Lizard/Cactus Over-the-Rock Loop

Name: Lizard/Cactus Over-the-Rock Loop
Rating: 3.0

3.0 ( 1 )

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Trail

2.0 mile 3.3 kilometer loop
Singletrack
Intermediate/Difficult

Elevation

Ascent: 109' 33 m
Descent: -111' -34 m
High: 1,242' 379 m
Low: 1,169' 356 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 2% (1°)
Max Grade: 7% (4°)

Dogs

Unknown

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Trail shared by Jesse Smith

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Current trail conditions

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“A loop hike in a tiny desert in the city.”

— Jesse Smith

GPX File

Features -none-

Overview

A fun and mostly easy loop in south Papago Park.

Need to Know

Bring good shoes—lots of loose gravel and jagged rocks.

Description

This trail is pretty easy. There are a few moderately steep sections, but mostly just minor ups/downs. The trail is easy enough to follow and could be done without a map after a few times around it, but there are lots of side trails, so I suggest using GPS or using the Hiking Project mobile app for the first few hikes in the park.

The views are pretty good; they would be better without the power lines and nearby roads. One drawback I noticed was that there are a lot of campers (homeless) in the park and a fair amount of trash in spots.

There is a large parking lot at the trailhead, so easy to get in/out. From the wide parking connector, you cross Curry Road on the Lizard Trail which you'll follow for the first part of your hike. You then connect to the Cactus Trail and can choose to take the main trail or one of the alternates for a bit more variety. Eventually, you'll connect back to the Lizard Trail to return to the parking area.