Sunday Morning Dreamy Draw Best Views Hike (Int+)

Join us for a very rewarding but somewhat difficult hike at Phoenix Mountains Preserve/Dreamy Draw! It is my personal favorite loop and lets you see all the best views at Dreamy Draw in a short time. There is a large amount of elevation gain and descent in a short amount of time, so this hike is not for beginners. We'll make it more manageable by stopping to check out all the really cool overlooks of the city (including downtown) and the Preserve. We encourage you to make friends and meet interesting people from Phoenix and beyond!

We'll take Perl Charles trail up to Irregular Link. We'll see some excellent views on our ascent including an overlook where you can see downtown where we'll have an optional short scramble to see even more great views. We'll continue on and hang a left onto Freedom Trail for a rocky and somewhat difficult ascent. We'll stop and rest at the top, in the saddle of Piestewa Peak. We'll check out great Preserve and mountain views! The descent has been significantly improved since many of the loose rocks were removed by the Volunteers of Arizona a few weeks ago. We'll then take a left onto VoAZ trail for more views of the city and an old rattlesnake glyph as we descend back to Perl Charles and come back down the mountain via Christiansen and Dreamy Draw Link.

Distance: approx 3.25 miles in and out
Time: approx 2 hours +/- 15 min
Elevation gain: 1092 ft
Expected Temps: Mid 70s (start) to Mid 80s (finish)

We’ll meet at the area by the water fountains, which are at the largest structure visible from the parking lot at 7:00 am. We'll leave at 7:05. The water fountains are not on the northwest side at the low point of the parking lot. They are on the east side. Keep climbing the stairs until you see the largest pavilion. You'll see bathrooms and outdoor sinks. If you see the trail maps, turn around and you're in the right spot. My phone is 303-596-0206 if you need to reach me.

Trail Composition: Dirt, loose rocks, gravel, with steep and narrow rocky sections.

Bring: WATER (2 liters), hats and sunscreen.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: The Dreamy Draw Recreation Area is located at the END of Northern, just East of SR-51. The park access gate closes promptly at 7:00 pm but the exit gate is always open. If you are coming either North or Southbound on SR-51, take exit # 7 (Northern).

Please understand, hiking has its dangers. By signing up and attending this, and any 3H events, you are responsible for your own safety, and organizers and their assistants cannot be held responsible for any injuries or other mishaps that may occur.