South Mountain Park

A top stop for urban hiking tours, this park offers moderate hikes to lookouts with sweeping views of the city and the Sonoran Desert—sometimes in the evening. Drivers can take in the scenery too, as the Dobbins Lookout is a little more than five miles (eight kilometers) up Summit Road. Farther out, the Gila Lookout has views of the Gila River Valley.

• Always bring a hat and plenty of water. Phoenix is air-conditioning-only weather during most of summer and fall.

• The park's scenic roadways are shared by motor vehicles, bikers and hikers, so travel with caution.

• There is no entry fee to visit. Entry gates, trailhead parking lots, and restrooms are open from 5am to 7pm.

• The park is a nature reserve home to bobcats, Gila monsters, saguaro cacti, and many other animals and plants—be mindful when visiting.

• At 2,330 feet (710 meters) Dobbins Lookout is the highest accessible point in the park.

The park is about eight miles (12.8 kilometers) directly south of downtown Phoenix. Direct public transit routes don’t exist, but it’s 15 minutes by car from Downtown to the main entrance on South Central Avenue. If you’re taking the highway, exit at Baseline Road or 7th Street and head for South Central Avenue.

The park is open year-round from 5am to 7pm. During summer from June through September, hours are extended, with some entrance gates and trailhead parking lots open till 9pm. Visit during winter from December through February, or spring from March through May, when the weather is relatively temperate; summer and fall temps easily reach 100°F (38°C) and higher. The park is closed to traffic on the fourth Sunday of every month.

While it’s the largest, South Mountain Park is only one of many public parks in the Phoenix area. Estrella Mountain Regional Park features desert wetlands along the Gila River, while the Phoenix Mountains Preserve has desert wildlife and hiking trails north of Downtown. Farther afield, the Cave Buttes Recreation Area and Sonoran Preserve lie at the north end of the metro area. There are more—and each is an opportunity to explore the desert without heading too far out.