Taking this route up Squaw Peak is approximately three miles each way from the main Rock Canyon trail, climbing about 3,000 feet total. Expect round-trip hiking times of three to four hours from the trailhead parking lot.
Rating: Difficult . Elevation: To Tom’s Thumb: 2,813-3,925 feet. Entire trail: 2,438-3,925 feet.
Trail Hours – 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Access: Start at the 40th St. Trailhead.
Discover this 8.7-mile out-and-back trail near Gold Canyon, Arizona. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete.
Although described as moderate to difficult , many kids and older adults do the Summit Trail. It’s a climb all the way, and most areas have carved steps and there are two short segments with rails. It took us a little less than an hour to get to the top at a leisurely rate, frequently stopping to enjoy the scenery.
Get to know this 2.10 mile , out and back trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 37 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
Piestewa Peak
Park Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. ( trails open until 11 p.m. ) Piestewa is the second-highest peak in Phoenix with an elevation of 2,608 feet – a mere 100 feet shy of Camelback Mountain. This hike will have you working for the views – but they are well worth it.
And there are bathrooms ! 🙂 We liked this hike as well as Camelback.
“Squaw Peak” was renamed “Piestewa Peak” in 2003 to honor Army Spc. Lori Ann Piestewa , who was killed in Iraq — the first Native American woman to die in combat. A 2017 attempt by then-Mayor Greg Stanton to rename the streets was voted down.
The hike is around 2.25 miles . A fun day of moderate climbing can also be done by approaching Gardener’s Wall, climbing a route to the top, and then downclimbing off the back and hiking up to Tom’s Thumb for more fun!
| Round-Trip Length: 4.3 miles | Start-End Elevation: 2,805′ – 3,830′ (3,830′ max elevation) | Elevation Change: +1,025′ net elevation gain (+1,420′ total roundtrip elevation gain) | Skill Level: Moderate-Strenuous | Dogs Allowed: Yes |
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This trail is an intense and difficult anaerobic hike the entire 1.23 miles to the summit. It ascends approximately 1,280 ft, from 1,424 ft above sea level to 2,704 ft. Getting a parking spot can be a long wait if you arrive on the weekend after 6 AM as there are Climbers galore.
While both Piestewa and Camelback are more climbing rocks that strolling on a trail, Camelback is more challenging because the ascents come at you more quickly and hard.
Reaching the top requires some rock climbing , though there are plenty of holds to grab onto. Once that’s done, prepare for what feels like the easiest stroll of your life as you make your way to Flatiron’s peak. In case it isn’t obvious, this isn’t an easy hike.
The Siphon Draw Trail to Flatiron near Phoenix, Arizona is known as one of the state’s top ten hikes to experience. This route is an unbelievable 6.05 mile round trip adventure that places hikers directly on top of the powerful and towering cliffs in the Superstition Mountains.
If you’re wondering which hike is more difficult, the answer is negligible. If hard-pressed, I’d say Camelback is harder . Both have comparable elevation gain, in the range of 1,200ft, but the trails up Camelback are slightly longer than the one up Piestewa.
Trailhead: East Squaw Peak Drive • Difficulty: Moderate at base, Difficult toward summit • Distance: 1.2 miles each way (2.4 miles RT) • Approx. Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours • Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet (100 stories) • Approx. Calories Burned: 360-430 round-trip • Best Time of Year: Nov.
| Hike Distance 2.6 miles Round Trip | Duration Approx 2 hrs | Trail Type Out and Back | Elevation Gain +1400′ | Seasons All Year |
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According to my iPhone health app, it was equivalent to 100 flights of stairs (I think that means 50 up and 50 down). Beautiful views from the top make it worth the stiffness you will feel in your quads the next day.
While dogs are not permitted at Piestewa Peak, leashed dogs are permitted on some of the trails within the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area including the Dreamy Draw Nature Trail. The diverse desert landscapes offers everything from fantastic views to secluded valleys.
The Paleoproterozoic (1.8 to 1.6 billion years old) crystalline rocks around Phoenix were involved in those accretionary events; it was during these tectonic collisions that they were metamorphosed into their present form. These rocks are most clearly exposed in the Squaw Peak (Piestewa Peak) and Dreamy Draw areas.
Kim is a sports and fitness writer covering workouts, athletic training, sports news, and strategies for an active lifestyle.