Guided Desert Sunrise or Evening/Sunset 2-Hour Hike at South Mtn
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Escape the daytime desert heatwaves with this unique hiking adventure in the Sonoran Desert. We will stop for beautiful views of the city and to observe and discuss the varying plants and animals the Arizona desert! Start times are flexible and typically we start 30-60 minutes before sunrise or sunset. Please be sure to contact your guide Scott Zdunczyk to confirm a starting time. The times provided on the page are only a range of possible start times. Please provide a phone number or email with your booking so that your guide may reach you with any important updates. South Mountain contains many trails, allowing us to customize the difficulty for each trip. The typical route is moderately difficult but there are less strenuous options available. If you know you would like an easier route, please let your guide know with your booking. See you on the trail!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
South Mountain Park
On this hike you will ascend to an outstanding view of Phoenix, check out ancient petroglyphs, observe rock formations, learn about the Sonoran Desert, and do it all under a beautiful moonlit desert sky. We will meet at the road entering Pima Canyon and warm up hiking on a relatively flat first couple miles before gaining some elevation. We will return to the same starting point at the conclusion of the hike. This is a moderate hike that will cover about 5 miles over 2-3 hours. It will include some steeper and rocky areas. You should have shoes with ankle support, sneakers at the least. Bring water. In the winter bring a light jacket as it can get a little chilly. Depending on the moon a flashlight is not always needed but we will have them just in case.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Fruit, packaged nuts, trail bars, beef sticks, and more!
Flashlights
Options
Guided Desert Sunrise or Evening/Sunset 2-Hour Hike at South Mtn
Reviews
22 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience for local resident & visitor
baouyenn254,Jan 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Last weekend, my friend came to town and we decided to book the sunset hike with Scott. From now on, this will be what I tell my friends and families to do when they visit me. My friend and I had a great experience… and the sunset did not disappoint. :) The hike was leisurely, fun, and informative. Scott is a plant connoisseur and even I (a self-proclaimed plant enthusiast) learned so much about the plants and wildlife of South Mountain during the hike. We also saw some petroglyphs left by the Hohokam. That was neat! We ended the hike by becoming scorpion hunters. Scorpions aren’t my favorite creatures but they do look pretty cool under black light.
The best part of my trip in Phoenix
Judy C,Dec 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00This guided hike at Pima Canyon was the best part of my short stay in Phoenix. I asked for a sunset hike and Scott made sure it happened. Traffic was horrible and Scott made sure I knew it would be easy to find him once I arrived. He immediately started introducing the Sonoran desert to me, and the saguaro cactus. During the hike, I found my new favourite plant, the Palo Verde. I saw my first petroglyphs and Scott gave historical and educational context throughout the entire hike. As it got darker, we tried to hear for coyotes and heard owls. Scott is a very well travelled person with a great sense of humour. As a solo traveller, he made sure I was comfortable throughout the entire hike and even provided water, trail mix and lemonade apples. The best part was watching the sunset and getting the headlamp and flashlights out. Under blacklight, we saw algae growing on rocks and Scott also found a scorpion! This hike was way more exciting than the Botanical Garden. It's really a once in a lifetime experience to get a guide like this. Thank you so much for making this trip so memorable.
Unforgettable Solo Sunset Hike with an Expert Guide!
LaraAnn13,Nov 27, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you're a first-timer in Phoenix and looking for an amazing solo hiking experience, Scott is your guy! He was incredibly knowledgeable, welcoming, and made the hike unforgettable. From start to finish, everything was thoughtfully planned, including snacks, photos, and fascinating insights about the area and native cacti. The sunset hike was especially magical, offering breathtaking views and a unique perspective. Highly recommend this adventure—it's the perfect way to explore Phoenix's natural beauty!
Great Morning Experience!!!
Harry F,Mar 9, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Scott was an amazing guide!!! Scott is very knowledgeable and passionate about hiking which made for a great experience. We enjoyed all aspects of the hike and the snacks were an added bonus. This is definitely a great way to experience hiking and increase your knowledge of the dessert. Great way to start the day and experience Phoenix.
Best tour guide
Kayanna D,Feb 26, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Scott was amazing and very patient with my group. He was very informative and even brought us snacks. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience.
Good time!
Ben Y,Jan 14, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a good time with Scott. He knew the trails and timed everything so we had a vigorous hike with lots of stops along the way…. Taking the sites.
A nice journey
Sightseer35182539718,Nov 23, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It’s a nice journey We see the beautiful sunset different kinds of cereus, animals And a beautiful night viewing of the city phoenix
Amazing hike!!
tyesonv2023,Nov 4, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Scott was amazing and very fun!! We could tell that he wanted us to have a good time, and we did! We learned a lot about the area including the plants and creatures one may find at South Mountain. Searching for scorpions towards the end of the hike with black lights was definitely the highlight of our day! Thanks again, Scott!
Best Sunset Hiking Tour
Monica C,Nov 4, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guided Sunset Tour was a 6 starts experience. Our guide ( Scott) included in the pictures, was very knowledgeable of the plants/ animals in the dessert. Made us feel really safe, he knew the trail very well, provided us with snacks, fruits and water. When it was dark, he had special black flashlights so we could see the scorpion ( picture attached) 200% Recommended
Fun time
Dominica R,Sep 21, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00The hike was really interesting since Scott knows a lot about the local flora and fauna. We even saw some petroglyphs.
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Operated by Scott Z