South Mountain Park, Phoenix: Hours, Address, South Mountain Park Reviews: 4.5/5
South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park
4.5
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
About
This, the largest municipal park in the world, is a popular hiking, biking and horseback riding trail area.
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Top ways to experience South Mountain Park
The area
Address
Neighborhood: South Mountain
Best nearby
Restaurants
32 within 3 miles
T-bone Steak House
118
1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse
Taco Feliz Mexican Food
6
1 miMexican
Los Dos Molinos
276
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Southwestern • Vegetarian Friendly
Pizza Patron
1
2.1 mi
Happy Food Restaurant
2
2.1 mi
Arby's
4
2.1 miAmerican
Kfc
4
2.2 miAmerican
El Mesquite Restaurant
9
2.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Latin
Poncho's Mexican Food
86
2.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Southwestern • Vegetarian Friendly
Hong KONG Kitchen
9
2.3 mi$ • Chinese • Cantonese
Attractions
13 within 6 miles
Dobbins Lookout
110
1.4 miLookouts
Mystery Castle
399
1.3 miCastles • Mysterious Sites
The Farm at South Mountain
234
Farms
Liberty Wildlife
26
Nature & Wildlife Areas
Mormon Trailhead
16
Hiking Trails
Summers Fruit Barn
3
Farmers Markets
Union Station
1
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
The Scorpion Gulch
1
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Croc Corp Community Center
2
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Educational sites
Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Solado Audubon Center
7
Civic Centres
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,322 reviews
Excellent
861
Very good
389
Average
56
Poor
10
Terrible
7
MBC300
Guelph, Canada164 contributions
Couples
We hiked the Holbert Trail up to Dobbins Lookout. It is a good workout with a 300m climb over a 6.5 Km out and back (according to Alltrails) I thought that the views of the canyons and vistas from the trail were better than the view from Dobbins. Good fun.
Written March 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris K
Seabeck, WA309 contributions
Couples
Our annual visit to Chandler we always pick a trail to hike. So many to choose, from easy to hard, short or long. Take your pick. We park at pima canyon and start there. Get the early on weekend crowded and limited parking. Today we're hooked 7.5 miles, and stopped to watch a coyote traverse a ravine, avoiding the hikers. Spring is best with the sprouts, new growth and wildflowers bloom. You see bikers, serious runners, joggers to families with kids and infants in pack carriers. A must to get to the outdoors of phoenix.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jim M
Muncie, IN375 contributions
Couples
Beautiful city park with lots of scenery on the valley floor and mind blowing views from the top of the mountain. Narrow, twisty road to the top, but highly worth the effort.
There are multiple overlooks and take the time to visit them all for views to the north (city) and south.
There are multiple overlooks and take the time to visit them all for views to the north (city) and south.
Written January 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Visitor
1 contribution
The views were awesome, you can see for probably 30 miles in each direction, the drive a bit trecherous, woudl not want to do it in the rain. Plenty of parking and restrooms, although you need a respirator to enter them. The men's room was 3 stalls, one with a toilet (pretty much a bucket with the top and bottom cut out so the waste falls into a pit below), one with a urinal and the other with nothing (guess you pee against the wall and it flows to the drain), and there was only like a 3ft high wall and no door around any of them. The smell was unbearable, my daughter stepped into the women's room and I heard "Nope" and she walked out and my father-in-law commented that even in Viet Nam during the war did the have such disgusting facilities.
Written January 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jmits1
Raleigh, NC429 contributions
While visiting Phoenix where we stayed very close to SMP so I was excited to do a hike and then view the valley from the top. We entered the park looking for a visitor center or some information. Nada. We had read that there were hikes of all levels and wanted to do a simple 1-2 mile hike (I like to hike, my husband amuses me with short ones.) The only map available was a large, faded one that was not easy to read but it did have a QR Code. Ha! It was outdated so we went to the city map online (This is one of the largest municipal parks in the US.) We figured signage would point us in the right direction for the hike we'd like to do. Trial head signage was few and far between and then quite a few trails were blocked off. It was a twisty, turvy ride to the top and that was worthwhile. The view was great but I couldn't imagine driving it at night so I'll just settle for the day view. You may want to take binoculars and your own toilet paper. Also the restrooms were dirty.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robert A
Phoenix, AZ3,466 contributions
The drive up South Mountain on a clear day is well worth your time. Just go south on Central Avenue about six miles from the city center, the main central north-south Phoenix boulevard...it enters the park and goes all the way to the top of South. Mountain, to the lookouts near the multiple communications towers. We visited on a Friday after touring the nearby Mystery Castle at the south end of 7th St. east of Central (Hint-Super!). There were no active gates nor fees on the day of our visit...easy drive in/out. Recommended.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christine F
Rapid City, SD39 contributions
Family
We were able to go during the week when it was not as busy as some other reviewers mentioned. It is quite a unique park. I can see why it is a busy place. We went to Dobbin's Lookout and the view can not be beat. You get to see the whole area and see somethings that are hard when you are down in the city! Drive carefully to the top. The road is narrow and bikers, hikers and traffic make it a busy place
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GlobalGirlie
Scottsdale, AZ179 contributions
Friends
I hike South mountain at least once a month. You can go on either side of the mountain and there's multiple trails on either side. I've done hikes that are an hour at sunset and I've done hikes that are 3 hours. It's not too high of a inclined so it's not terribly bad.
