Hike Table Top Mountain Sonoran Desert National Monument, AZ

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Route Map

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Table Top Mountain GPX Track

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Table Top Mountain is a high-prominence peak south of Phoenix AZ with, well, a flat top. It's not particularly unique for the area, except that it has a well-maintained trail the entire way to the summit. The trailhead is even complete with a restroom and information kiosk. I found this all to be odd, considering the road to reach the trailhead requires at least some clearance (likely just anything better than a sedan) and it's a significant distance from the city. Regardless, I was happy to have a pleasant hike/jog along the trail, which I had to myself except for one other hiker.

The hike begins along an old dirt road, reaches a wilderness registry sign-in point, and then continues through the pretty flat and open desert. The first few miles aren't exactly engaging, but it's always fun to look at the various humanoid shapes that saguaro cacti can grow. The trail then begins to ascend on tight switchbacks, making its way through the ancient lava flow. The volcanic rocks would be a slight annoyance to contend with if not for the excellent trail. Some great views begin to reveal themselves and portions of the south face of Table Top Mountain are colorful and nice to look at. The trail mellows out and reaches the peak's southern summit, a false high point. The trail continues east and wraps around farther to the north to a contraption of some sort just below the true high, which can be reached by heading a hundred feet off-trail. I returned the way I came, excited to be blasted by my car's AC to escape the uncanny 90-degree weather.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Table Top Mountain

4373 ft

2333 rise

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Starting out at the Table Top Mountain Trailhead.

There it is straight ahead, a bit of mostly flat walking to reach the base.

Trail register, where the wide old road becomes singletrack.

Progress through the desert.

Nearing the base where the slope grade gradually increases.

View back, my car is somewhere in the center.

Well-maintained trail along the southwestern slope of Table Top Mountain.

Still a bit to go, but the trail made the going pretty quick.

One of many tight switchbacks.

Colorful cliffs just off the trail.

View back, the trailhead top left somewhere.

Ascending the final bit to reach the flatter top of the peak.

View back to the south, the trailhead somewhere in the center.

At the false summit, view toward the true summit ahead. Many likely stop here, but the trail continues.

Onward to the true summit.

View back toward the false summit.

Final bit along the rim. The true summit is just ahead.

View back along the rim.

At the end of the trail, view north. The summit is located just off the trail.

Table Top Mountain summit.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!