Almost everyone in the Phoenix area has heard of Pinnacle Peak, and many of us would recognize the distinctive granite mountain either in a picture or if we saw it on the distant horizon in North Scottsdale. But for many years a restaurant in its shadow went by the same name and was probably the more popular of the two namesakes; there was certainly a period of time when more people dined on steaks at Pinnacle Peak Patio than hiked at Pinnacle Peak Park.
But the cowboy restaurant closed almost five years ago and its property was redeveloped for housing and commercial uses. In fact much of the surrounding pristine Sonoran Desert landscape that was half the draw of driving a dozen miles for barbecue chow has been replaced by homes, resorts, golf courses, shopping centers and business parks. But in the midst of this suburban explosion Pinnacle Peak Park preserves 150 acres around the rocky spire that beacons all nature lovers to appreciate the beauty of the area.
Near the visitor center is the trailhead for the one way trail that meanders on the north side - and mostly in the shadow - of the mountain ridges. It's a moderately easy 1.75 miles hike westward to the end, and then the same way back, taking about 2 hours round trip. The pathway never reaches the summit of Pinnacle Peak but there is some gradual elevation gain - about 300 feet - and a few steep grades, especially at the western end.
The scenery is classic North Scottsdale with stunning views of nearby Cave Creek, Carefree and the McDowell Mountains. Camelback Mountain can also be seen in distant Phoenix to the south. Shimmering green in between massive boulders, palo verde and ironwood trees along with creosote bushes and saguaro cacti all color the Sonoran Desert landscape.
Signs educate you on native wildlife like gila monsters and rattlesnakes, but I've only seen chuckwallas, our native desert iguana, in the park. Of course there are birds but having traveled miles of trails in the nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve, I've not been overly impressed with avian sightings in the area. If birdwatching is your goal, I'd suggest traveling several miles north to the city of Cave Creek to visit the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation area. Maybe it's the natural waterway, also known as Cave Creek, that attracts the wider variety and quantity of bird life.
Nonetheless I did encounter a few birds on my visit to Pinnacle Peak Park on Sunday. Black-throated sparrows flitted among ocotillos and cactus wrens croaked noisily to each other, competing with the tweets of rock wrens and the squeaks of hummingbirds. Squawking woodpeckers - either Gila or flicker - echoed from distant ridges.
One of my last encounters, close to the trailhead as I finished my chilly hike, was of an American kestrel lazily eying his surroundings from high atop a saguaro cactus. My initial shots clearly showed recently built homes in the background, but as I descended the trail and looked back for some final photos the backdrop looked more like pristine desert. His gaze was directed over his shoulder toward the park; maybe the kestrel was as aware of this contrast in surroundings as I was.
But the cowboy restaurant closed almost five years ago and its property was redeveloped for housing and commercial uses. In fact much of the surrounding pristine Sonoran Desert landscape that was half the draw of driving a dozen miles for barbecue chow has been replaced by homes, resorts, golf courses, shopping centers and business parks. But in the midst of this suburban explosion Pinnacle Peak Park preserves 150 acres around the rocky spire that beacons all nature lovers to appreciate the beauty of the area.
Near the visitor center is the trailhead for the one way trail that meanders on the north side - and mostly in the shadow - of the mountain ridges. It's a moderately easy 1.75 miles hike westward to the end, and then the same way back, taking about 2 hours round trip. The pathway never reaches the summit of Pinnacle Peak but there is some gradual elevation gain - about 300 feet - and a few steep grades, especially at the western end.
The scenery is classic North Scottsdale with stunning views of nearby Cave Creek, Carefree and the McDowell Mountains. Camelback Mountain can also be seen in distant Phoenix to the south. Shimmering green in between massive boulders, palo verde and ironwood trees along with creosote bushes and saguaro cacti all color the Sonoran Desert landscape.
Signs educate you on native wildlife like gila monsters and rattlesnakes, but I've only seen chuckwallas, our native desert iguana, in the park. Of course there are birds but having traveled miles of trails in the nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve, I've not been overly impressed with avian sightings in the area. If birdwatching is your goal, I'd suggest traveling several miles north to the city of Cave Creek to visit the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation area. Maybe it's the natural waterway, also known as Cave Creek, that attracts the wider variety and quantity of bird life.
Nonetheless I did encounter a few birds on my visit to Pinnacle Peak Park on Sunday. Black-throated sparrows flitted among ocotillos and cactus wrens croaked noisily to each other, competing with the tweets of rock wrens and the squeaks of hummingbirds. Squawking woodpeckers - either Gila or flicker - echoed from distant ridges.
One of my last encounters, close to the trailhead as I finished my chilly hike, was of an American kestrel lazily eying his surroundings from high atop a saguaro cactus. My initial shots clearly showed recently built homes in the background, but as I descended the trail and looked back for some final photos the backdrop looked more like pristine desert. His gaze was directed over his shoulder toward the park; maybe the kestrel was as aware of this contrast in surroundings as I was.
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| View of Pinnacle Peak from near the visitor center at Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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| View of Pinnacle Peak in Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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| View of Pinnacle Peak from the north, in the park. |
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| The trail in Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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| Chuckwallas in Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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| Rock Wren on a granite rock in Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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| Black-throated sparrow on ocotillo cactus in Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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| American kestrel on a saguaro cactus in Pinnacle Peak Park, with eastside development behind. |
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| American kestrel in Pinnacle Peak Park. |
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