6.2 Miles
358 feet
Easy
A+ Views
Desert Vista Trailhead Hikes Overview
The Desert Vista Trailhead offers tons of great hiking options and mountain views. During this hike, I started on Hawk’s Nest trail, jumped over the to Valle Verde trail, checked out the Cactus Wren trail, and then headed back to the parking lot via the Desert Tortoise trail. Check out the map of this hike and create a hike that makes sense for you!
Map & Elevation Profile
Max elevation: 1948 ft
Min elevation: 1590 ft
Total time: 01:59:52
Map for the Desert Vista Trailhead Hikes
Snap a photo of the map at the trailhead or check out this pdf.
Parking
Put in directions for the ‘Desert Vista Trailhead’. The parking lot isn’t huge but you shouldn’t have a problem finding a spot (especially when it is hot!).
Desert Vista Trailhead Hikes Notes
I’m not going to lie, this super hot Phoenix weather is killing me. I’m dying to be able to spend the whole day outside walking around in nature. When fall rolls around, hiking trails all over Arizona better be ready for me to be all over them 😊.
On this particular morning, it was cloudy and made hiking from this trailhead more bearable.
Just like in other parts of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, there are great views of the surrounding mountains. The Desert Vista Trailhead hikes are full of them. Check out the map above to see which trails I took. There are so many different options. Figure out something that will work for how you are feeling that day.
When turning right onto the Valle Verde Trail, the trail descends and you will enter a large flat area. This area made me wish camping was allowed here. It is flat and a perfect place to pitch a tent. Plus there are great views of the McDowells (my favorite mountains!).
Even with the heat, it felt so good to get outside. It felt so peaceful to get out of the house!
So, should you do Desert Vista Trailhead hikes?
The Desert Vista Trailhead is another great option to get in some outdoor time and look at mountains. The views are good (although the views from the Apache Wash Trailhead are better IMO) and there are lots of easy options. Get out there and check it out! I will definitely be coming back to hike everything in this area.
Other hikes close by
You may also consider checking out the hikes from the Apache Wash Trailhead. For something with a bit of elevation, check out the Ridgeline Trail Hike. For something more chill, check out the Sidewinder Trail Hike.
