Big Butte Loop
Papago Park is a popular recreation area just minutes from downtown Phoenix. The park was a reservation in past years, then a fish hatchery in the Great Depression, a prisoner of war camp in WWII, and a VA hospital. Talk about a storied past! Today, it offers hiking opportunities and access to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens. Zoo and gardens aside, we like big buttes and we cannot lie. The Big Butte Loop explores two of the defining buttes of the park on an easy hike.
Quick Navigation
Join our newsletter
Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers
Route Description for Big Butte Loop
Papago Park is a recreational and hiking area, a golf course, and an access point for the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens. In years past, it was a reservation, a fish hatchery in the Great Depression, a POW camp, and a VA hospital. Its interesting geology, particularly its erosion-carved buttes, is the focus of the Big Butte Loop.
This hike is rated as easy. The trail is clear, easy to follow, and lined with unique desert plants and cacti. The footing is mostly hard dirt. You’ll be next to the road for part of this hike, so expect a little bit of noise, but it’s still worth it.
From the trailhead, take the trail to your left. Stay left through several junctions as you hike along the side of the golf course. Bear right towards Elliot Ramada, a perfect place to stop and take in the views either now or on the return trip. The Papago Buttes are right ahead of you here, with their dark red coloring and their caves on full display.
Continue around the top of the buttes next to the road. Keep hiking on Big Butte Loop as it leads you all the way around the buttes to the ramada once more. From here, take Double Butte Loop back to the trailhead.
Getting to the Big Butte Loop Trailhead
The trailhead for the Big Butte Loop is on E Papago Park Road.
Route Information
Big Butte Loop Elevation Graph
Weather Forecast
Check Area WeatherBig Butte Loop Reviews
Add a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Nearby Trails
- Papago Buttes Out and Back
- Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trail
- Beverly Canyon Trail
- Beverly Canyon Loop
- Javelina Canyon and Ridgeline Loop
- Quartz Ridge and LV Yates Loop
- Quartz Ridge Trail
- Camelback Mountain Hike
- Papago Park Butte Loop
- Hole in the Rock Trail
- Papago Park Golf Course Loop
- Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail