Dixie Mountain

Dixie Mountain in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve is a 4.2 mile out and back to Dixie Peak.  While the trail is crowded, it is significantly less crowded than some of its neighboring peaks, Piestewa and Camelback.  While hikers will see less people on the trail, the views are equally as stunning.  Hikers will enjoy wonderful views of both Camelback and Piestewa from the summit.  The trail starts off a small parking lot off Tatum (hikers can also park at the trailhead off 40th Street roughly 1 mile south of Shea) and gradually ascends up the trail past the neighboring subdivision.  Once hikers are past the houses the trail opens up and continues a gradual uphill with mountains on both sides of the trail.

 Hikers will come to a trail intersection, and while there are no signs that point to Dixie Mountain, hikers will make a left turn and start heading south.  If hikers go north they will end up at the 40th Street Trailhead.  Hikers will continue their ascent at a gradual pace along a relatively wide trail of white rock.  Hikers will follow the trail as it turns back to the east and up a wash.  The trail is essentially the wash and there is a single marker that points towards the summit.  This marker will lead hikers up so that the deepest part of the wash is on the hikers left (north) side. 

The condition of the trail is slightly more difficult than the previous mile and a half as the footing is looser as hikers climb the wash.  Hikers will reach a saddle at the top of the wash and have views of Piestewa and Camelback.  The final push to the summit is steep and rocky but the views at the top are worth it. There is limited space at the summit but the views are worth the hike.  Hikers can return to the trailhead the way they came or combine trails within the preserve to further explore the park.