North Mtn. & Shaw Buttes

[Nay_Nay]

I hike either North Mtn. or Shaw Buttes every weekday morning; however, I would like to try hiking both peaks on the weekend. Can someone tell me how many miles that would be and what trail to take?

Also, there is a trail that starts in the parking lot (Starbucks) at 7th Street and Thunderbird. Where does that trail go? Does it meet up with trail 100? Do you know how far it would be from the parking lot there to the top of North Mtn.?

[joebartels]

Hi Nay

Hopefully somebody will have a better answer than this because I've never done that and it's been soooo long since I've been to either mountain the terrain is fuzzy in the mind.

As close as those mountains are together it "looks" like you're diving into at least a six mile hike and possibly 8 or more.

I haven't a clue if there's access to cut across in the SE, but I'm "almost" positive you can hike through the north gap area label Mountains in purple on this map.
http://hikearizona.com/location_t.php?p ... z=12&msz=2

Sorry, I'm drawing up a blank here trying to remember who frequents that area.

[cathymocha]

The new North Mountain Visitors Center, in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, will close in April 2011. The trail head from the Visitor's Center is along #100 which leads to hikes for Shaw Butte and North Mountain and affects the distances. Beautiful inner city hikes/walks.

[AndreyP]

Yes, you can
There is Trail #101 marked yellow on North Mountain area trail map that connects almost Shaw Butte Loop #306 and almost North Mountain Loop #44. Actually it connects #100 branch of Shaw Butte loop and a paved access road that joins #44 a couple of switchbacks above the #101 junction.
Trail from 7th St / Thunderbird goes around the hill along the park boundary (see the map above) and joins with an unnamed green dotted trail connecting #100 and #306.