Parking & Trailheads

The main entrance to South Mountain Park and Preserve is at 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85042, and the Holbert, Kiwanis and Five Tables trailheads are on the park road just inside it. The other main trailheads are around the edge of the mountain: the Mormon Trailhead (8610 S. 24th St.), Pima Canyon (end of Pima Canyon Road), Beverly Canyon (8800 S. 46th St.), Geronimo (9331 S. 20th St.), 19th Ave. (10500 S. 19th Ave.), Area 620 (15441 S. 19th Ave.), Desert Foothills (14251 S. Desert Foothills Pkwy.) and Warpaint Dr. (13009 S. Warpaint Dr.). Parking is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. The City lists no parking fee.

Inside the Main Entrance (Central Avenue)

Enter at 10919 S. Central Ave. The park road inside is Stephen Mather Drive.

• Holbert Trailhead: take the first left after the entrance and follow the road to the trailhead (Holbert Trail). Visit Phoenix notes parking and restrooms here.
• Kiwanis Trailhead: stay on Stephen Mather Drive to the first four-way intersection, turn left, then left again onto Piedras Drive (Kiwanis Trail).
• Five Tables Trailhead (Ranger Trail): continue on Stephen Mather Drive through the first four-way intersection, take the next left and keep right. The City lists it at 10214 S. Central Ave.
• San Juan Road Gate (Alta Trail): follow Stephen Mather Drive to San Juan Road. San Juan Road is open to cars only on the first Saturday and first Sunday of each month; on other days, park at the gate and walk.
• South Mountain Visitor Center: 10409 S. Central Ave. (Visitor Center).
• South Mountain Activity Complex: 10401 S. Central Ave., opened April 2, 2026. This is where cars park on the fourth Sunday of each month.
• Summit Road: the drive up to Dobbins Lookout.

Trailheads Around the Mountain

• Mormon Trailhead — 8610 S. 24th St. For the Mormon Trail, Hidden Valley and Fat Man's Pass and the National Trail. The City calls the Mormon Trail fairly busy much of the time.
• Geronimo Trailhead — 9331 S. 20th St. For the Geronimo Trail, about 1,040 feet of elevation change.
• Pima Canyon Trailhead — east end of Pima Canyon Road. The City lists 4500 E. on its trail page and 4800 E. on its map (Pima Canyon).
• Beverly Canyon Trailhead — 8800 S. 46th St. For the Beverly Canyon, Javelina Canyon and Ridgeline trails.
• 19th Ave. Trailhead — 10500 S. 19th Ave. For the Ma Ha Tauk, Crosscut and T-Bone trails on the west side.
• Area 620 Trailhead — 15441 S. 19th Ave. For the Pyramid Trail up to the National Trail.
• Desert Foothills Trailhead — 14251 S. Desert Foothills Pkwy. For the Telegraph Pass Trail.
• Warpaint Dr. Access Trailhead — 13009 S. Warpaint Dr. For the Warpaint Loop and the route to the Corona de Loma Trail.

The City's trail map also marks walk-in access points, where neighborhoods connect to the trails with no public parking (Trail Map).

Hours, Closures and Sundays

• Gates and parking: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Trails stay open until 11 p.m.
• Fourth Sunday: Summit Road closes to cars all day. All vehicles turn into the Activity Complex and park there; the roads are open to walkers and cyclists.
• Other Sundays: Summit Road closes at the 1.0-mile marker from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Events: the City occasionally closes Summit Road for events.

See Silent Sunday and Hours & Fees.

Driving in the Park

The City warns that the park's scenic roads are shared by cars, bikers and hikers, with many blind corners, narrow sections and steep drop-offs. Drive with extreme caution and keep to the speed limit.