Field guide · Phoenix
Piestewa Peak before work
Short · 1–3 hrs
In town
~135 min
✓ Curated
A steep 1.2 miles up, the whole valley below, and coffee on the way home.
Camelback gets the crowds and the Instagram posts; Piestewa gets you the same sunrise with half the parking drama. The Summit Trail is short, relentlessly uphill, and hand-over-hand in a couple of spots. Be at the trailhead when the gate opens, top out for the light, and be back at your desk by nine with a coffee from Lux.
The stops
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1
Piestewa Peak Summit Trail Trailhead
2701 E Squaw Peak Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85016
1.2 mi each way, 1,200 ft up. Carry more water than feels necessary.
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2
Lux Central
4402 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Open early, real espresso, and nobody minds that you are still sweaty.
This outing lives in Jaha
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