Round Trip Distance: 0.5-1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 1362 - 1437 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Judith Tunnell
Fee: none
Attractions: Interpretive trail, petroglyphs
Judith Tunell is an accessible interpretive trail that is located in the South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. The trail makes a half mile loop around a mostly flat area of desert where it passes a boulder with a couple of petroglyphs. The trail can be extended by combining it with the also accessible Challenge Loop.
The Judith Tunell trail begins behind the South Mountain Environmental Education Center. Getting to the start of the loop can add another 4 tenths of a mile or so depending upon which route you take to get there.
The 6 foot wide Interpretive Loop presents a smooth surface for easy travel.
Along the way you get to learn interesting facts about the desert ecosystem.
As the trail passes a shaded ramada there is the opportunity to see some petroglyphs that are just off to the side of the trail.
A kiosk provides a brief description of the petroglyphs that includes a braille plaque where their outline is reproduced.
The larger image can easily be seen from a distance.
For those with children this is a good time to explain the fragile nature of rock art and the importance of helping to preserve it for future generations. Never climb on it or touch it with your hands or any other part of your body as the oil from your skin will eat away the patina and even the surface of the rock itself.
Those who decide to extend their outing by including the Challenge Loop will find the same wide smooth path but with a little more incline in places.
The Judith Tunell trail intersects with a couple of other trails that are open to foot, bike, and horse travel but horses and bikes are prohibited from using the paved accessible trail.
