Phoenix Mountains
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The Phoenix Mountains are a mountain range located in central Phoenix, Arizona. With the exception of Mummy Mountain, they are part of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve along with South Mountain. They serve as a municipal park and offer hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails at a variety of different access points.
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[edit] Peaks
The major peaks of the Phoenix Mountain complex are (roughly NW to SE):
- Moon Hill
- Lookout Mountain
- Shadow Mountain
- Shaw Butte
- North Mountain
- Echo Mountain
- Stony Mountain
- Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak; renamed in honor of Lori Piestewa)
- Mummy Mountain
- Camelback Mountain
[edit] Other Features
The low pass between the Stony/Echo mountain ridge and Piestewa Peak is known as Dreamy Draw due to the presence of mercury mining in the area. There is a flood prevention dam in the Dreamy Draw area.
[edit] Trails
[edit] #100 Charles M. Christiansen Memorial Trail
Charles M. Christiansen led the crusade to preserve the Phoenix Mountains from development. The trail was dedicated in his honor in 1986 and there is a memorial plaque at the western trailhead at Mountain View Park. The trail is 11 miles long and has a total elevation gain of 200', though the elevations at both trailheads are the same, and connects North Mountain Park with Stony Mountain and Piestewa Peak Park.
[edit] #300 Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak) Summit Trail
This extremely popular trail climbs the 1190 vertical feet to Piestewa Peak summit in only 1.2 miles. The trail climbs from the trailhead ramada at 1410' through gentle switchbacks onto the southwest ridge at 1600', but then gets increasingly steep and rocky as it switches back and forth along the southwest ridge until reaching stone stairs and railings at 2400'. Several benches along the way allow climbers to catch their breath or enjoy the panoramic views of Phoenix. The final several hundred feet are up a stone stairway and then an easier scramble over the rocks to the more popular 2600' west summit or a more difficult scramble to the 2608' east summit. The view from either summit is spectacular, ranging from Four Peaks and the Superstitions to the east, to the White Tanks and Woosley Peak to the west. The entire Phoenix area is visible, and on a clear day even Mount Lemmon near Tucson is visible.
[edit] External links
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