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N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird - 2 members in 8 triplogs have rated this an average 2.5 ( 1 to 5 best )
8 triplogs
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Jun 24 2025
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
N Mountain Preserve off E ThunderbirdPhoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 24 2025
mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387
Hiking5.20 Miles 750 AEG
Hiking5.20 Miles   1 Hour   30 Mns   3.47 mph
750 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Did some scrolling through HAZ, looking for a city trail I hadn’t done before. Came across this hike which kind of worked. I had never taken credit for this particular trail, but it turns out that this is very similar to “Pointe Tapatio Golf Course Loop #1”. There is a confined set of trails between Thunderbird, 7th and Cave Creek with three documented hikes (4 if you count this one) described in HAZ: Christiansen, Pointe Tapatio and the Lookout Connector. I’ve always enjoyed hiking in this area and there are a ton of use trails that “bleed” off the three described trails, so it was an easy call to revisit this area.

Started from the North Mountain Visitor Center around 5am. It’s kind of an antiquated system out there….had to wait for the Ranger to manually unlock the gate :lol: . Went through the tunnel and then “picked my poison” for trails going in a clockwise direction. I stayed mainly to the well trodden path, following the Lookout Connector Trail (#25) until it crossed Thunderbird. I then followed one of the fainter trails for a short time until I climbed the slope of the hill that is central for the area and joined what I consider to be the Pointe Tapatio Trail. This trail is very well defined and swings around to the Christiansen Trail. I then took the Christiansen back towards the TH, but swung off to the south following one of many use trails that try to wrap around the small mountain adjacent to Points Tapatio Resort. Most of the spurs end up climbing this mountain, but I followed one of the trails that stayed along the fringes of the park. This takes you along the backyards of some of the homes in the area, but at 6am there wasn’t too much activity. Eventually connected back to the Christiansen with minimal elevation gained and headed back to the TH.

Really enjoyed this hike. Kind of nice to have two excuses to come back and hike this area. No wildlife. Encountered 6 bikers and 4 hikers. Temps were great in the 70’s.
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Sep 21 2015
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 Routes 297
 Photos 6,928
 Triplogs 552

49 male
 Joined Dec 30 2007
 Avondale,Az
N Mountain Preserve off E ThunderbirdPhoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 21 2015
Stoic • Triplogs 552
Hiking5.82 Miles 712 AEG
Hiking5.82 Miles   2 Hrs   58 Mns   2.14 mph
712 ft AEG      15 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
The pups and I hiked a few miles of unnamed trails East of Cave Creek road in the N Mountain Preserve. We parked off 24th st at Christy Cove Park. I had planed about 8 miles today. I had to cut it short after an incident with my bigger dog and a few coyotes. A few miles in I noticed a Coyote following me. Im sure the Coyote was looking for a chance to get my smaller dog. The couple times I have had coyotes stick around, I would throw a rock and they would run off. That idea never crossed my mind. With the coyote getting closer, I let my bigger dog off the leash (instead of throwing a rock.) My dog didn't attack she just stayed defensive. My smaller dog went Jack Russell crazy. She started crying at the top of her lungs. She always cries as loud as she can, when she cant be next to Rayna(my bigger dog) Other coyotes heard her screams and started coming out of nowhere . There where at least 15 coyotes in the area. Most of them where coyote pups. 3 of the bigger coyotes where taking their turn engaging my bigger dog. Rayna held her ground well. Eventually Rayna was able to chase them into the wash. As Rayna came back to me two of the coyotes followed behind her. At this point, I remember how effective throwing rocks was. I threw a rock and the coyotes went back down into the wash. The coyotes then began to bark and howl. I threw another rock into the bush, and they ran off. We all rested at the top of this hill and then started hiking back to the truck. The coyotes where always around. They where watching from a distance.
Rayna is fine. She has two small scratches. No medical attention required. Vet said as long as she doesn't need stitches and she is current on her rabies shots she didn't need to go in. I cleaned the wounds and let her lay down in the pool for a while.
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Jul 27 2015
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 Routes 297
 Photos 6,928
 Triplogs 552

