Lookout Mountain Preserve

About

Lookout Mountain Preserve is a smaller corner of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve in north Phoenix. Its trails tend to be less crowded than the ones at nearby North Mountain Park. Hiking here is free, and the trailhead on 16th Street has its own parking lot. The Summit Trail climbs 474 feet in 0.6 miles, and the 2.6-mile Circumference Trail circles the mountain with about 150 feet of elevation change. The summit climb is short but rocky, with views in every direction once you reach the top. It works well as a quick hike before or after work.