Phoenix offers some fantastic urban hiking trails where you can experience the beauty of the desert without driving too far out of the city.
South Mountain Park and Preserve is only about a 20-minute drive from downtown Phoenix but feels a world away from the concrete jungle.
South Mountain Park encompasses over 16,000 acres and is considered one of the largest municipal parks in the US. It offers a combined 58 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.
One of the best hikes in South Mountain is the Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail. This relatively short hike packs a big punch! Keep reading to discover everything you need to know before hiking to Hidden Valley.
Everything you need to know before hiking the Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail in South Mountain
Table of Contents
- Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail Information
- How to get to the Mormon Trailhead
- What to expect when hiking the Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail
- Other things to do in the area:
Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail Information
- Distance: 3.4 miles out and back
- Time: Plan for about 2-3 hours
- Elevation gain: 918 feet with most of the elevation gain in the first mile.
- Difficulty: Rated moderate due to the incline, loose rocks, and some boulder scrambling.
- Park hours: 5 am – 7 pm
- Kid friendly: Yes, but it might be challenging for young kids. I would recommend 6 years and up, depending on your child.
- Dog friendly: Yes, but must be kept on leash.
- Amenities: No restrooms or water fountains
- Fees: None
How to get to the Mormon Trailhead
To reach Hidden Valley, you will begin the hike at the Mormon trailhead.
The parking lot is located in a residential neighborhood at 8610 S 24th St, Phoenix. You can put either “Mormon Trailhead” or the address into Google Maps and it should take you to the right spot.
The paved parking lot has about 30 parking spots, but parking is also available along the street. Just be considerate of the neighbors and watch for any “no parking” signs.
What to expect when hiking the Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail
One of the many things that makes this trail one of the best hikes in Phoenix is the diversity in the landscape.
It features towering saguaros, views of the city, a variety of wildlife, Fat Man’s Pass, Hidden Tunnel, a natural rock slide, and plenty of cracks and crevices to explore and rocks to climb!
It truly is nature’s playground!
Reaching Hidden Valley can be a bit confusing as there is not a direct trail. It is located off the National Trail, the longest trail at South Mountain totaling 14 miles one way.
However, there is a shortcut to Hidden Valley via the Mormon Trail.
Begin your hike at the Mormon Trailhead adjacent to the parking lot. The trail will immediately begin a steady incline.
If you have young kids, just plan to take it slow on this portion of the trail and take lots of rest and water breaks.
The Mormon Trail will climb for just over a mile as it skirts along the side of the mountain. You’ll see trail markers with an “M” along the way to ensure that you are staying on the right path.
Watch your step as there are a lot of large boulders and loose rocks along the trail. This is also a multi-purpose trail that is shared with mountain bikers, so be sure to keep an eye out.
You’ll definitely be working up a sweat but will be rewarded with some of the best views over the valley.
You’ll catch stunning vistas of the Phoenix skyline, Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and Four Peaks in the distance.
You can even spot Piestewa Peak in the distance. The summit trail to the peak is actually ranked as the #1 hike in Phoenix.
It is only steep for the first mile or so, once you reach the top the trail will level out.
You’ll soon come to a junction in the trail with a sign leading to the Mormon Loop on your left and the National Trail leading straight ahead.
This can be a bit confusing as many hikers assume that they should stay on the Mormon Loop Trail, however, to reach the Hidden Valley you will need to continue on the National Trail at this point.
You’ll follow the National Trail for less than a quarter-mile until you reach another junction. This is the entrance to Hidden Valley.
The Hidden Valley trail is a half-mile loop that takes you through a narrow slot between two massive boulders known as Fat Man’s Pass and the Hidden Tunnel.
As this is a loop trail, you can follow the trail either to the right or to the left and it will end back at the same spot.
We prefer to head to the right towards Fat Man’s Pass and follow the loop counter-clockwise.
This offers the best views as the trail starts higher at this point and you can see further into the distance as you work your way down. It is also easier to navigate as you can see further ahead on the trail.
The trail will traverse through some of the most scenic desert landscapes with clusters of saguaro cactus that are over 100 years old.
The trail is also lined with flowering brittle bush and spiny ocotillo plants.
You’ll notice that the Hidden Valley Trail is not nearly as crowded as the Mormon Trail and offers a quiet and peaceful refuge.
You’ll soon come to the infamous “Fat Man’s Pass”.
This short narrow slot leads through two massive boulders and is so small that you’ll need to take off your backpack to slip through.
If you don’t like tight spaces, you can also bypass the slot by climbing up and over the boulder.
There are also plenty of rocks to climb on and a fun natural rock slide next to Fat Man’s Pass.
The smooth rock has been made quite slick by all of the hikers sliding down so you can get some good speed!
*Related post: 101 Things to do in the Phoenix East Valley with Kids!
The trail then continues along a flat sandy wash where it is common to see lizards, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, hummingbirds, and the occasional rattlesnake, so keep your eye out.
The path is not as well marked on this portion of the trail and you will even encounter large rocks blocking the way. You’ll need to climb up and over the rocks in order to continue along the trail.
Towards the end of the loop, you’ll come to the Hidden Tunnel.
This fascinating natural feature looks as if it was man-made as the rocks are piled on top of each other to create a perfect rock tunnel.
This is a fun place for kids to rock climb and explore before continuing back to the beginning of the loop.
Another cool feature of the tunnel is the petroglyphs faintly etched into the stone near the opening of the tunnel. These are remnants of the ancestral Hohokam tribe that once lived and hunted in this very spot.
Once you exit the tunnel, be sure to follow the trail marker to the left that leads to the “Mormon/National Junction” not the “National” trail. This can be a bit confusing!
This will lead you to the beginning of the Hidden Valley loop where you’ll then turn right to continue on to the Mormon Trail and back down the way you came.
I would recommend beginning this hike in the late afternoon so that you can catch the sun setting over the valley on your way back down the trail. It truly is a magical sight!
For more recommended hiking trails, check out our guide to 7 of the Best Hikes in Phoenix!
Other things to do in the area:
- Grab dinner at Rustler’s Roost. This mountain top steakhouse is located less than 5 miles from the trailhead and offers delicious western dishes with a fun atmosphere and breathtaking views. Your kids will especially love the slide leading to the downstairs dining room!
- Drive the scenic Summit Road to Dobbin’s Lookout, a historic stone structure that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. This is the highest point in South Mountain Park and offers stunning panoramic views. Alternately, you can hike the 4 mile out and back Holbert Trail to Dobbins lookout.
- Visit the South Mountain Environmental Education Center to learn more about the Sonoran desert animals, plants, and natural history through interpretive exhibits and hands-on activities.
- Every Sunday, except the 4th Sunday of the month, the park offers “Silent Sundays”. During these days, the main road is closed to all motor vehicles after the first mile into the park. The roads are then open for walking, hiking, biking, and jogging during regular park hours.
- Take a tour of the nearby Mystery Castle.
- Discover some of the best Hidden Gems in Phoenix!
I hope this guide has helped you know what to expect when hiking the Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail at South Mountain, it truly is one of the best hikes in Phoenix!
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Really interesting post!
Thank you, I’m glad it was helpful!