49 male
 Joined Dec 30 2007
 Avondale,Az
Pointe Tapatio Golf Course Loop #1Phoenix, AZ
Pointe Tapatio Golf Course Loop #1
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 27 2015
Stoic • Triplogs 552
Hiking4.60 Miles 507 AEG
Hiking4.60 Miles   1 Hour   38 Mns   2.97 mph
507 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Partners none no partners
Took the pups on another morning hike. Finished the Tapatio Loop and did some unnamed trails back to the truck.
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Aug 11 2012
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 Photos 99
 Triplogs 872

male
 Joined Mar 18 2012
 Goodyear, AZ
Shaw Butte - North Mtn LoopPhoenix, AZ
Shaw Butte - North Mtn Loop
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 11 2012
MikeS • Triplogs 872
Hiking14.10 Miles 2,867 AEG
Hiking14.10 Miles   3 Hrs   37 Mns   3.90 mph
2,867 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Partners none no partners
Stayed at Pointe Hilton Tapito Cliffs. Started at 5:15 am, went up North Mountain then down the other side, then back up. The did the Shaw Butte loop. Passed back under 7th Ave and did the trail to Cave Crrek Rd. wanted to get 15 miles but just too hot.
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Aug 28 2010
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 Triplogs 13

45 male
 Joined Aug 26 2010
 Glendale, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E ThunderbirdPhoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 28 2010
explorerman • Triplogs 13
Hiking4.50 Miles
Hiking4.50 Miles   3 Hrs   15 Mns   1.38 mph
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Started w/ trail #60 at the north end of Mountain View Park, connected with trail #100 and then connector trail #101 to the paved road route #44. At the top of route #44 next to the towers is trail #44a, took #44a to another connector trail(not on map) which travels down a steep downgrade down the east side of the mountain and connects back to trail #60. One big circle, went through 3 liters of water.
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Mar 28 2010
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 Guides 1
 Photos 154
 Triplogs 12

53 male
 Joined Dec 04 2005
 Phoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E ThunderbirdPhoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 28 2010
Jame • Triplogs 12
Hiking10.00 Miles
Hiking10.00 Miles
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
As a native Phoenician and growing up in the north valley, I've spent countless summers during my youth at North Mountain! However, as time went on and I moved on to more challenging 'adult' things, I lost the allure to this special place until this weekend!

It had been at least 20 years since I treked the North Mountain Preserve. After a little story telling of the old CLOUD NINE restaurant in the Preserve, my hiking buddy who is from California was eager to check out the ruins.

We started the hike up the North Mountain service road across from The Pointe Hilton. I told her about all the yellow ribbons that everyone tied to the chain link fence around the towers at the beginning of the first gulf war in 1991.

We hiked around the towers and down the mountain to intersect Trail 100. From there we went up to the ruins.

It brought back so many memories of me and my friends hanging out there in the mid-eighties. Even though this hike couldn't compare to those fond memories, this hike turned out to be something special all to itself.

We decided to go off trail and hike down the east side of the ruins, alondside the debris where the owners discarded their trash from the 50s... We were AMAZED at the old junk we found on the way down. Everything from 1950's Pepsi-Cola bottles to old fire extinquishers! It was totally cool!

Also found was this cool old FOR SALE sign from LOOK REALITY. The address was partially faded but the remaining numbers coincide with CLOUD NINE's location. Could this have been one of the few signs the owner posted after his business went up in flames? For those of you who dont know, CLOUD NINE only lasted for a few years before it mysteriously burned down in the late 50s. It was only open for business for a few years. I had the privilege of working with an old man back in the early 90s who ate there one time. Very cool!

We also came across several deep caves hidden on the side of the mountain out of view. What's amazing is that there was stuff in the caves from years ago! Old blankets, glasses and cookware. How in the world did others stumble upon theses caves? I mean, these caves were really well hidden by MAJOR vegitation. We just happen to come across them by accident. Who lived here and why? This high up? Weird...

Once we got to the bottom, we worked our way back over North Mountain on the south side. I think this is Trail #46? Too many pics to post them all!!

Overall, great adventure!
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Jan 10 2010
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 Photos 27
 Triplogs 24

38 male
 Joined Jan 05 2010
 Glendale,AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E ThunderbirdPhoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 10 2010
Ragnarok • Triplogs 24
Hiking4.50 Miles
Hiking4.50 Miles
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
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Nov 30 2009
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 Triplogs 8

41 male
 Joined Nov 14 2009
 Phoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E ThunderbirdPhoenix, AZ
N Mountain Preserve off E Thunderbird
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 30 2009
RidgebackMan • Triplogs 8
Hiking4.50 Miles 1,600 AEG
Hiking4.50 Miles
1,600 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
The trail is pretty long if you continue along the outer trails. It is great for mountain bikes, I see horse tracks all the time, and also people jogging/running. The trail does go from nice even ground to unsteady rock and rolling hills with turns pretty frequently. Overall its not a busy trail but keep your head up and ears open for mountain bikes coming down the path.
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average hiking speed 2.16 mph

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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