Written November 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mike S
Winnipeg, Canada63 contributions
Great place to spend a couple hours and enjoy a beautiful view of the whole city. Multiple look out points to check out, it will take you about 15-20 minutes to drive up to the look outs depending on the amount of traffic. I'd recommend going on a sunny day, as the day we went it was overcast and was quite cold with the wind. Pack a picnic lunch and extend your time up there.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TwoEurophiles
Beaufort, SC459 contributions
There are so many options for hiking, mountain biking or just drinking in the view, but do your research so you don't overestimate your resilience in the dry heat. Catch the petroglyph rock at the bottom of the south mountains, catch the incredible views at the top of Dobbins Lookout. Bring plenty of water with you and enjoy!
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chennie N
8 contributions
Yes you can there are different paths as well as many other bikers. You can also ride up to the big Ramada Area and look out at the Beautiful View.
DannyWasserman
Virginia Beach, VA4,023 contributions
Absolutely, lots of hills and trails to burn some serious calories !!
James T
1 contribution
Can you get a good workout bicycling on the Parks' paved roads only?
DannyWasserman
Virginia Beach, VA4,023 contributions
Absolutely !!! This is a good work out with a lot of up and down elevations. You will definitely burn some calories.
James T
1 contribution
Can you get a good workout bicycling on the Parks' paved roads only?
Irina
United States10,117 contributions
Yes, you can, the paved, serpentine-like road waves up to the top of the mountains, which is at the level of 2300 feet (it is called Dobbin's Lookout - this where parking is); so it's quite a distance to get up there from the ground level, if bicycles are allowed on the road - that you have to verify, maybe with the city authorities. It is a very scenic, big park. A lot of hikers there, too. Enjoy your visit!
andrewjohnporter
Houston, TX136 contributions
Hi,
I'll be in Phoenix and won't have a car. I've seen I can get public transport to the entrance pretty much but how long does it take to walk the Holbert Trail, times for walking up and back again please for a fit(ish) person? Is it ok to walk back down after sunset?
CharmedMpls
Coon Rapids, MN105 contributions
We drove quite a ways into the park to get to the entrance. I would guess a couple of miles. Walking after dark might be challenging to stay on the trail.
RuthO3
17 contributions
Is there an entrance on Elliot and 4th st.? Where exactly?
Safariranger
Phoenix, AZ61 contributions
No. The entrance is at Pima Canyon Trailhead north of Elliot about a mile.
Lisa H
Mount Pleasant, TX147 contributions
It says the park entrance closes at 7, but does that mean you have to be OUT of the park by 7? We are wanting to drive up to the overlook.
phxchica127
Phoenix, AZ393 contributions
Trails are open until 11pm. This must be a recent change as we use to drive up to the overlook at night. Beautiful!
Ryan G
Cleveland, OH16 contributions
What location has the best view? Looking for an easy hike or no hike at all. Our son is 4 and some trails are too difficult for him.
Martha M
North Vancouver, Canada46 contributions
If you are looking for an amazing view of South Mountain Park and Phoenix with little or no hike, just fill your water bottles and drive up to Dobbins Lookout about 13 miles south of downtown Phoenix (10919 S Central Ave., Phoenix AZ 85042). No need to book a tour -- it is free, parking is also free -- and there is a fairly large area for your son to run around.
The elevation is 2,330 feet and it's a wonderful view of the city, dessert and canyons. It is a long and winding road but paved all the way to the top. There are several places where you can pull off the road to do some sightseeing. Watch the YouTube video The Road to Dobbins Lookout for an idea of the scenic drive.
Cadekaia
Indianapolis, IN6 contributions
is there a restaurant with a view nearby?
Stacey S
Tempe, AZ49 contributions
I would also recommend Top of The Rock. It's close to South Mountain and has great views. I would pass on Rustler's Rooste. It's touristy, and the food is average. The Perfect Pear or Hillside Cafe are good options as well, but they do not have views. If you want something more upscale, go for Top of the Rock. If you prefer a more casual setting, I would opt for Hillside. It's closer to South Mountain and has a bit more "local" ambiance and the desserts are incredible. The Perfect Pear is great for soup, salad and grilled cheese. Both have outdoor seating, but Hillside's patio is nicer. Have fun!
Frequently Asked Questions about South Mountain Park
- South Mountain Park is open:
- Fri - Fri 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Sat - Thu 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
- We recommend booking South Mountain Park tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 South Mountain Park tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near South Mountain Park:
- (6.59 mi) Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe
- (7.10 mi) Homewood Suites by Hilton Phoenix Airport South
- (7.80 mi) HI Phoenix - The Metcalf House
- (6.22 mi) Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport
- (7.23 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Downtown
- Restaurants near South Mountain Park:
- (4.67 mi) Cocina Madrigal
- (7.68 mi) Kai
- (1.42 mi) Los Dos Molinos
- (7.43 mi) Little Miss BBQ
- (6.91 mi) Breakfast Club
- Attractions near South Mountain Park:
- (0.68 mi) Arizona Horses (Ponderosa Stables and South Mountain Stables)
- (1.39 mi) Dobbins Lookout
- (1.34 mi) Mystery Castle
- (5.92 mi) Vaughan's Southwest Tours - Day Tours
- (6.98 mi) ThorAzona