Piestewa Peak Freedom Trail (Part of Piestewa Peak/Dreamy Draw Park) (Phoenix, Arizona)

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A combination of multiple trails across varied elevations, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation rate this trail as 'Difficult'. The loop is 3.7 U.S. miles long with an elevation change of 720 U.S. feet. The trail basically almost takes you around the base of Piestewa Peak, one of several mountains part of the Phoenix North Mountain Preserve. Though on some parts of the trail you can hear the low rumble of the highway nearby, or the occasional aircraft overhead, this trail is nice and long enough to "get out of the city" without the extraneous hike to the top of the Peak. The trail is also popular with mountain bikers, so mind the corners of the curves! The section of this trail that corresponds with the semi-developed trail to the summit can get crowded with all sorts of hikers, everyone from those just strolling to those looking for a workout, during weekends and week nights. You can get access to the Freedom Trail from trailheads #302 (first major parking lot on the left) or #304 (last parking lot at the end of the road and the address listed for this feature). Remember, it can be, and often is, a dry heat around here, so plan accordingly! Trail is open 5:00am - 11:00pm and the gate into the main parking and picnic areas closes usually around 7:00pm or so, seven days a week. Follow the link here for more information: www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/piestewa-peak