Piestewa Peak via 32nd Street

Summiting Piestewa gives hikers wonderful views of Phoenix, the other peaks in the Phoenix Mountain Range, and the surround mountains on the outskirts of town like South Mountain, the McDowells to the east and even on a good day the White Tanks to the west. This hike is an elongated route so hikers can get miles in addition to just the summit.

This route leaves from the 32^nd Street Trailhead, where there is no water or facilities and limited parking.  Once hikers have found a place to park the will follow the Quartz Ridge Trail. The first portion of the trail covers the first 1.3 miles and ascends roughly 550 feet to Quartz Ridge. Hikers should enjoy the beautiful quartz that dots the trails.  If hiker pause, they can turn to the south to see views of downtown Phoenix. 

Once hikers reach the end of the Quartz trail, they will take the Ruth Hamilton trail to the west and once hikers reach the saddle, they will descend towards the Nature Trail.  Once they hit the nature trail, they will take that to the Freedom Trail.  Before reaching the Freedom Trail, hikers have the opportunity to use the restrooms and fill up their water bottles.

From there hikers will pick up the Freedom Trail where they will again ascend about 600 feet before a long decent.  This portion of the trail is when hikers will feel most secluded from the city and they can enjoy the beautiful rock formations that line the trail as well as the cacti and other flora. 

At 4.2 miles into the route hikers will start their most aggressive ascent where they will roughly 1,000 feet over the next mile to the summit of Piestewa.  Hikers will ascend roughly nine switchbacks and then need to take a left onto the summit trail to reach the peak of Piestewa.  From the summit hikers will have wonderful views. 

Hikers will the descend down the mountain to the Piestewa Peak trailhead where they will then follow the road to the Saguaro trailhead and follow the signs to the Mohave Connecter which will get hikers back to the Quartz Ridge trail and 32^nd street trailhead.

This hike is wonderful for those who like hiking in the area but want to do a few more miles than just the summit hike.  There are two opportunities to use the restroom and fill up water bottles.  As a reminder, there are no dogs allowed on the Summit Trail so hikers with dogs should plan accordingly.