Piestewa Peak Phoenix Hike Guide

Piestewa Peak, formerly Squaw Peak, is the 2nd highest peak behind Camelback Mountain in the Phoenix area. Although less crowded and technical than its higher neighbor, this mountain requires a lot of elevation gain and some technical scrambling towards the summit. Piestewa was renamed in 2008 because the previous name is a derogatory term used towards indigenous people. Views on this hike are outstanding and many consider this trail one of the best in the Phoenix area.

Piestewa Peak Hike Guide

Piestewa Peak Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 Stars)

Distance: 2.5 Miles RT

Elevation Start: 1,400ft

High Point: 2,606ft

Total Elevation Gain: 1,200ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 2-3 Hours RT

Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?

Class: Class 2 –  What does this mean? 

Season: Year-round – Would not recommend hiking during Summer months due to high heat. This hike does have hours (5am – 7pm with trails staying open until 11pm + closed 11AM – 5PM on days with excessive heat warnings). 

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Piestewa Peak

Trailhead: Piestewa Peak

Getting Here: There are quite literally an infinite amount of ways to navigate to the trailhead based on your starting point. However, as you get into park, you can park at the first little parking area OR continue on to the much larger parking lot. Piestewa Peak is about 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix. 

Parking: Piestewa Peak has two parking areas, a first initial smaller one and then a much larger one about .25 miles down the road. If you plan on hiking the standard route of this mountain, I would recommend parking at the larger area. The second lot has bathrooms and parking for about 50 cars. The first smaller parking area has room for about 10 cars and no restrooms.

Fee: None – as of 2024

Summary

Dogs: Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on this trail. 

Camping: Camping is not an option for Piestewa Peak, the entire area is surrounded by houses. If you are looking to camp, your best bet is to head outside of the Phoenix area West or North. 

Hike Xfactor(s): Although it’s less popular than its neighbor Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak is very crowded and parking can be an issue. Early/late starts will be your best chance to snag a spot. In addition to the crowds, this trail is steep from the time you start to the time you finish. Although it does not have some of the scrambling that Camelback does, it’s still very demanding from a climbing point of view. 1,200 vertical feet in just over a mile is no joke!

Hike Tip(s):  I would highly recommend checking out all of the trails in the area vs just the standard route that 95% of people take to the summit. Additionally, if you are comfortable scrambling a bit, be sure to explore the summit area. There are so many cool spots and views from the top of this mountain. Finally, even though the hike is short with mileage, it’s very steep from start to the top. Pace yourself and bring lots of water/food. 

Best Views: I absolutely loved the views on this hike. Looking towards downtown Phoenix and seeing the skyline felt really unique. Additionally, from the summit the views over to Camelback Mountain and the surrounding peaks in the area were absolutely fantastic. I wish I had more time to soak in the views up there. 

Make it a Loop: There are a number of trails in the park, view a complete map here. 

Piestewa Peak Hike Route

Gear Needed

• Men’s Trail Runners
• Women’s Trail Runners
• La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
• La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Women’s)
• Backpack (Summer)
• Food & LOTS of Water
• Optional: Garmin inReach
• Optional: Hiking Poles – 120CM
• Optional: Headlamp
• Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
• Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod, Selfie Stick, GoPro 360
• *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.