Hole in the Rock

"Hole in the Rock at Papgo Park is such a gem. As a novice hiker like me, the hike to the rock was energizing and not too difficult. While walking along the path (since I parked a bit farther away from the rock), I enjoyed walking through cactuses, plants, and wildlife. The views along the hike were just as beautiful as the view at the end of the hike. The orangey, dusty desert comes alive as you go higher and higher. There are restrooms at the base of the hike, as well as lovely picnic areas so you could sit down and have a snack. I visited on a weekday in the early afternoon, so there wasn't too much of a crowd. I was able to take pictures of myself sitting inside the hole without any disturbance or overcrowding. It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself to Phoenix's landscape, and I'm glad that I started off my trip with this hike as an introduction to the city."

"Nice climb up. Perfect for families with kids. Even better for a date if you plan to go in order to see sunset, which is what we did. Amazing views. Phoenix city lights were beautiful. Climbing down was super easy. No rock climbing experience needed...at all."

"Great day here! Not too busy, was getting busier when we left about 3 p.m. Lot to look at, but watch your step! Loose rocks and pebbles to slip on everywhere. Patients are needed for picture taking at the opening. Everyone wants pictures, so please be courteous to each other. The steps to the other side are great, just a bit tall for small children or slightly disabled people to navigate. Great hikes near the Rock as well. Lots of little lizards and groundhog to watch scurry around. We saw a hummingbird zipping around, too. He was down in the wash areas. Unfortunately, we were disappointed to see so much broken glass in all the areas we walked. That was really the only bad part of this day hike. There is plenty of parking near rock and over by the zoo. The ranger station with bathrooms was centralized for convenience. Dogs are welcome on leashes, but not when temperatures are over 90°, that's what the sign read."

"This was a perfect spot outside of downtown Phoenix! During certain months it would be a great spot for a picnic too, at Papago park because there are lots of covered tables to provide shade. The walk up to Hole in the Rock was busy, even on a Monday. It's a great spot to experience the unique geography of AZ. A cute 0.3 mile walk where you could go either u and back, or walk completely around this stand-alone structure. It's really really accessible and good for people of any age. Some of the terrain is uneven, but never overly challenging. Great spot, free of charge."

"The part of the trail that we were on is one that I would consider easy. There is paths the whole way around the hole in the rock so you can choose your level of complexity in getting there. It was a very neat experience to climb up there and look over the city as far as we could see."