Of the many trailheads within South Mountain Park and Preserve, Beverly Canyon is the closest to Tempe and Mesa. It’s very close, in fact, making it the perfect place for a before or after-work jaunt. Two trails start here, and soon branch out into others, making many variations of a hike, jog, or bike ride possible. The route described here is a 4-mile loop with Javelina Canyon, Ridgeline, and Beverly Canyon Trails, but you can make shorter or longer loops, too.
Neither Javelina Canyon nor Beverly Canyon are super spectacular in scenery, but Ridgeline Trail that connects them is. Elevated views stretch over all the cities of the eastern valley and across to the Superstition Mountains. You can do the loop in either direction, but it's perhaps better to start with Javelina, especially if hiking in the morning. This canyon stays shaded for more than an hour after sunrise, so with an early start you can do most of the uphill before the sun hits you. The uphill is also more gradual on Javelina than on Beverly.
After ascending Javelina, you’ll head out on Ridgeline, and the views really open up in front of you. This trail undulates steeply up and down, reaching 360-degree vistas at the humps. Some sections are rocky and loose, so use caution to avoid slipping. In places there are rock outcrops where you have the option to climb over or go around.
Not every trail junction is well marked, so you may want to use a map if it’s your first time here. It’s a fairly compact network of trails in this corner of the park, however, so you can wander aorund and find a different way back to your starting point. Be sure to respect any “Area Closed” signs to protect fragile habitat.
If you continue uphill from either Javelina Canyon or Beverly Canyon trails, you’ll eventually meet with the greater network of trails via Hidden Valley and National Trail. This allows for long hikes with a backcountry feel on South Mountain, despite its proximity to the city.
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