20 TELEGRAPH PASS TRAIL AND KIWANIS TRAIL

KEY AT-A-GLANCE INFORMATION

LENGTH: 2.4 miles (optional Kiwanis Trail, add 2 miles)

ELEVATION GAIN: 540 feet

CONFIGURATION: Out-and-back

DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate

SCENERY: South Mountain, city panorama, desert

EXPOSURE: Early-morning and late-afternoon shade; otherwise exposed

TRAFFIC: Heavy on Telegraph Pass, moderate on Kiwanis

TRAIL SURFACE: Pavement, gravel, crushed rock

HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours (optional Kiwanis Trail, add 1 hour)

WATER REQUIREMENT: 1.5 quarts

SEASON: Year-round; hot in summer

ACCESS: 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; free parking

MAPS: USGS Lone Butte, trailhead plaque

FACILITIES: Water, no toilet

DOGS: Yes, leashed at all times

COMMENTS: Pleasant hike to a scenic pass on South Mountain. For more information, visit phoenix.gov/recreation/rec/parks/preserves/locations/south/index.html.

GPS Trailhead Coordinates

UTM Zone 12S

Easting 0400780

Northing 3686826

Latitude N33°19.065'

Longitude W112°3.998'

Directions

Exit I-10 onto Chandler Boulevard or Ray Road. Drive west 3.3 miles until these roads intersect. Continue west on Chandler Boulevard 1.75 miles to Desert Foothills Parkway. Turn north onto Desert Foothills Parkway and then follow it 1.2 miles to the trailhead parking lot.

IN BRIEF

The only trailhead on the southern side of South Mountain, Telegraph Pass is popular among Ahwatukee residents. It begins as a gentle stroll along the foothills and climbs to the top of Telegraph Pass. Some Hohokam petroglyphs can be seen along this trail.

DESCRIPTION

Some Phoenicians consider the community of Ahwatukee a giant cul-de-sac. In a sense, they are right. Bounded by South Mountain and the Gila River Indian Reservation, the only practical way into and out of trendy Ahwatukee Foothills is via Interstate 10 on its eastern side, which explains the seemingly perpetual traffic jams on said freeway during rush hour. Sometimes it seems quicker hiking to downtown than driving to it. Silly as it may be, I’m sure many frustrated Ahwatukee commuters must have contemplated that option while sitting in traffic. The hypothetical shortcut they would take through South Mountain Park is via Telegraph Pass, which bisects the 11-mile-long mountainous barrier at a point in line with Phoenix’s Central Avenue. In fact, during the 1800s, the Army Signal Corps chose this very pass as the optimal route for a telegraph line from Maricopa Wells to Phoenix, and then onto the territorial capital of Prescott. Today, Telegraph Pass is still a prominent and popular saddle in South Mountain Park.

The Telegraph Pass trailhead is the only South Mountain Park entrance on its southern side, making this hike extremely popular among Ahwatukee residents. On weekends, expect to see a steady stream of people, bikes, pets, and strollers on the trail. Don’t let the crowds dissuade you; Telegraph Pass Trail is an excellent short hike. The trail leaves the edge of suburbia, runs through desert foothills and up a scenic canyon, and eventually ends at its namesake saddle. Views from Telegraph Pass are worth the 1.2-mile climb, and you also get a dose of history from the Hohokam petroglyphs along the way. If you have extra time, consider hiking over the saddle and down the Kiwanis Trail to visit the interior basin of South Mountain Park. From Telegraph Pass, you can also choose to hike National Trail in either direction for a higher vantage point.

Trailhead parking can be scarce during peak hours, but the trail’s short length ensures a high turnover rate so you never have to wait too long for a parking spot. From the parking area, start out north on wide, level pavement that meanders around the fringes of nearby neighborhoods. Mount Suppoa and its forest of antennas loom directly ahead. A low hill, or more appropriately a berm, is on the western side of the sidewalk-like trail. When in season, coulter’s lupine and phacelia blanket this hill, adding a dash of blue to the pleasant stroll. Near 0.2 miles, pass a fence that marks the park boundary, and then cross a dry wash a bit farther. The pavement ends at a wide spot 0.4 miles from the trailhead where the Desert Classic Trail begins. A popular mountain-biking trail, Desert Classic runs east 9 miles through the foothills and terminates in Pima Canyon at the eastern end of South Mountain.

Turn left at the trail junction to continue down Telegraph Pass Trail, which heads northwest into the hills. Now hiking on dirt and gravel and gently climbing, aim for a gap left of the mountaintop. At 0.75 miles, stop to visit petroglyphs left by Hohokams more than 600 years ago. South Mountain Park contains many petroglyph sites, but perhaps none as accessible as this one. A trailside interpretive sign explains the history of the Hohokams and their culture.

Beyond the petroglyph pullout, Telegraph Pass Trail becomes steeper and rockier, especially after trail marker 4. As you hike up the canyon, crossing a dry wash several times, watch out for ambitious trail runners who jog up and down this narrow path daily. At 1.1 miles, begin ascending a few final switchbacks on the right side of the canyon to reach the 2,000-foot-high Telegraph Pass.

A major hub in South Mountain Park, Telegraph Pass bisects two mountain ranges and touches three major trails as well as Summit Road. This prominent saddle commands an impressive view toward Ahwatukee. National Trail runs east–west through the saddle along South Mountain’s spine, whereas Telegraph Pass and Kiwanis trails straddle the pass longitudinally.

Though many people turn around at Telegraph Pass, consider spending an extra hour exploring the interior of South Mountain via the Kiwanis Trail. Similar in length and profile to Telegraph Pass Trail, Kiwanis Trail heads north toward the heart of the park. From where Telegraph Pass Trail meets Summit Road at the saddle, turn left and walk next to the road to the apex of a hairpin turn. Cross the road here to access Kiwanis Trail, which dives into a narrow canyon via a series of stony steps.

Kiwanis Trail descends steeply at first but soon levels out considerably. At 0.2 miles beyond Telegraph Pass, buildings in downtown Phoenix come into view in a V-shaped gap between the hills. Directly behind you on the hill, a stone lookout tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps guards the surrounding landscape. The trail follows the canyon northward past large rock outcroppings that offer some afternoon shade. Though not as prominent as those found on Telegraph Pass Trail, some petroglyphs can be found under a palo verde tree near trail marker 5.

A half mile from the saddle, descend into and cross a dry wash. Then, negotiate some stairs at a steep section a bit farther on the trail, which soon flattens out as it follows the dry wash northward. Look for a rusted wreck in the wash just before the trail enters a small meadow. I always wonder how the wreckage got there amid these rugged hills. About 1 mile from Telegraph Pass, reach the Kiwanis Trailhead in the interior basin of South Mountain where you have a head-on view of the Ma Ha Tuak Range and the massive Sierra Estrella Mountains to the west. Though it would be convenient to shuttle a vehicle to this trailhead via South Mountain Park’s Central Avenue entrance, the relatively short hike hardly justifies such a long drive. Return to Ahwatukee the way you came.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

South Mountain hosts many hiking and biking trails including Alta, Desert Classic, Mormon, Ranger, and National. Many other recreational activities such as picnicking are also available. The Environmental Education Center, near the Central Avenue entrance, has a superb visitor center, complete with a three-dimensional model of the entire park.