South Mountain Park

South Mountain Park is the nation’s largest municipal park, covering 16,283 acres of open, undeveloped desert on the southern end of Phoenix .

The park includes three mountain ranges, the Ma Ha Tauk, Gila and Guadalupe, and it reaches 2,690 feet at the summit of Mount Suppoa , which is closed to the public.

There are 51 miles of primary trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking.

More than 300 plant species are found in the park, including brittlebush, ocotillo, creosote bush, palo verde and ironwood trees and saguaro and hedgehog cacti. Animals found in the park include scorpions, desert tortoises, rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, geckos, jackrabbits, coyotes, javalina, Gambel’s quail, roadrunners and hawks. .

Visitors can take a paved road to Dobbins Lookout, which at 2,330 feet offers panoramic views of Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.

Address:

6428 S. 19th Place Phoenix, AZ 85042

Website: http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/PARKS/hikesoth.html