Round Trip Distance: 0.4 - 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 2009 - 2228 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Desert Vista
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic overlook
The Dixie Summit trail is located in the Southern Area of the Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. Branching off at the 0.9 mile point of the Dixie Loop trail, 1.3 miles from the trailhead, the Dixie Summit trail climbs moderately for just under a quarter mile to one of the highest peaks in the Sonoran Preserve.
The Desert Vista trailhead is located at 1900 West Desert Vista Trail. There are restrooms and water available at the trailhead.
The shortest route from the trailhead is to climb the Hawk's Nest trail for 0.4 miles and go right on the Dixie Loop as it travels around the middle of the mountain for just under a mile before reaching the spot where the Dixie Summit trail branches off on the left.
From the saddle in the ridge the trail will gain 219 feet of elevation before reaching the summit.
Switchbacks make the steeper parts of the climb a bit easier to manage.
There are still a few short stretches where there is still a bit of a grade.
As the ridge gets narrower the switchbacks get shorter.
Soon the final assault on the ridge comes into view...
...and the trail arrives at the summit of Dixie Mountain.
The views are good in all directions. Down below some of the other trails in the Sonoran Preserve beckon to both hikers and mountain bikers.
