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.. Local & Distant 360 degree Views from 3069ft .. by Grasshopper Overview: This hike is one of a number of popular day hikes in the Northeast Scottsdale- "McDowell Sonoran Preserve". There are four main trailhead access points in this preserve off Via Linda Street that connect with the north then east to west Sunrise Trail all which offer a hiking option to summit Sunrise Peak at 3069 feet. This "Sunrise Peak from 145th Street" hike description is the fourth and last trailhead option when driving east on Via Linda Street in Scottsdale. Warning: This hike is mostly full sun exposed from beginning to end and also exposed for threatening weather conditions, so beware and plan accordingly. Also, even though this trailhead has adequate parking, and appears to be in a fairly secure area, it does not have bathroom facilities. Hike: From this trailhead, you begin hiking on the popular Sunrise Trail which officially begins at this trailhead and travels north, then east to west ending 4.4 miles into the preserve at the intersection with the Lost Dog Wash Trail. This first 1.6 mile hike in on the Sunrise Trail to intersect the first spur trail segment to Sunrise Peak is on well maintained, five foot wide, smooth-gravel trail which traverses and switchbacks up a moderate grade to a high saddle at 1.6 miles in. Just west of this saddle in your signed left turn (NW) spur trail heading up hill at a much steeper grade and more rocky .30 miles to summit Sunrise Peak at its 3069ft west end highpoint with near and distant views south, west and north into more of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. After spending time at this highpoint it is highly recommended that you hike the very short use trail route east along the summit ridge to the eastern summit end. On a clear view day you will enjoy excellent distant views of the famous Fountain Hills high water fountain (which is active daily on the top of the hour for fifteen minutes), and views east past Fountain Hills to include the Four Peaks/Four Peaks Wilderness and grand views southeast into the Superstition Wilderness. Begin the exit down from the summit initially using the same steep route for ~.20 miles to connect with not yet hiked spur trail heading NW (left turn) down to connect again with the Sunrise Trail. Once at this intersection with the Sunrise Trail, turn right (east) and continue ~1.8 miles back to your TH-Parking/Start location (Note: Posted to this hike description, please also view "official" GPS Route with information notes for more details). Shuttle: It should also be noted that this hike starting or ending from the 145th Street TH combined with any of the other Via Linda Street TH options (from the 124th St-Lost Dog Wash, 128th St., or 136th St.) would make for an excellent car shuttle hike opportunity with minimal driving time-distances to retrieve your other shuttle vehicle. Water Sources: The only water source available on this hiking route is at the hike start/end where a water fountain/cooler is located for public use. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent of 28 deeper Triplog Reviews
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Sunrise hike with Peds ER friend Lydia - not too crowded. Super humid. Can’t wait to do two car shuttle hikes in McDowells with her as it gets cooler. She hikes at exactly my pace. I love talking shop with Lydia. There’s a lot of decompression that you have to do in medicine. Sharing stories and challenges and trading ideas — it’s nice to have a friend to talk it out with.
2019-09-14 Crzy4AZ
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Limited on time so we decided to check this local urban hike out. Not a bad hike and not to crowded for a Saturday morning. From the peak we hiked out on the Andrew-Kinsey trail and then also checked out what looks to be a new trail, Overlook. Had a snack and then returned the same way back.
2018-04-14 hikerdw
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Pk. 3585
This was my first time doing this hike!. I can now add pk 3585 to my list of summits in the McDowells, and what a butt kicker!
You climb only a short ways, but it's steep and stickery; although the hike up to the mountain is quite a distance.
On top, you can really tell no one comes up here (no trash, poop bags, or anything!). You make your own way! Very rocky and lots of cactus to watch out for on this mountain. It's funny, when driving through Scottsdale, this mountain and it's sister (Pk 3804) look like gentle slopes. It's very steep and rocky when you get close to them! You can reach out and touch the other peak from the top of this one, but actually it's quite a hike I'm sure. Someday I'll tackle that one. It was very windy on top, but very clear, and I could see all mountain ranges in the valley very good. And the fountain was going off in FH, the wind was blowing it all over the place. Thanks Flying_Fliver for the route to follow!
You climb only a short ways, but it's steep and stickery; although the hike up to the mountain is quite a distance.
On top, you can really tell no one comes up here (no trash, poop bags, or anything!). You make your own way! Very rocky and lots of cactus to watch out for on this mountain. It's funny, when driving through Scottsdale, this mountain and it's sister (Pk 3804) look like gentle slopes. It's very steep and rocky when you get close to them! You can reach out and touch the other peak from the top of this one, but actually it's quite a hike I'm sure. Someday I'll tackle that one. It was very windy on top, but very clear, and I could see all mountain ranges in the valley very good. And the fountain was going off in FH, the wind was blowing it all over the place. Thanks Flying_Fliver for the route to follow!
2018-01-14 Naferg323
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
I have not been out to Sunrise this year, so this seemed a great alternative to my heavy doses of SOMO and the Phoenix Mountain Preserves lately. Pulled in to the 136th street TH about 4:30 to get my hike started. I did not like the look of the automatic closing gate and 'closed at sunset', so I backtracked and parked in the almost deserted shopping center at 136th & Via Linda. I started up the wash, this is definitely the best trail on the Sunrise end of the park. Made it up to the summit in pretty good time, and saw my first other hikers of the day. I took a nice break up top to enjoy the views and then made my way down the 145th side. Saw about a dozen hikers coming down this way, nice easy decent too. I took the Equestrian spur from the 145th TH and followed that around to the dirt 'trail' that follows along Via Linda and took that back to the van. Absolutely fantastic sunset tonight, so much color in the clouds!
