"This one was very steep on the last day in Phoenix. Nice way to end the trip. So started at 7 AM and summited at 8. The trail was overall rocky and has many steps. The signs were cool and the views were too. Then when we summited, we scrambled over to the higher summit on the side. The summit on the side had the summit benchmark. There was one scramble at the end near the summit." — lc444 • Dec 6, 2022

"Hiked from the bottom at Holbert Trail to see the sunset at the top. It is very steep and rocky, like all trails in Phoenix. There are great views from the top, but there is a road to the top in case you don't want to go to the top via hiking. There are cool views and ruins from the top. When hiking down after sunset, it's kinda dangerous. Cool petroglyphs near the trailhead tho!" — lc444 • Dec 6, 2022

"We were supposed to do both Ridgeback Overlook and Apache Vista, but I missed the turn for the summit hike and it was getting warm and we wanted to head back and get breakfast anyway. Whoops~! So, so much for Apache Vista, but that's alright. It was a nice little exercise hike. Ken had his pack loaded up more than I did; I probably should have put more effort into practicing, but... oh well. A nice day and a nice light hike." — psychikingjes • Apr 16, 2022

"A very nice hike - weather was great! Parked at the North Mountain visitors center; the parking lot opens at 5 AM even though the visitors center itself does not open until 8 AM. I got there at about 7:45 AM and the parking lot was a little more than half full. It's pretty large; it's not one that only has 10-20 spots. I'd estimate at least 200 spots? Anyway, North Mountain and Shaw Butte are both clearly very popular hikes. North Mountain is paved road (and steep), and Shaw Butte follows a service road that's either crumbling pavement or steep rocky gravel. More evidence that all in all, the trails in Phoenix are relatively short and very steep. Tons of people with dogs on the trail, but all leashed (which was good!). Radio towers on top of all three peaks, but there's a way to get to the highest-ish point without trespassing for all of them. Not much to say - a beautiful day, the weather was gorgeous, and I felt perfectly fine hiking all of these alone. A nice big loop, about 7.5 miles out of it and 1700' total gain. No fees for parking, and the signs were pretty clear? There are more trails out there in the desert than are marked on the signs at the trailhead and on Natural Atla..." — psychikingjes • Feb 26, 2022

"Drove over to Lookout Mountain after finishing Shadow Mountain. ("Mountain." Teehee.) Had done a 5K at Tempe Town Lake in the morning, and then decided that I wanted to cross this and Shadow Peak off my list, as they're not in my neck of the woods and I was already down in the area. By the by, if you're in the area, go eat at the Original Breakfast House off of 32nd street. Cash-only place, amazing food. Crowded and popular as all get-out on a Sunday morning. But I digress - as with Shadow Mountain, part of the issue was finding a parking spot. The northern parking area is small, only 10 or so spots? I was very fortunate to get a spot. You can park at the south area, which is much larger and has an actual recreational park (and bathrooms), but then it's a longer hike with the loop around on Trail 308. The northern parking area has you right next to Trail 150, which is the summit trail. Short and steep. Once you get to the saddle, if you go up from the south side it's light class 2 up rock, and it's more trail + light class 2 on the north side. I went up the south and down the north side. Nothing is challenging if you're used to hiking, if you're not, you might be surprised about st..." — psychikingjes • Feb 13, 2022