National Trail
Phoenix, Arizona
| Address: | Alta Trail, Laveen Village, AZ 85339, USA |
| GPS: |
33°19'49.2"N 112°8'38.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
| Trail Length: | 14.00 miles |
| MTB Difficulty: | Advanced |
| Trail Type: | Point A to B |
| Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Elevation Gain: | 2066 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 12.6 mi |
Pet Friendly
Hike and Mountain Bike
National Trail is the gem of South Mountain and home to the infamous Waterfall. It’s a local favorite as well as a destination trail for MTB snowbirds. Courtesy of mtbikeaz.com
Like most trails in the Sonoran Desert, you'll find bursage, brittlebush, creosote cush, palo verde trees and saguaro cactus. More than 300 species of plant life are found in the park. The park is also abundant with wildlife - rock squirrels, desert tortoises, chuckwallas, great horned owls, rattlesnakes, coyotes and red tailed hawks to name a few. There are petroglyphs hidden throughout the range, courtesy of the Hohokam Indians. Courtesy of hikearizona.com
National then takes you over Telegraph pass and up to the Buena Vista Lookout. From the Buena Vista lookout to the end of National at the east end, it gets more technical with bigger technical features and rock moves. Some of the areas Downhillers will shuttle up to Buena Vista Lookout and ride this section of National. It is an enjoyable section of trail as long as you know your limits and walk features above your current ability levelCourtesy of mtbproject.com
More Information
Never modify trail features. Ride trails when they're dry enough that you won't leave ruts. Speak up when you see others on the trail and always yield to hikers, horses, and others coming uphill. Always ride on the established trail.
Read MoreBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Phoenix, Arizona
- Head west on W Washington St toward 1st Ave (315 ft)
- Turn left onto S 1st Ave (0.6 mi)
- S 1st Ave turns slightly right and becomes S Central Ave (6.8 mi)
- Continue onto E Stephen Mather Dr (0.3 mi)
- Continue onto S Central (0.9 mi)
- Continue onto E San Juan Rd (4.1 mi)
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Trails
Distance ?
12.6 milesElevation Gain ?
242 feetReal Ascent ?
2,485 feetReal Descent ?
2,243 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-18° to 18°)
-33% to 33%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.