Region
Highlights
- Squaw Peak, renamed Piestewa Peak in 2008, is the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountains after Camelback Mountain and the third highest in the city of Phoenix, Arizona.
- Located in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
- The Piestewa Summit Trail gains 1,190 feet in 1.2 miles and is climbed by thousands of people every week. This trail is more difficult than it looks, especially in the summer when temperatures are well over 100°F. No water is available on the trail and dehydration is a common problem.
- Views from the summit include Pinnacle Peak, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, the Superstition Mountains, Tabletop Mountain, the Sierra Estrella, Woolsey Peak, the White Tank Mountains, the Harquahala Mountains and the Bradshaw Mountains.
- Including the Summit Trail, there are roughly 15 miles of trails in the Preserve.
Routes
/-112.020833,33.5475,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
30 summits • 2.5 mi • 1,135 ft gain • 1 hr 9 min
/-112.020833,33.5475,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 3.0 mi • 1,098 ft gain • 1 hr 59 min
Latest summits

"My second day out in the Phoenix mountains. Yesterday I hit Camelback so naturally today I was obligated to check out Phoenix's other mega-classic Piestewa-don't-call-me-Squaw-Peak. Started out at 6am and of course there were already a ton of people on the trail. Impressed that so many take on the challenge of this tough climb; Phoenix has some serious fitness buffs. Kept my run alive almost to the 0.5 mile junction before getting pummeled into a panting walk. Base to peak in 23:21; would love to come back and try to beat that. Sub-20 seems achievable but you'd need to bring some real fitness to the table. Scrambled over to the true summit (USGS marker) and slowly ran/rockhopped my way down. 50 min RT." — scott • Apr 11, 2019