2016-09-06 The_Dude
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Babysitter with kids - we hiked Sunrise to peak partly for workout and partly to disperse concrete sand that crazy people had taken up in buckets and dumped. 30 young guys - one in a tutu - carried huge American flag and buckets of rocks and concrete sand -- and some plan was thwarted by a local hiker and a two stewards. Weird. Probably they were going to put the big flag in concrete at the top. It's a Preserve - you can't just do that. Not many public places can you just erect a permanent structure randomly with a huge flag. Anyway .... City needed people to go up and disperse the concrete stuff and rocks. So we kicked the stuff around and mixed it in.
Barely got out by sunset. Changed clothes in parking lot. Dinner at Vito's --- way too heavy. Good but unhealthy.
Barely got out by sunset. Changed clothes in parking lot. Dinner at Vito's --- way too heavy. Good but unhealthy.
2016-02-13 Crzy4AZ
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Short and steep. Crowded with holiday visitors. Did patrol duties - helped 4 people with route planning and questions. The overflow parking lot was about 1/3rd full. The Fountain Hills construction in Adero Canyon is depressing. Too bad they didn't protect that land.
And I fixed the hot tub myself this morning before the hike. Nice to sit in warm bubbles after a cold hike.
And I fixed the hot tub myself this morning before the hike. Nice to sit in warm bubbles after a cold hike.
2015-12-29 Crzy4AZ
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Great morning hike with Rob.
Started from the parking lot around 8:20 a.m. Many thanks to Rob for helping me up the mountain. He didn't carry or push me, but he allowed me to find my way up at a pace that worked for me.
We saw a number of flowering Mammillaria Zeilmanniana and one with a full crown. No animals other than dogs.
Wildflowers
Mammillaria Zeilmanniana and other cactus
Started from the parking lot around 8:20 a.m. Many thanks to Rob for helping me up the mountain. He didn't carry or push me, but he allowed me to find my way up at a pace that worked for me.
We saw a number of flowering Mammillaria Zeilmanniana and one with a full crown. No animals other than dogs.
Wildflowers
Mammillaria Zeilmanniana and other cactus
2015-05-17 paulshikleejr
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
ATC challenge update: 124.2/133.4
Have now done all the trails in the Southern region of MSP! Date hike with Brad. He dropped me off at the equestrian area and I went down and around to start the regular hike with him.
Dinner at Blue Adobe outside on their newly remodeled patio.
Have now done all the trails in the Southern region of MSP!
Date hike with Brad. He dropped me off at the equestrian area and I went down and around to start the regular hike with him.
Dinner at Blue Adobe outside on their newly remodeled patio.
2015-01-18 Crzy4AZ
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Fresh off my graduation ceremony to become a MSC Steward (McDowell Sonoran Conservancy) - I was all pumped up from reading about all the new trails and ones to come - and we had a babysitter for the night. So we did a very ambitious hike but got to check out the brand spanking new Andrews-Kinsey trail. It's on the newly printed August 2014 MSP trails of the Southern Region but you can't find info on it anywhere else yet.
I was pretty tired when we hit the Scenic Point on the new trail but was determined to get the whole route for HAZ! Saw mushrooms on the trail edge (a first). And I'm pretty sure we saw a badger hole (see pics). Ballsy for me to say that but it was clearly an animal excavating with the pile of trailings and the width and depth of the hole fits badger description. Of course only one has been seen in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in the last 30 years - - so there's also a good chance that I'm wrong. But I'm throwing it out there
We hiked after sunset (obviously) which is against MSP rules and a clear violation of Steward behavior. I don't know how to justify it except that I really, really wanted to hike and needed that GPS route for HAZ. I'll do better next time with rule bending. And I didn't have on my blue shirt, and I felt really guilty about it - and the risk is mostly on me to encounter an animal after dark.
Inhaled dinner at Pita Jungle including dessert. What a day.
I was pretty tired when we hit the Scenic Point on the new trail but was determined to get the whole route for HAZ! Saw mushrooms on the trail edge (a first). And I'm pretty sure we saw a badger hole (see pics). Ballsy for me to say that but it was clearly an animal excavating with the pile of trailings and the width and depth of the hole fits badger description. Of course only one has been seen in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in the last 30 years - - so there's also a good chance that I'm wrong. But I'm throwing it out there
We hiked after sunset (obviously) which is against MSP rules and a clear violation of Steward behavior. I don't know how to justify it except that I really, really wanted to hike and needed that GPS route for HAZ. I'll do better next time with rule bending. And I didn't have on my blue shirt, and I felt really guilty about it - and the risk is mostly on me to encounter an animal after dark.
Inhaled dinner at Pita Jungle including dessert. What a day.
2014-09-13 Crzy4AZ
Sunrise Peak from 145th Street
Date hike with hubby - testing out new Saucony trail run/hike shoes - they are awesome! Haven't had new shoes in way too long. Was getting hot spots on my heels last few weeks - duh, get some new shoes.
Weather felt so good - 88 degrees - reminded me of May weather. Surprisingly only saw 4 other people out there. Dinner at Pita Jungle and ice cream at Cream City Cafe.
Added some '90s hip hop to my playlist and gave me extra spring in my step.
Wildflowers
ocotillo very green, mormon tea bright green - no flowers though
Weather felt so good - 88 degrees - reminded me of May weather. Surprisingly only saw 4 other people out there. Dinner at Pita Jungle and ice cream at Cream City Cafe.
Added some '90s hip hop to my playlist and gave me extra spring in my step.
Wildflowers
ocotillo very green, mormon tea bright green - no flowers though
2014-08-23 Crzy4AZ
