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Mormon Trail - South Mountain - 53 members in 502 triplogs have rated this an average 3.1 ( 1 to 5 best )
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 26  Next
502 triplogs
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Feb 18 2026
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon Loop TrailPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
 Hiking avatar Feb 18 2026
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
 Hiking6.10 Miles 1,336 AEG
 Hiking6.10 Miles   2 Hrs   2 Mns   3.00 mph
1,336 ft AEG
 
mormon loop plus hidden valley
not too busy at 0830 start, but more people later on
only had to give one party directions, to fat man's pass
cool, breezy, a few high clouds
_____________________
hazhole
 
229480
Feb 01 2026
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 Guides 34
 Routes 319
 Photos 448
 Triplogs 283

36 male
 Joined Oct 23 2017
 Tempe
Mormon Trail - South MountainPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
 Hiking avatar Feb 01 2026
KingLeonidasTriplogs 283
 Hiking4.79 Miles 1,916 AEG
 Hiking4.79 Miles   2 Hrs   7 Mns   2.28 mph
1,916 ft AEG      1 Min Break30 LBS Pack
 
no photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Hiked Mormon Trail to the Hidden Valley Loop with the family.

Trailhead was packed we had to park a considerable distance down the street.

The Grandparents made it farther than last time, they still have a ways to go before they make the summit though.

We did the rest, not too crowded once you get higher up, help a group of novices with navigation. Lots of mountain bikers.

A good hike.
_____________________
 
229383
Jan 25 2026
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 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 25 2026
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking11.16 Miles 2,538 AEG
Hiking11.16 Miles   3 Hrs   34 Mns   3.20 mph
2,538 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 
Nice morning to be outside, and everyone took advantage of it. Parking wasn't bad, but the trails were packed, and it felt like a human obstacle course for most of the hike. Checked out some petroglyphs and metates I hadn't seen before, which provided an enjoyable diversion from the tourists.
 
229036
Jan 18 2026
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 Guides 36
 Routes 153
 Photos 1,071
 Triplogs 124

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Thondum Wihom National Mormon Loop, AZ 
Thondum Wihom National Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 18 2026
GrangerGuyTriplogs 124
Hiking7.02 Miles 1,357 AEG
Hiking7.02 Miles   3 Hrs   42 Mns   2.14 mph
1,357 ft AEG      25 Mns Break
 
1st trip
The Geronimo Trail at South Mountain is no longer the Geronimo Trail. It is now officially the Thondum Wihom (TW) Trail. I parked near the Mormon Trail parking lot, which was already in overflow at sunrise on a Sunday morning. I then walked over to the TW and hiked up. I didn't see anyone on the way to the top, but once on the National Trail, I saw a bike, then a couple runners, then a couple more bikes, then a flood of bikes. The concept of Bikes yield to Pedestrians seems to not apply there. By the time I got back to Mormon Trail parking, I had passed nearly 500 people. Way too many for my tastes. At the bottom, cars were parked on the streets all over. In many places, the bikes seem to be eroding the tread at a high rate. At some point, some action will be required, or the trail will be 6 feet deep.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Lots of brittlebush.
 
228799
Jan 15 2026
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon to Harvester, AZ 
Mormon to Harvester, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 15 2026
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking7.50 Miles 2,150 AEG
Hiking7.50 Miles   2 Hrs   23 Mns   3.15 mph
2,150 ft AEG
 
Partners none no partners
got going at the crack of noon
up mormon, national to bv lookout, up to harvester benchmark and back the same way
quite a few people out
nice afternoon, good hike
_____________________
hazhole
 
228749
Dec 27 2025
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 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Marcos - Mormon Double Double, AZ 
SoMo Marcos - Mormon Double Double, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 27 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking12.79 Miles 3,201 AEG
Hiking12.79 Miles   3 Hrs   50 Mns   3.41 mph
3,201 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
We got started a little before 10AM, and Pima Canyon was packed, with almost all the road spots taken in addition to the lot. That, of course, translated into very busy trails. The tourists were out in full force...someone stopped me on National and asked, "Is this the way to the rock formation?" When I asked which one, she said, "Any." If you're looking for any rock formation, I guess you're in luck.

