Hiking lite in a picturesque Phoenix park

Can a real hike be in a big-city park? That depends on how you define “hike.”

Papago Park is not far from downtown Phoenix, but its 1,500 acres include a variety of trails amid a rich desert landscape marked by towering buttes of red rock.

I’d say it qualifies as a hiking destination.

A curb of a parking lot is shown with a butte in the far background.

And the Unshakable Hiker (that’s me) is hosting a group hike there during the World Parkinson Congress in May. Click here for more on that.

I recently checked out the 2.3-mile Double Butte Trail in Papago Park. It is a scenic, low-stress hike that’s like an oasis amid the bustle of the fifth-largest city in the U.S.

People with Parkinson’s in different stages can enjoy the trails, as portions of the system are quite accessible. And if you want a more robust cardio workout, you can extend this route by detouring onto an offshoot trail.

Parkinson’s hiking tip

The trail surface is mostly smooth. But for people with Parkinson’s — who are more prone to falls than the rest of the world is — hiking boots or shoes with non-slip soles would be helpful.

The Unshakable Husband and I parked our car in the lot just south of the trailhead, where there is a big, easy-to-read map posted. Taking a photo of it is a good idea. Or here is a downloadable version.

A sign that says "to trail" is next to a group of hikers moving forward.

A sign directed us to the start of all the trails, which veer off from each other at different points. The Double Butte trail was marked green.

This route goes around both of the park’s butte formations. We started in the late afternoon on a November day, sunny but not much above 80 degrees.

After about 20 minutes of hiking straight north toward the larger butte, we walked past a picnic shelter.

A picnic shelter with a roof is shown in the desert.

It’s one of the few places to find shade on the hike.

Parkinson’s hiking tip

Shade is scarce unless you’re out early in the morning or in the evening. Sunstroke and overheating are real possibilities, even when it’s a cool 80 or 90 degrees in Phoenix. Parkinson’s gives you enough to worry about, so cover your head with a lightweight hat for protection.

Just past the shelter, there’s a choice to make.

You can continue on the Double Butte Trail, which leads you around the back of the large butte and then off toward the smaller butte, and finally back to the lot.

Or, there’s a trail that circles the entire large butte, called Big Butte Loop. It could be fun if you want to add about a mile to the trek before joining with the Double Butte Trail again. That trail has gentle grades and a rougher surface, so it’s not accessible.

Follow the light blue signs for the Big Butte Loop trail.

The two trails parallel each other for a while. I took the inner loop while the Husband continued to follow the green signs.

A woman in a baseball cap looks forward and a man hikes on another trail.

Our paths merged as and we went past an amphitheater near the northern border of the park. From there I left the loop trail to join him on the original trail.

Some rock seats are show as part of an amphitheater on the Double Butte Trail.

Getting a regular wheelchair through this part may be difficult due to some dips in the trail.

A young couple walk their dog's stroller over a dirt trail.

However, we did see a couple pushing a doggy stroller over it.

At this point we were about a mile from the finish, or a little over halfway.

The path back was like the first portion — mostly straight and flat — with nice views of the smaller butte on the left and the beginnings of a colorful sunset over a golf course on the right.

A sunset begins with a fenced golf course in the foreground.

A man in a T-shirt and shorts walks along a fence.

As we reached the trail’s end, there were a few groups just starting out for a sunset hike.

A smooth path goes up a few feet ending at a parking lot.

Shadows are long in a view of the trailhead finish.

All in all, it was a nice “getaway” hike. Absorbing the desert landscape for even for just an hourlong walk does wonders for both body and soul.

Hike info

PD difficulty level (see chart): Easy, with portions accessible
Distance: 2.3-mile loop
Elevation gain: 120 feet
Trailhead location: Enter Papago Park through main gate at 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.
Cell phone service: good
Bathrooms: None at trailhead, but a nearby picnic area has them.
Emergency medical support: Hospitals within a few minutes from the park include Arbazo Central Campus and Banner – University Medical Center.
Costs: none
Road access to trailhead: Trail starts immediately north of the parking lot.

A long view of a huge butte with a front hole near the top and people gathered there.

Insider tip: Finding parking spaces gets much harder on pleasant evenings. There’s a nearby hike to “Hole in the Rock,” where people gather to watch the sunset. The hike is a third of a mile and rated easy; the crowds may be the biggest challenge. Hours are 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Going to the 2026 World Parkinson Congress?

Hey hikers, walkers, and people who love being outdoors:

You’re invited to join us for an early morning outing to Papago Park near downtown Phoenix on Tuesday, May 26. The park has trails for nearly all capabilities, as described in the above post.

We are providing transportation for those who need it. Participants would be back by around 8 a.m. for the day’s opening session.

More details will be coming! If interested, email me at unshakablehiker@gmail.com.