This has become my favorite hike in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. It is the most remote feeling trail as you trek up trail 8B from the crest of Granite Ridge. We packed from the parking lot (sorry for anyone that showed up at the SW corner! Although you could park there, the city lot is actually at the NE corner of that intersection. File all complaints with the city parks and rec mapping service.) to the saddle of Granite Ridge and then over to 8B and down to the Phoenix Mountains parking lot (busy busy with all the day hikers going to the top of Piestewa Peak. It was a little windy but worth the effort. This was a challenging hike because of the elevation gain. About 1.2 miles to the saddle and probably about 1,000 feet elevation gain. when you go over to 8B you descend to the other parking lot and then have to climb to the saddle on the way back. I'll definitely do this one again. I think the rest of the group has dropped out. It's been the two of us on the last several hikes. That's ok.! We had a great time. Pack weight was about 25 pounds for me and about 20 pounds for my hiking partner.
This has become my favorite hike in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. It is the most remote feeling trail as you trek up trail 8B from the crest of Granite Ridge. We packed from the parking lot (sorry for anyone that showed up at the SW corner! Although you could park there, the city lot is actually at the NE corner of that intersection. File all complaints with the city parks and rec mapping service.) to the saddle of Granite Ridge and then over to 8B and down to the Phoenix Mountains parking lot (busy busy with all the day hikers going to the top of Piestewa Peak. It was a little windy but worth the effort. This was a challenging hike because of the elevation gain. About 1.2 miles to the saddle and probably about 1,000 feet elevation gain. when you go over to 8B you descend to the other parking lot and then have to climb to the saddle on the way back. I'll definitely do this one again. I think the rest of the group has dropped out. It's been the two of us on the last several hikes. That's ok.! We had a great time. Pack weight was about 25 pounds for me and about 20 pounds for my hiking partner.
I agree that this was a GREAT hike. I look forward to doing it again soon!
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