Looking beyond the Mormon Trail for more great Phoenix area hikes?
Head west to Boulder Canyon for incredible views or go east to explore the White Tank Mountains.
LOCATION
The Mormon Trailhead is located at 8610 S 24th Street in Phoenix, about four miles south of Interstate 10 or five miles south of Interstate 17. The trail is part of the South Mountain Preserve.
LENGTH
3.7-mile lollipop loop with longer hikes possible
DIFFICULTY
Moderate/Challenging — The first mile consists of a series of rocky, uphill switchbacks. At the top, the trail is sandy and fairly level, but occasionally traverses large boulders, involving some brief scrambling.
WE HIKED IT
February, 2026, 2 hours and 20 minutes
CURRENT INFO
Maps and reviews for the hike to Fat Man’s Pass and Natural Tunnel via the Mormon Trail are available on the AllTrails website.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Free parking is available at the Mormon Trailhead at South Mountain Preserve. If the lot is full, street parking is also available.
- No restrooms or port-a-potties are available.
- Water is available at the trailhead. Be sure to fill up your bottle before you go.
- Wear shoes or hiking boots with good traction. Hiking poles are not required, but recommended if you want some extra stability. The trailbed is alternately rocky and sandy, and you will need to climb up and over large boulders at a few points along the trail.
- Bring water, shade hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. There is little shade on the trail.
- I recommend hiking to the Mormon Trail between late fall and early spring. Phoenix is infamous for its soaring summer temperatures, making winter the ideal hiking season.
- The trail is well-signed at intersections, but it can be easy to lose sight of it when climbing the rocks between Fat Man’s Pass and the Natural Tunnel. You may want to download a trail map from AllTrails ahead of time.
- South Mountain offers many other trails, and you can easily turn this into a longer hike. Check the AllTrails website for recommendations.
- South Mountain is also great for mountain biking. Check the AllTrails website for suggested trails.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Mormon Trail to Fat Man’s Pass and the Natural Tunnel offers fantastic views, gorgeous desert scenery, and a little scrambling, all within a stone’s throw of the city of Phoenix. In winter and spring, wildflowers often dot the trail, and at any time of year you’ll be treated to expansive views across the valley, saguaro cacti, and dramatic rock formations. Be prepared to sweat a little on the ascent, and don’t worry if you can’t fit through the facetiously named Fat Man’s Pass — you can always go around.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
Are your kids ready for an adventure? Follow the Mormon Trail to Fat Man’s Pass and the Natural Tunnel, where they can climb boulders, slide down slick rocks, and squeeze through secret passages. But first, be prepared for a rocky, uphill climb with no shade. This is a wonderful hike during the winter when temperatures are mild, but sunscreen, shade hats, and extra water are essential at any time of year.
My younger son announced he was “tired already” after 50 feet of hiking. Fortunately, he soon got into the swing of things, as our conversation turned to the animal guessing game, a favorite pastime of ours on the trail (followed by the superhero guessing game, another favorite).
Afterwards, my older son declared this was one of his favorite hikes ever. “Thanks for taking us, mom!” Words to warm a mother’s heart. And with that resounding recommendation, what are you waiting for?
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
We enjoyed lunch at the Farm Kitchen at South Mountain prior to our hike. Conveniently located just ten minutes from the Mormon Trailhead, this charming spot offers sandwiches, salads, and drinks in a peaceful pecan orchard. While the regular sandwiches are a little pricey, the kids’ options are a great value, and the location can’t be beat. Picnic tables spread out under the pecan trees, and family-friendly games like corn hole are available. It’s also a good place to use the restroom before your hike, as there are no restrooms at the trailhead.
There are many other trails at South Mountain Preserve. Check out the AllTrails website for more options, including many longer routes. Many of these trails are open to mountain biking as well as hiking.
For more great hikes in the Phoenix area, I recommend Boulder Canyon in the Superstition Wilderness to the east and the White Tank Mountains to the west. Both areas feature a wide variety of trails. The White Tank Mountains are conveniently close to the western suburbs of Phoenix, while the Superstition Wilderness is easy to access from the spectacular Apache Trail scenic drive.
Our Experience
The temperatures were in the mid-60s when we headed out on the Mormon Trail south of Phoenix, Arizona. Indeed, it was the ideal day for a desert hike, perfectly illustrating why winter is the best time to visit the city that bears the distinction of being the hottest in the U.S.
We slathered on the sunscreen and hit the trail. It starts off steep and rocky, a sure sign that we were leaving the flat lands of Phoenix behind. The city and its ever-expanding suburbs can feel endless, but the wilderness is still there if you know where to look.
Right off the bat, I was loving this trail. Apparently I wasn’t the only one, as we encountered dozens of other hikers as we made the climb. It didn’t feel overly crowded, however, and I was glad to see others enjoying the great outdoors. My youngest son, on the other hand, was less enthralled.
“I’m tired already,” he sighed as he planted one foot in front of the other. I paused to look at the view of the city below. We had only left the parking lot five minutes earlier. Fortunately, after a few rounds of the animal guessing game (which is exactly what it sounds like), his energy miraculously returned.
The Mormon Trail climbs fairly steeply for the first mile. This is where you’ll experience the majority of the 925 feet of elevation gain. After that, the trail turns from rocky to sandy, leading through a Sonoran Desert wonderland. Mighty saguaro point skyward, and craggy boulders dot the landscape. Hard and prickly, yet also stunningly beautiful.
We eventually came to the loop section of the trail. A sign pointed toward Fat Man’s Pass to our right, or the Natural Tunnel to our left. We decided to head counterclockwise toward Fat Man’s Pass, which appeared to be the more popular option. It wasn’t long before we spotted a large, smooth boulder sloping across the trail. From the number of people climbing over and around it, I guessed that this must be Fat Man’s Pass.
A narrow crevice through the middle of the boulder confirmed I was correct. The boys eagerly squeezed through the opening, which narrows further right before it abruptly opens up onto a wide, sandy expanse. I gave it a try, but discovered I’m not quite skinny enough to slide through Fat Man’s Pass. A quick climb over the boulders proved to be much more accommodating.
As it turns out, the fun was just beginning. We passed another unique rock formation alongside the trail. “It looks like a giant’s overgrown toenail clipping,” our younger son declared. And, well… he’s not wrong. Kids have such a creative way of seeing the world!
We soon found ourselves climbing over and in between more boulders. At times, it was difficult to tell whether we were even on the trail, but a quick check on the AllTrails map confirmed we were on the right track. Over and under we climbed, and at one point we even slid a few feet on our bottoms down a slick rock face to rejoin path below. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of trail, where each hiker picks their own route amid the rocks.
South Mountain also showed off its softer side, with sunny yellow flowers brightening the arid landscape. The blooms provided a beautiful contrast to the dusty brown and sage green desert palette.
The grand finale on the loop portion of the hike was the passage through the Natural Tunnel. Trails don’t get much cooler than this.
Once we passed through the tunnel, it wasn’t long before we met back up with the Mormon Trail. The trip back down went quickly, although not without a few stops to admire the view of Phoenix in all its vastness.
Back in the car, we all agreed it had been a great hike. “Good choice!” my family enthused, and I couldn’t help feeling a little proud of my pick. If you find yourself in Phoenix on a pleasant sunny day, give the Mormon Trail a try. Feel the squeeze at Fat Man’s Pass, duck through a few tunnels, and maybe even slide down a boulder or two. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