TBK wanted to go all the way down to Mormon TH, so I went ahead and did two laps down and back up. The crowds were terrible--I think I preferred the Santas last week. On the hike out, I did a second lap on Marcos de Niza to make it a double-double. Aside from the crowded trails, it was a nice day to be outside--there were scattered clouds throughout, but very little haze and temps in the upper 60s.
 
228339
Dec 25 2025
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 Guides 72
 Routes 1,190
 Photos 1,493
 Triplogs 1,544

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Mormon Trail - South MountainPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 25 2025
pseudalpineTriplogs 1,544
Hiking7.21 Miles 1,896 AEG
Hiking7.21 Miles   2 Hrs   44 Mns   2.79 mph
1,896 ft AEG      9 Mns Break
 
no photosets
Linked   linked  
Partners none no partners
presumably took memories and left without a trace...
  2 archives
228286
Dec 20 2025
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 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 20 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.59 Miles 2,487 AEG
Hiking10.59 Miles   3 Hrs   22 Mns   3.16 mph
2,487 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Got started ~7:30AM...cool start to the day in the upper 40s/low 50s. Trails were busy, with an impressive number of people in Santa hats/full suits. Got stuck in a traffic jam of 30+ Santas coming back up Mormon Trail that must've been a holiday-themed Meet Up--that was pretty annoying...Santas aren't known for being particularly fleet afoot. Very comfortable morning and still crowded when we finished.
 
228252
Dec 12 2025
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 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 12 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.67 Miles 2,459 AEG
Hiking10.67 Miles   3 Hrs   26 Mns   3.12 mph
2,459 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Got out for an afternoon hike on a warm day that felt more like spring than mid-December with temps pushing 80° and some flowers blooming. The sky was mostly clear to the east but very hazy looking north/northwest toward downtown. There were quite a few bikers and a fair number hikers out on the trails, and we finished a little before sunset on a nice day.
 
228045
Dec 01 2025
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Hidden Valley via Mormon TrailPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 01 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking4.00 Miles 1,000 AEG
Hiking4.00 Miles
1,000 ft AEG
 
Partners none no partners
Met up with claud at 0800
Mormon trail, natural tunnel, hidden valley, fat man's pass and back
A couple little side trips
She thinks we did this 15 or 20 years ago
Fun morning, not too crowded until the return on Mormon trail
_____________________
hazhole
 
227781
Nov 18 2025
avatar

 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon Loop TrailPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
 Hiking avatar Nov 18 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
 Hiking6.05 Miles 1,336 AEG
 Hiking6.05 Miles
1,336 ft AEG
 
mormon loop with a side of hidden valley
got started around 1000
it was moist
clouds were 8)
_____________________
hazhole
 
227503
Nov 14 2025
avatar

 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Nov 14 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.51 Miles 2,198 AEG
Hiking10.51 Miles   3 Hrs   15 Mns   3.27 mph
2,198 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
I got a little bit later start than usual at ~9AM, but the weather was nice and the trails were more crowded than expected for a Friday morning. There were several classrooms' worth of young kids (field trip?) clogging National near the Pima Wash/Javelina intersection, so that was annoying. Otherwise, pretty typical morning at SoMo. I didn't see any blood remaining on Mormon Trail from my last visit, and I avoided any rock collisions today, so that was a step in the right direction.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Hidden Valley Tunnel
 
227462
Oct 31 2025
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon Loop TrailPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 31 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking8.10 Miles 1,316 AEG
Hiking8.10 Miles
1,316 ft AEG
 
mid morning workout hike on mormon loop
sunset hike with sue in papago park
_____________________
hazhole
 
227087
Oct 25 2025
avatar

 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 25 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.01 Miles 1,923 AEG
Hiking10.01 Miles   2 Hrs   59 Mns   3.41 mph
1,923 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I headed out for an early hike at SoMo, starting around sunrise. Weekend crowds were in full force--I passed 20+ people along Marcos de Niza, and there was a big running group getting started near the National/Javelina Canyon intersection that fortunately went a different way. Along Mormon Loop, I came across a snake eating a lizard in the middle of the trail. I almost missed it until a trail runner pointed it out--he said it came tumbling down the trail in front him.

