Midlife Crisis and National Loop
View Photos
Midlife Crisis and National Loop
Difficulty Rating:
This hike uses two main trails in Phoenix’s South Mountain Preserve, the National Trail and Midlife Crisis Trail, to make a hard 5.3mi circuit. As the name suggests, parts of this hike may, indeed, make you feel like you’ve made poor decisions. There is some scrambling required on this adventure so young kids and dogs might not be able to complete it. The scrambling isn’t highly exposed but beginners may prefer to choose another route. Expect heavy traffic on this hike.
Getting there
The trailhead for this hike is at the end of E Pima Canyon Road.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | October-May |
| Pets allowed | Yes - On Leash |
| Family friendly | Older Children only |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | High |
| Route Type | Loop |
Midlife Crisis and National Loop
Elevation Graph
Weather
Midlife Crisis and National Loop Description
Using the Midlife Crisis Trail and National Trail, this hike gets you up into the hills of Phoenix’s South Mountain Preserve for impressive sightlines over the city below and of the mountains around you. This hike is a great workout, which is a nice way of saying there’s some scrambling involved. Hike it as-is or use the connecting routes near the top of the trail for extensions if you’ve still got gas in the tank.
The hands-on sections on this hike may be too difficult for children and dogs to get through. While the route is technically dog-friendly, consider choosing another hike if you’ve got young kids or dogs in tow.
From the trailhead, the route climbs a short set of switchbacks as you ascend Midlife Crisis Trail. This trail traverses over the top of the ridge. Once you near the end of the ridge, stay right at 4 junctions as you loop onto National Trail. You’ll descend over the other side of the canyon, hiking down through steep switchbacks to end the hike on a more relaxed, gradual descent to the trailhead.
Similar hikes to the Midlife Crisis and National Loop hike
Two Bit and Rattle Saddle Loop
The Two Bit and Rattle Saddle Trail is a moderately challenging hike in the Phoenix’s Mountain Preserve near Piestewa Peak.…
Ma-Ha-Tauk and Crosscut Loop
The Ma-Ha-Tauk and Crosscut Loop is a moderate hike in Phoenix’s South Mountain Preserve. With pleasant views and not much…
Coach Whip Hike
The Coach Whip hike is a route in the Thunderbird Conservation Park in Glendale. The park mostly draws residents who…
Comments