Piestewa Peak Summit Trail

Phoenix is a desert city surrounded by vast dry fields of desert lands and rigorous tall mountains. Its outdoor activities are endless, but one of the top places to visit is the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail. Piestewa Mountain is on the northern part of Phoenix and is surrounded by city neighborhoods, providing climbers with a 360-degree view of the city. The trail itself is pretty wide, at 5 feet, but is natural with lots of jagged rocks and switchbacks to watch out for.

The trail is one of the most popular thanks to its short length and dazzling views that it offers at the top. Starting at the Piestewa Peak Trailhead, you will find all the amenities needed before heading up. There are restrooms, picnic tables, water fountains, trash bins, and an information kiosk. Although the one thing you will need to bring on your own is clean-up bags for Fido. The trail doesn't have any rules about leashes, so you can even walk with Fido without one if you want.

The going gets tough pretty quickly, with a sharp incline made of crushed dirt and rocks. Going up right away, it won't be long until you find rocky steps cut into the mountain to make the trail a little easier. You'll start seeing some amazing views though as soon as you start, especially of the vibrant wildflowers that line the trail as you begin your ascent. The rest of the trail stays a constant grade, with changes between rock and dirt paths. Once at the top, you'll be greeted with a view of the entire metropolitan area of Phoenix. There's a small open space at the top to sit and relax on, with ledges and cliffs to get a pawtastic view from. Afterward, all you have to do is head back down to get back to your car.

Thanks to its short length and worthy views, the trail can get pretty popular all year round, so watch out while on the trail for people coming down. Despite the number of people, you and Fido will love the space you'll get to enjoy, and time spent together enjoying the natural and urban views.