South Mountain Park
At over 16,000-acres, South Mountain Park and Preserve is one of the largest municipal parks in the country and consists of three mountain ranges — the Ma Ha Tauk, Gila and Guadalupe.
The park’s lookout point rises over 1,000 feet (305 m) above the desert floor. Beyond the roads leading to ramadas and the summit, the park features 58 miles (93 km) of trails for cycling, hiking and horseback riding. Much of the original park infrastructure was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s.
It is a 7 mile route up Summit Road to the top of the South Mountain. There are many good places along Summit Road to stop and look for birds. Wherever you may be in South Mountain Park, all of it will be good for southwestern desert species.
Site Information
Region: Phoenix and Central
County: Maricopa
Directions: Main Entrance: 10211 S. Central Ave.
Latitude: 33.3525
Longitude: -112.071139
Operational Hours: Other
Other Operational Hours: 5am - 7pm. Gated entrances close at 7pm, but trails remain open until 11 pm.
Admission or Fees: None
Habitats: Desert, Urban or Suburban park
Know Before You Go
On the 4th Sunday of every month is Silent Sunday, and all-day (5 a.m. to 7 p.m.) road closure into the park for motorized vehicles. On the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of the month, there is a shortened Silent Sunday (5 a.m. until 10 a.m.) with the summit road closed at the 1.0 mile marker.
Safety First! Arizona has many beautiful places to explore and we’d like to help you make it a safe and enjoyable experience. Check out our recommendations for hiking precautions.
Species Highlights
Speciality: Costa’s Hummingbird, Gilded Flicker, Lucy’s Warbler
Charismatic: American Kestrel, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black-throated Sparrow, Gambel’s Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Lesser Nighthawk, Verdin, White-winged Dove
Contact Information
Parks and Recreation Department
City of Phoenix
200 W Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-262-6862
Website: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L607942
