Stoney Mtn Ridgeline, AZ

If you're looking for solitude and something challenging right in the middle of town, then this is it. Just off of North Cave Creek Road and at the end of East Cortez Street, the hike begins on the road going up to the water tank.


Very soon you're off the road onto a well-traveled trail reaching the first saddle only a 1/4 mile in. Stay on the trail and drop down heading south another 1/4 mile to the bottom of the prominent ridgeline. Go off-trail here heading east up to the ridgeline.From here the route finding is pretty simple, stay on the ridgeline. Although route finding is simple, the route is challenging and must be approached with caution. Difficulty can be adjusted by scrambling to the top of every summit along the ridgeline or skirting the summits as you go, but you never want to stray far from the ridgeline. At times, there is some pretty good exposure so if you're afraid of heights, I'd pick another trail. You probably want to leave the dog and young children behind as well.

Just before you approach Stoney Mountain (the highest peak on the ridgeline), there is a buttress and if approached head-on can be difficult, or it can be skirted to the right to gain the saddle between it and Stoney Mountain. From here the trail heads south along the ridgeline with continued exposure and great views of North Phoenix.

At the halfway mark, you drop off of the ridge back down to the valley floor where you skirt a few properties surrounded by a chain-link fence. Now back on established trails, you start cranking back up to the ridgeline. Not near the exposure along this part of the ridgeline and you might even see one or two people, but still relative solitude for the middle of Phoenix.

2011-05-03 airy