has a lot of false peaks which is very deceptive to a first timer like myself. There were multiple times where I thought we reached the top only to find out we weren’t even close.
Though this hike is super short (approx 1.3 miles each way) it’s definitely difficult. Steep all the way up and I rolled my ankle near the bottom on the way down because the ground is so rocky and uneven. However, it’s still definitely worth the hike for the views at the top. The panorama of the entire city of Phoenix is just beautiful!

Im still in love with this hike!
Definitely went back thinking I was a beast but it didn’t take long for the trail to tell me otherwise. It was more like a stair master on crack than a paved out trail. Went alone this time. I would say it’s a safe hike for a solo trecker. Saw a lot of families, solo-​ers, duos, etc. Everyone is super friendly and encouraging. Once you make it past all the steep inclines, the view will be nothing short of amazing. Warning: there did seem to be a lot of flies around so maybe bug spray could be recommended.but.could’ve just been me, who knows.

A great workout and fun hike, Piestewa Peak is a nice alternative and change of pace from Camelback Mountain. While they are similar in terms of distance and elevation gain, Piestewa doesn’t have the sharp inclines or boulder scrambles that make the final ascent on Camelback so challenging. Having said that, it is still a lot of fun and definitely gets your heart pumping and calves burning!
TIP #1: If you are going on a weekend, get to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve early. Very early. Like Camelback, parking is limited and the area gets very crowded. I try to arrive around 5:00 — 5:30am to get a parking spot. The Summit parking lot (the one with all the cars in it!) is on the left side as you’re working your way along Squaw Peak Drive. Watch for the sign — it’s small.
TIP #2: There’s an Alternate Summit trail that starts close to the lot before the Summit lot. Worth a try!
If you miss it, or if the lot is full, I like to park all the way at the end (Apache lot). If you do this, don’t walk along the street to get back to the Summit lot. From the Apache lot, you can hop right into the Circumference Trail (302) that meets up with the Summit Trailhead. It’s a great way to add close to another mile (roundtrip) to your hike. It’s also a nice level warmup before you hit the incline of the Summit trail.
The trail itself is very well-​defined and well-​maintained. It’s a series of jagged, rocky steps all the way up to the top, with some nice switchbacks and terrain variety to make things interesting. There are no boulder scrambles and with the exception of just a few spots, you won’t need to rely on your hands to keep you on track.
Great views of the city (and Camelback!) from the top. Enjoy!
It does get very crowded, so it’s important to be respectful of the other hikers.
TIP: Dogs are not allowed on the Summit Trail, but they are allowed on the less-​traveled trails of PMP.
Pace yourself, bring plenty of water, take pictures at the top and enjoy the views along the way. Piestewa Peak is just another reason why Phoenix is a great city for hiking!

I first learned about Squaw Peak from the writings of the noted psychiatrist Dr. Milton Erickson, the driving force behind getting hypnosis approved by the American Medical Association. Dr. Erickson was noted for frequently sending his clients to climb Squaw Peak as a lesson and as a therapeutic ordeal challenge so that they could prove to themselves that they could overcome a difficult challenge as the climb here is certainly not impossible but it offers a bit of a challenge to most folks. This climb in Dr. Erickson’s view would act as a physical metaphor that would produce a profound learning in his clients that were unique to them. So I’m always looking to learn new things so I accepted the challenge to climb Squaw Peak.
This area is quite often very crowded and the parking lot fills up fast. The trail is very well marked and has been fully developed into what is essentially a winding path of stairs you travel on. There are multiple places along the trail where you can stop and rest as you take in the amazing views which change as you wind around the mountain. There are people on the trails of all skill levels, ages and fitness levels. Some folks are running up an down the mountain and stopping to do push ups as they run circles around the hikers. Make sure to bring plenty of water and anything else you might need as once you start going up you’ve got what you’re going to have. I saw small children make this climb so I would observe most folks should be able to enjoy this hike if they are willing to put the time and effort into climbing it.
So what did I learn??? I started the climb with a doctor that I work with and at first we kept pace but he liked to stop and enjoy the view more. I was very focused on completed the task at hand and reaching the goal of the peak. Eventually I pressed on focusing completely on reaching the top of the mountain as I was determined to reach my goal as quickly as possible. I paused briefly a few times to drink some water and look out over the land beneath me as I climbed higher and higher. People would pass by on the trail on the way down or be sitting in any shade they could find as I would nod at them in greeting but my gaze was always upwards and onwards focused on reaching the top. Eventually I came upon a bench with a small brass memorial plate to Dr. Milton Erickson and I had to pause and reflect on this journey. Soon enough I was back to my climb until I finally reached the peak and I waited for my companion to arrive and we enjoyed the view and climbed as far up as we could go to survey all around us. The brief moment passed quite quickly and then we began the descent and again I was completely focused on getting down as fast as possible which I did almost at a jog with again a brief pause at the Erickson bench. When I finally reached the bottom and looked back up at the stream of people flowing up and down the mountain at where I had just been I was happy with my accomplishment of having completed the journey but I wish I would’ve taken a bit more time to enjoy the journey.
So what did I learn??? I think about this climb all the time and how important it is to enjoy the journey while also reaching your goals. I’m looking for new journeys and new mountains to climb and I’ve got lots of goals to reach. Everybody that chooses to climb has their own rate and way they choose to do it and some work better than others but if they complete the journey to succeed in their goal that’s the important thing or is it? Is the important thing the starting the journey, reaching the goal or finishing the journey or is it something else?

Piestewa Peak might be one of my favorite hikes.
It is the perfect any day of the week hike but you note that Saturday/​Sundays will get packed. Good luck finding parking. Not impossible but can be somewhat challenging for sure.
At the peak there will be a lot of people but there is plenty of areas to sit and hang out and take good picture or just enjoy the view.
Don’t let this hike scare you, there are many of ages making this hike. You can make it a bit more challenging by picking up your paste if you feel that the hiking isn’t challenging enough.
Hike responsibly, drink water, pick up your trash and share a smile with those that walk by. More importantly, enjoy yourself.

This is a nice, steep, 1 mile hike that will give you a great workout. It’s pretty rocky, and there’s a few benches along the way to the top that you can use to rest. Like other people have mentioned, I would recommend light hiking shoes instead of heavier boots as this terrain is difficult and can wear out your knees and ankles — the extra weight of a heavy shoe doesn’t help.
Bring some water and try to go early on the weekend or any time during the week to avoid a ton of people.

I like to hike here as it is not as steep as the Camelback.
My daughter was five when she first made it to the top. At that time it took her 60 mins one way but she did it in 40 mins today.
This summit course was my fall back plan whenever I couldn’t find a parking at the Camelback while I was training. I seemed to find a parking here and most I had to wait was 5 mins. 1.2 miles one way and about 20 – 25 mins to get to the top gave me the workout I needed.
There is no public bathroom near the parking, otherwise, I would hike twice to get the workout I wanted.
On sunny clear day, the view from the summit is beautiful. I can see as far as the four peaks mountain.