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Hiking the Lookout Mountain Summit Trail, AZ – Does It Worth It? 

I always enjoy a hike where I don’t have to traverse too far to get to the top of a mountain and see some incredible views. The Lookout Mountain trail in Phoenix is popular precisely because of this reason.  

In just about a mile of hiking, you can get to the top of the Peak of Lookout Moutain and look over the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Piestewa Peak, North Mountain, and downtown Phoenix. 

I decided to do this hike towards sunset, as I wanted some good pictures of the colors the sun makes when setting over the desert landscape, and it didn’t disappoint.

Here’s some information to help you make the most of your experience when hiking Lookout Moutain, Phoenix. 

Where Is Lookout Mountain Phoenix? 

You’ll find Phoenix’s Lookout Mountain at the Lookout Mountain Preserve.

From Phoenix, take AZ-51 N to the Greenway Road exit (Exit 12). Turn left off of the exit and onto E Greenway Road. Continue onto E Greenway Parkway. After about 1.5 miles, turn left onto N 16th street.

Follow that road to the Lookout Mountain parking area at the base of the Mountain. 

You can also take the Valley Metro Transit system to the preserve. Various bus routes throughout the city can take you to the Visitors Center.

Tickets cost $4.00 daily for adults and $2.00 for seniors and children 6-18. Children 5 and under ride free.  

Do You Need a Permit for Lookout Mountain Trail? 

No. You do not need a permit to park at the Lookout Mountain Preserve or do any of the Lookout Mountain hikes. The Lookout Mountain hours for the gates and parking area are daily from 5 AM to 10:00 PM. 

Lookout Mountain Trailhead 

Once you reach the Lookout Mountain parking area, you can easily access the trailhead for all the Lookout Mountain hiking options. You can access both the summit trail (#150) and the circumference trail (#308) from this area. 

The Lookout Mountain trailhead has a drinking water fountain available to fill up your outdoor water bottle but no restrooms. 

How Long Is Lookout Mountain Hike? 

The hike takes about an hour out and back if you just complete the summit trail for a total distance of 1.2 miles. If you hike both the circumference and summit trails for a distance of 2.7 miles, the hike will take about 2 hours. 

More Hikes near Phoenix:

• Hiking Tom’s Thumb
• Hiking The Wave Cave
• Hiking in Papago Park

Trail Description 

When researching this trail, make sure you do not confuse it with the Lookout Mountain hike near Seattle. That trail is much longer and more challenging. 

The Lookout Mountain Preserve has two main trails for Lookout Mountain: the circumference trail (a loop), and the summit trail – an out and back trail. Hikers can choose to do either one or both of them. 

Dogs are welcome on both trails, but make sure you have them on a leash.

Hikers may want to refrain from bringing smaller children on this hike due to the rockiness and steepness of the trail. There are no options for camping at the preserve. 

For this hike, I made the summit trail only, which is marked as #150 on the sign at the trailhead.

It’s considered a moderately challenging trail due to the elevation gain of 433 feet in just about a mile of hiking. 

This hike is less crowded than Mount Piestawa or Camelback Mountain, so it is a good option if you’re looking for a bit more solitude. 

The trail itself did not offer too much in the way of scenery, just an occasional scurrying lizard and a few pieces of desert vegetation. I didn’t mind, however, because I knew that the view at the top would be worth it. 

When I had just about arrived at the top, I had to scramble a bit over some rocks but didn’t find it too challenging. However, hikers should know that it does require using both your hand and feet at the very end. 

When I reached the top, I enjoyed the fantastic 360-degree views of downtown Phoenix and the surrounding area, including skyscrapers and golf courses.

I also saw Piestewa Peak, North Moutain, and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve in the distance.

It was interesting to pick out some of the city landmarks from that high up and spotted the Arizona Cardinal’s stadium in the distance.  

As planned, I arrived just before sunset and rested there while I enjoyed the orange and blue colors of the sun lowering in the desert, which was like a natural work of art. 

Soon after, I made my way back down using a flashlight to illuminate the trail back to the parking lot. 

Best Time To Hike It

The Lookout Mountain Hiking Trail and Lookout Mountain Preserve are open year-round. I suggest, however, hiking the trail between November through April when the weather is milder. The heat of the summer months in Phoenix can be unbearably hot.  

Out Tips and Recommendations 

Here are some tips I noted for visitors who want to hike Lookout Mountain.

• The trails in Lookout Mountain Preserve are some of the best trails for hiking near Phoenix, AZ. I recommend visiting as a tourist if you only have a short time for hiking, or if you live in the area, bringing any visitors up to experience the views. 

• I suggest having a good and sturdy pair of hiking boots to complete the summit trail. The rocky areas can be slippery.
• If you have a set of microspikes for a better grip, you may want to use them for the climb. Here are several spikes for hiking that my team and I recommend if you’re looking to invest in some for your hikes. 

• Don’t forget to bring your camera. After that steep climb to the top, you will want to take pictures of the beautiful scenery and the city from high above. 

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The post Hiking the Lookout Mountain Summit Trail, AZ – Does It Worth It?  appeared first on TravelTrained made by Michael Lorenzo