On my way down to Mormon TH, I accidentally grazed my upper shin on a rock as I passed someone. It hurt, but I didn't think much of it until I felt the warmth of blood running down my leg...lots of it. I figured it was one of those minor scrapes that looks worse than it is and I'd wash it off after the hike, so I kept going down to the TH and started back up. Meanwhile, blood was soaking into my sock/boot, and someone finally commented, "Sir, you're bleeding!" as I passed. Yeah, I noticed that, too...

A few miles later, I finally took a closer look at the cut and realized it was deeper than I thought and might require stitches. By the time I finished the hike, my boot looked like a murder scene. I went to urgent care later, and sure enough, three stitches...dumbest hiking accident ever. Nice morning to be outside other than the minor brush with the rock.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  HAZ - Hike HAZard
 
226922
Oct 19 2025
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 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.48 Miles 2,210 AEG
Hiking10.48 Miles   3 Hrs   17 Mns   3.19 mph
2,210 ft AEG
 
First time back at SoMo since the big rain last weekend, and it was the most crowded I've seen it this season...seems like everyone has realized the mornings are finally comfortable. It was noticeably greener than my last time out here, with grass growing in a few places, and even that prior visit was looking better after the September rains. Lots of washouts and erosion after the big storms, especially in Hidden Valley. We stopped by a few petroglyphs that TBK hadn't seen before, but otherwise a pretty typical SoMo morning.
 
226796
Oct 08 2025
avatar

 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon to Harvester, AZ 
Mormon to Harvester, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 08 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking7.61 Miles 2,165 AEG
Hiking7.61 Miles   2 Hrs   22 Mns   3.24 mph
2,165 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
mid morning start time
still nice enough
mormon trail, national west, harvester benchmark, buena vista lookout
at the saddle, took the use trail to the south overlook
hadn't done that before, nice little viewpoint
back on national and mormon
_____________________
hazhole
 
226502
Aug 27 2025
avatar

 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon Loop TrailPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 27 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking5.00 Miles 1,180 AEG
Hiking5.00 Miles   1 Hour   34 Mns   3.19 mph
1,180 ft AEG
 
Partners none no partners
workout hike
crossed paths on mormon trail with @john10s and @tbonekathy - nice to see you both!
_____________________
hazhole
 
225545
Aug 27 2025
avatar

 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 27 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.31 Miles 2,283 AEG
Hiking10.31 Miles   3 Hrs   17 Mns   3.19 mph
2,283 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Started from Pima Canyon Trailhead around 6AM, and it was a cooler morning in the upper 70s, but still very humid. There were surprisingly few people out on a relatively nice morning for August. SoMo clearly got quite a bit of rain in the big storm on Monday--there were lots of little washouts along the trails and down in Pima Wash, a few remaining puddles with standing water, and millipedes enjoying the lingering moisture. Didn't see much wildlife but crossed paths with @trekkin_gecko on the way back up from Mormon Trailhead.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Millipede
 
225583
Jul 12 2025
avatar

 Guides 30
 Routes 433
 Photos 6,852
 Triplogs 398

41 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ 
SoMo Hidden Valley Mormon Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jul 12 2025
John10sTriplogs 398
Hiking10.43 Miles 2,249 AEG
Hiking10.43 Miles   3 Hrs   34 Mns   3.16 mph
2,249 ft AEG      16 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Back to SoMo for another lap through Hidden Valley/Mormon, starting around 6AM. The trails weren't too busy, and it wasn't ridiculously hot but humid enough that I was sweating a lot. Not much to note out there today--saw a jackrabbit but no particularly interesting wildlife, and it was in the low 90s by the end.
 
224767
Jul 09 2025
avatar

 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Mormon Loop TrailPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 09 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking5.00 Miles 1,180 AEG
Hiking5.00 Miles   1 Hour   33 Mns   3.23 mph
1,180 ft AEG
 
Partners none no partners
workout hike
slow
already warm at 0620
not many people out which is nice
_____________________
hazhole
  2 archives
224597
average hiking speed 2.55 mph
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 26  Next

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.

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