Let's explore South Mountain Preserve by hiking Mormon Trail to Hidden Valley. We'll start at the Mormon Trailhead, take about 2-3 hours, travel a total of 3.8 miles and gain about 1,000 feet of elevation. The hike begins with a climb but offers amazing views right away. On a clear day we will see local landmarks like Four Peaks, Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Downtown Phoenix, and University of Phoenix Stadium. As we climb we'll take in the unique beauty of the desert vegetation and wildlife. We'll see Saguaros, desert wild flowers, Barrel and Prickly Pear cacti. We may even spot a family of Quails, a Zebra Tailed Lizard, or Jack Rabbits along the trails. We’ll climb to Fat Man’s Pass, a narrow pass between two giant boulders, and squeeze through. Then we’ll head into Hidden Valley, a spot completely secluded from city views and filled with fresh air, birds and butterflies. We'll stop to examine ancient petro glyph sites created by the Hohokom, sometime between 350 - 1400 AD. Next, we’ll rock scramble a bit before we hike to a natural rock tunnel. Finally, we’ll enjoy more views of the valley on the way down the mountain.