Squaw Peak / Piestewa Peak

Click on photographs to enlarge

Total hiking distance covered (per the GPS)  1.19 Miles

Maximum elevation  2,608 ft.

Starting elevation 1,400 ft.

It’s well known that the hiking location I prefer the most is the Summit trail on Squaw Peak.  I’ve been hiking the trail for quite a few years and find a very worthwhile challenge to my physical abilities.  I also find wonderful training for hiking the Grand Canyon.

 For those who do not know how to get to “The Peak”, it’s just east of the 51 freeway and north of Lincoln Drive.  To get to the parking areas you turn north on Squaw Peak Drive and proceed into the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.  The first parking area on the left is the trail head.  Parking is at a premium and there is often a line of cars waiting for the next available parking spaces so don’t pass the line of waiting cars.  It’s only a dead end lot so you can’t get through by passing.

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The Trail head	Let's Go!
Approaching the first bench	Around and up

Nick, coming down	1/4 mile

The trail is a very well marked trail and has heavy foot traffic.  You should not encounter animals or bike riders because they are not allowed on the summit trail.  It starts out relatively gradual but don’t be fooled, it becomes quite steep very quickly.  Where there isn’t much scree on the trail, it does have quite a few steps of varying heights to go up.  There are a number of benches on the trail should you feel the need to sit.  There is a separate trail that bears to the left at the half way point.  That trail is is the 302, circumference trail that circles the bottom of the peak.  The 302 trail is 4.2 miles in length and should you decide to go around, make sure you take each fork to the right in order to return to the parking lot where you started.

Click on photographs to enlarge

1/4 Bench	1/2 way bench
The Saddle	The tourist bench
Last bench	The old woman
The Stairway to heaven	We made it!

 After the half way point the trail is good through the saddle and to the tourist bench at the three quarter mark.  The trail then becomes narrower and steeper until you reach the final ascent, the stairway to heaven.  Once you arrive at the summit, you have the opportunity to rest and enjoy one of the best views of Phoenix that the valley has to offer.  For planning purposes you should plan about 45 minutes to make the summit providing you are in good physical condition.

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Larry Wayt (gnhikn@cox.net)