Hiking South Mountain's Kiwanis Trail

We accessed this trail by taking S. Central Avenue all the way to the South Mountain Park and Preserve.


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Here's a link for a more detailed map: http://g.co/maps/dxmnh


We drove past the Rangers Station and followed the signs to the Kiwanis trail, making the first left (look for the sign) eventually parking on the right-hand side of the road in a small trailhead lot. The trailhead starts on the left side of the lot, where the sign (in the picture above) is located. There are also picnic tables in the vicinity with shade that provide a great place to sit and rest or gather all of your gear before the hike.

The trail is moderate... a 2.1 mile hike round trip that twists and turns through the mountain.   There are some areas that are rather steep and may be slightly difficult to traverse if you have an older dog or have any knee issues. It is by no means mountain climbing, but you will get your heart rate up.

The trail has a lot to offer, from Native American hieroglyphs to amazing views of the Phoenix skyline. At times, it felt like we were away from it all, then we would turn around and see the city in the distance.

The sign above is where the trail ends. You can turn around or go across the road and continue to the National Trail.

On our hike we encountered children, dogs, and a few lizards. During the week, the trail is quiet with a few hikers disbursed throughout it, while the weekends can be a bit busier.