PHOENIX — If starting the new year on the right foot means getting outside, Telegraph Pass on South Mountain is giving hikers plenty of reason to lace up their boots.
The popular out-and-back trail delivers sweeping views of the Valley, stretching from downtown Phoenix to Ahwatukee — and on especially clear days, all the way to Four Peaks.
Telegraph Pass is about 2.5 miles round-trip with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain. The first mile features a textured concrete surface before transitioning into a rocky canyon surrounded by classic Sonoran Desert plant life.
Once hikers reach the summit road, catch your breath on a bench and soak in the view.
From there, nearby trails lead to a historic rock wall dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s — a reminder that this trail blends both natural beauty and some Arizona history…