North Mountain Park — Attraction in Phoenix

This is my happy place!!! ☺️ At 2,104 feet above sea level, the hike is challenging but absolutely worthwhile, and the views are so incredible!!! Feels like being out in the desert even though it's right in town. The hills block a lot of traffic noise, and sometimes I take off my earphones just to listen to the silence ❤️❤️❤️. Also, there is a lot of wildlife in this park. So far I've seen a dead raccoon (!), bats, kangaroo rats, rock squirrels, chipmunks, cottontails, quail, roadrunners, and of course, SCORPIONS!!! They usually only come out at night during summer (they hibernate in winter), and I enjoy carrying a black light flashlight to observe them - and also to know where they are so I can keep a respectful distance! 😆 One time not five feet away from me, two javelinas emerged from a culvert and commenced climbing the hill. There are also rattlesnakes, coyotes and birds of prey in this area so a lot to watch out for! During warmer weather (April-October), please make sure to bring a lot of water, as people often underestimate the heat and end up in trouble. To avoid the hot sun in the summer, people flock to the park around sunset so I feel perfectly safe climbing the hill alone, even at night. One more thing: most park restroom stalls have no doors, apparently for children's safety. The restrooms are locked at 5, 6 and 7 so if you don't find one open before 7 pm, keep looking. Update: last year I saw 0 snakes. This year, so far I've seen at least 4! One of them...

If you’re looking for a place to unplug, breathe in wide vistas, and reconnect with nature without having to drive far, North Mountain Park in Phoenix might be exactly what you need. Even before you start walking, there’s a sense of peace — desert air, rugged terrain, and soft light filtering through scrub and cactus. The visitor center sets the tone, giving helpful info, a sense of welcome, and clean restrooms before you head out.

The trails here are excellent — mix of paved and dirt, some gentle curves, some steep climbs. Whether you want a relaxing afternoon stroll or a heart-rate-raising summit, there’s a path that fits. The views are a major payoff: skyline, mountains, desert panorama. Somewhere along the way you’ll feel the city melt away.

Amenities matter here. Shaded picnic ramadas, benches in scenic spots, water sources at certain trailheads — the kind of touches that make a hike convenient, comfortable, and mindful. Even when traffic or visitors are heavier, the space remains calm; you can find quiet loops or less used paths.

What I love most is how consistent the experience is. Trails tend to be well-maintained, signage keeps you oriented, and even in heat the early morning or later afternoon visits feel magical. If you enjoy getting outdoors, want to stretch your legs, take photos, or just find a place to think, this is a gem. Five stars for North Mountain Park — a natural treasure that...

This mountain is sadly what most trails have come to around the Phoenix metro area. When I was younger I used to hike this trail all the time at night - at least twice a week.

It was an obscure, easy trail in the middle of Phoenix with small crowds that offered nothing notable during the day, but at night it offered a pretty cool night view of the city.

The best time to hike was around 9-10pm. You were all alone and you could just sit at the top and watch the city lights.

Now it is commercialized and has park hours that close before night most of the time. So the best time to hike is no longer available and you can only hike when the crowds are present.

As we continue to commercialize parks and trails to make them “safer” and “better” they lose everything that made them special and consequently become nearly worthless.

This is pretty common for almost anything a government entity interacts with though. Of course, if you never experienced the trail before, you have no previous frame of reference and what it is today...