Hieroglyphic Trail

A rocky climb into a canyon at the foot of the Superstitions, where petroglyphs cover the rocks above pools that often hold water.

The trail starts at the end of a street in Gold Canyon and climbs gently toward the Superstitions, with the mountains ahead and the Gila River plain behind you. After about a mile and a half it reaches Hieroglyphic Canyon, where Hohokam petroglyphs more than 1,500 years old cover the dark basalt boulders and walls. Below them, pools hold water most of the year, which is rare in this part of the state; they're green with algae and not for swimming. The last stretch into the canyon is rough and loose. Despite the name, the carvings are petroglyphs, not hieroglyphs.

Parking

No parking details yet.

Trailhead: Hieroglyphic Trailhead (end of E. Cloudview Ave., Gold Canyon).

Fee

Free

Dogs

Dogs on leash

Shade

Not confirmed yet

Hazards

• The upper trail is rough and rocky, with loose footing near the pools.

Best months

1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D

October to April, when the average high in Phoenix is under 90°F.

Trail map

Hieroglyphic Trail on OpenStreetMap

Sources

7 sources · last verified Sep 24, 2026. Report a change

Photo: Thelighthouse at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0

Where each fact comes from

• Hieroglyphic Trail — OpenStreetMap checked 2026-09-27
• Hieroglyphic Trail — 10Adventures (updated 2026-09-01) checked 2026-09-24
• OpenStreetMap — trailhead parking lot at the end of E. Cloudview Ave., Gold Canyon checked 2026-09-24
• Tonto National Forest — FAQs ("Pets are welcome, but must be kept on a leash") checked 2026-09-24
• Hieroglyphic Trail Arizona Guide — Visit Mesa ("Fees: Free parking, no permit required") checked 2026-09-24
• Hieroglyphic Trail Arizona: Hiker's Complete Guide (2026) — Summit Standard Co. ("No fee currently") checked 2026-09-24
• Best months: normal high under 90°F, Phoenix Sky Harbor 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI) checked 2026-09-24