Hiking Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale, Arizona
Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale, Arizona is the focal point in Pinnacle Peak Park. From afar the summit of the peak looks far more challenging than it does up close, but you do need to be a rock climber to get to the top of it. Hikers must be content with a 4.0 mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of approximately 1300 feet. Hiking Pinnacle Peak on the trail can be done in 75 minutes if you’re booting it.
John and I set out on the Pinnacle Peak hike in late December. Pinnacle Peak and the park are located in northeast Scottsdale, east of North Pima Road, and south of Dynamite Boulevard.
It was a busy time but nothing compared to our Christmas Day Camelback Mountain hike.
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Hiking Pinnacle Peak summary
Distance: 4.0 miles round trip as an out and back hike.
Elevation gain: 1,300 feet or 396 m
Trailhead elevation: 2,570 feet
Level of difficulty: Easy if you hike a lot, otherwise moderate
Facilities at the trailhead: Restrooms, drinking fountains, picnic tables, bike rack, informational materials and interpretive displays along the trail.
Dogs allowed: No – go to Brown’s Ranch trailhead instead.
Hours: The Pinnacle Peak trail is open from 6:45 AM until 6 PM. It’s well worth doing if you visit Scottsdale – and catching a sunrise or sunset up would be magnificent.
Don’t forget: A sun hat, sunscreen, lots of water, a snack – and let someone know when you’re due back.
Wildlife: We only saw birds hiking Pinnacle Peak – hummingbirds and cactus wrens. Other animals that call the park home include Gila monsters, bobcats, javelinas, mule deer, grey foxes and the western diamondback rattlesnake.
Recommended reading: Mountain Biking in Scottsdale at Brown’s Ranch
Map of Pinnacle Peak trailhead location
Hiking Pinnacle Peak description
Although there is a gain of 1,300 feet, none of it happens at once so it’s actually quite an easy hike.
The trails are wide and the views out to the valley are excellent. It’s an interpretive trail so you might learn a few cool facts about the area on the hike like the fact that there is the rare redberry juniper.
The Pinnacle Peak hike takes you up on a series of short switchbacks to the highest point of the Pinnacle Peak trail at 2,889 feet.
Along the way you pass granite rock, reminiscent of Bedrock – home to Wilma and Fred Flintstone, and the rock seen in Joshua Tree National Park.
I have not done the hike during peak wildflower season – late February to mid-April, but I understand hiking Pinnacle Peak is especially beautiful then.
At the western end of the Pinnacle Peak trail, look out towards the surrounding mountains – on the other side of the developed neighbourhoods. Retrace your steps to return.
Have you ever done the Pinnacle Peak hike? or do you have another favourite in Scottsdale?
For more information on Pinnacle Peak Park visit the City of Scottsdale website.
Further reading on hikes and things to do in Arizona
- 4 Off-the-Beaten-Path Arizona Adventures
- The Courthouse Butte Hike in Sedona
- A Day Hike in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains
- Why you’ll want to do the Hike to Havasu Falls
- The Aravaipa Canyon Hike in Arizona
- 5 Fun Things to Do in Phoenix
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Looks like a nice hike. I love the pictures of the saguaro cactus and the boulders. Love places like this near development. It is nice to get a good hike in sometimes without venturing too far away.
Such a beautiful, serene landscape. I agree that a sunset along this path would be amazing!
@Dana I love the Scottsdale sunsets. There always seems to be such a range of colours – perhaps because of some of the pollution in the valley – but it sure looks great. If I lived in Scottsdale I’d be doing this trail all the time.
I enjoyed seeing what the country looks like there. It is quite like Australia – apart from the cactii – and the height of the mountain 🙂 Looked like a great day for it.
@Jan The Arizona landscape always draws me in though i couldn’t actually imagine living there full time.
I love those cholla cactus! I’ve never seen a cactus like that in person. I also found it really interesting that the neighborhood was so close to the hiking trail – I couldn’t imagine having those boulders and that kind of terrain in my backyard!
@Lauren I agree that having rocks and cacti like that in your backyard would be very interesting – and what great wildlife you’d end up seeing.
I really have been meaning to hike that. I will be in Scottsdale on the 28th this month. Maybe I can do it then.
@Tanya You only need a few days to do the hike so it’s definitely worth slotting in.
What an utterly fascinating landscape with humanoid cacti and all. Don’t think I’d make it to the top though.
@Mette I love those cacti too and I KNOW yu’d be able to hike the trail – though perhaps not scale the rocks to the top of Pinnacle Peak.
Brings back some good memories. Will have to do it again the next time we are in AZ — and Brown’s Ranch as well! Great photos, as always!
@Jackie We ran out of time to do Brown’s Ranch but I know there will be future trips.