I love to go hiking on New Years day. Getting outside in nature is a great way to start the new year, especially since the weather in Arizona is pretty nice this time of year. This year Winston and I went to Lookout Mountain for a quick hike. This is a great urban Phoenix hike.
Lookout Mountain is part of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve in Paradise Valley. You get a bird’s eye view of the mountains and it is a quick hike. You can choose from two trails:
How to Get to Lookout Mountain & Where to Park
The Lookout Mountain Preserves is south of E. Greenway Parkway, north of E. Thunderbird Road, east of 7th Street and west of Cave Creek Road.
From Phoenix city center you can take AZ 51 North and exit at Cactus Road, turn right on Cave Creek Road, left on E. Sharon Drive and then right on N. 18th Street this will take you the Circumference Trail parking lot.
Alternatively from the city center take AZ 51 N, exit at Greenway Parkway, and then take a left on 16th Street. Following this street to the Summit Trail parking lot.
Circumference Trail
This trail takes you around the perimeter of Lookout Mountain. At two miles it is nearly double the length as the Summit Trail. As the name implies you make a loop, so you can park at one of two locations to start your hike.
Lookout Mountain Summit Trail
The Summit Trail gets your heart rate up. The beginning part of the travel is a rocky path
It was pretty windy by the time we were halfway up the mountain.
Views from the trail.
You will know when you’ve reached the end of the trail as it is clearly marked.
We made it!
