Home › Arizona › Phoenix › Shaw Butte Trailhead
Shaw Butte Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 88 Google reviews · Running trail in Phoenix, Arizona · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Shaw Butte Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking area with a trail leading to the top of a mountain for views of the city and desert.
What runners say about Shaw Butte Trailhead
“Bathrooms at the visitors center on 7th street are clean and maintained , also the water fountain much colder than the one on Central ave”
“Shaw Butte Trailhead in Phoenix offers a moderately challenging hike with stunning 360° views from the summit.”
5 stars (but really 4.5) This one surprised me. Not usually the kind of trail I go for, but I ended up really enjoying it. The beginning kicks off with a steep climb that gets your legs and lungs fired up fast, which I actually loved. Great warm-up and a legit workout right out of the gate. Views? Solid.
We took trail 306 on a beautiful spring morning. This was a moderately difficult trail with beautiful views of Phoenix. The full hike took us nearly 3 hours including water/snack breaks. There are beautiful views of Phoenix and spring flowers were in full bloom. Be careful when going downhill. The rocks are slick.
Hidden Gem! You can reach Shaw Butte by way of 7th St & Thunderbird where you will find plenty of parking. Great place to trail run, hike and or bike. If reaching the towers is your goal, you can do an out and back or take the trail around for more distance. You can start and finish at the same point.
My favorite trailhead in Phoenix. Its a mid level hike I suppose you could say and difficult for the non-hiker for sure. I say that based on observations and people I've invited in the past. Great views up top and if you're just going up and down the mountain its about an hour.
Trail conditions & character
“Shaw Butte Trailhead in Phoenix offers a moderately challenging hike with stunning 360° views from the summit.”
“Up to the top, then down to the bottom of the asphalt hill and back up to the top for a few minutes, then down to trailhead.”
“Going down the other side, be careful not to turn downhill too soon or you will end up on a street and have to climb back up or follow streets around to get back to a trail.”
“Up to the top, then down to the bottom of the asphalt hill and back up to the top for a few minutes, then down to trailhead.”
“At the trailhead you’ll see a climb but If you stay to the left you get some easy singletrack”
“Bathrooms at the visitors center on 7th street are clean and maintained , also the water fountain much colder than the one on Central ave”
“Bathrooms at the visitors center on 7th street are clean and maintained , also the water fountain much colder than the one on Central ave”
Plan your run at Shaw Butte Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitephoenix.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Running trails near Phoenix
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Shadow Mountain
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