Squaw Peak, Phoenix
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Squaw Peak, Phoenix
| type : | hiking |
|---|---|
| state : | arizona |
| city : | phoenix |
| country : | united-states |
| difficulty : | strenuous |
Adventure Tag Name
From the top, you will be treated to a spectacular panorama of the Phoenix Valley. When soon as you reach this Phoenix City Park, the trail is easy to find, just follow the crowd! This trail is used by all kinds of people, for all kinds of purposes.
Summary
| Distance: | 1.2 miles one way |
| Difficulty: | Strenuous |
| Hike Time: | 1 to 2 hours |
| Elevation: | 1497 to 2608 |
| Season: | Year Round - but best to avoid the summer heat |
| USGS Maps: | North Phoenix |
| Directions from Phoenix: | From downtown, drive north on AZ State Road 51 (Squaw Peak Parkway) to the Glendale/Lincoln Dr. exit, Turn East on Lincoln Dr. for approximately 0.5 mile to the light at Squaw Peak Dr., turn left and go 0.7 to one of the parking lots. |
Details
Ok, so I know it has been renamed Piestewa Peak after Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman killed in the Iraq war.
The health crowd is out in force, and I saw one young man and his friends setting up flower arrangements at the top, prior to him retrieving his girl friend and returning so he could propose. Nearly everyone uses the trail for training, most likely you will be passed repeatedly by joggers running up the path and you will probably see backpackers laboring under their loads. On one of my trips up I heard a chap claim to have made it in 23 minutes and that his winter-time best was 17 minutes. I'm happy to arrive at the top at all, and twice that time is just fine.
The trail is well maintained and is patrolled by city rangers about once a day. But it is extremely rough, laced with sharp, jagged rocks protruding from the surface for much of the way. Good footwear is a must to protect your feet. The heat can be nearly unbearable, bring plenty of water and watch for lightening storms in the monsoon season.
From the top, you will be treated to a spectacular panorama of the Phoenix Valley with many land marks easily identifiable. Interestingly, most hikers stop at the slightly lower, Western peak; the surveyors marker can be found on the Eastern peak.
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