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Hole in the Rock

Hole in the Rock

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Hole in the Rock
4.5
About
Enjoy breathtaking views from the top of this unusual rock formation in Phoenix’s Papago Park after an easy 10-minute hike from the parking lot. Drop by right before sunset for milder temperatures and an even more stunning vista. The place can get quite crowded at this time of day, though. You can also picnic in the shade or visit other must-see attractions within Papago Park, such as Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden. There are other trails in the park that are great for walking or hiking. If you’re traveling in the warmer months, bring plenty of water to endure the desert climate. – Tripadvisor
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Top ways to experience Hole in the Rock and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Camelback East
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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665 within 5 kms
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Lou's Bar and Grill - Papago Golf Course
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Attractions
289 within 10 kms
Papago Park
863
0.5 kmParks
Desert Botanical Garden
9,200
0.6 kmGardens
Phoenix Zoo
3,097
0.7 kmZoos
Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
427
1.2 kmSpeciality Museums
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0.5 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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4.3 kmSpeciality Museums • Art Museums
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766
3.3 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
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2,562
Mountains
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See what travellers are saying
  • IndieBajan
    New York City, New York152 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A hole with a view
    A must-see location when in the Phoenix area. The best thing is that the sight is free and centrally located in close proximity to other sights like the Desert Botanical Garden and Papago Park. The hike is short but mild to moderate due to the steep rocks when approaching the entrance of the rock. It's best to wear shoes with good grip because the rocks inside the hole can be a bit slippery due to the slant positioning. The location provides a beautiful view of the Northern Phoenix. There is a bathroom and a water fountain by the parking area but I would recommend bringing your own bottled water. Just a little walk away is Papago Park which is also a must-see.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 November 2023
  • Robert H
    Lynchburg, Virginia451 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A good little view in Phoenix
    With a couple hours to kill before heading to the airport this fit just right. Close to sunset and not far from the airport car rental center it just worked. A short path to the top a little rough if your walking is not the best but easy otherwise. Definitely squeeze this in if you can when visiting Phoenix. A perfect ending after our Fiesta bowl trip!!
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 6 January 2024
  • Brandelyn C
    Calgary, Canada12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quick, Easy Desert Hike with a View
    Phoenix is a great place to visit! So many amazing little shops, micro breweries, and tourist attractions located in close proximity to one another that you can easily visit several places in one day. We had an evening flight home so we were able to visit quite a few places, including this quick hike up hole in the rock trail.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 January 2024
  • Edwelsh
    North Canton, Ohio7,282 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth it!
    You park right in front of it and then from there you have an easy 10 minute walk to get up to the top right behind the hole. Nice view from up there, although you are basically in the city, so that’s what you can expect to see. We did not climb into the hole, we left that for the younger crowd, there was a steep little slope to get into it. Then we walked around the other side back towards the parking lot. We took a stroll onto one of the trails in and used the restroom in Papago Park. Well worth it!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 March 2024
  • soccermom822
    41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a must!
    Visited with my 4 and 5 year old granddaughters, such a beautiful place and the hike was easy! The adults and kids had fun climbing to the hole, the views at the top are beautiful! Highly recommend for a first hike!
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 6 April 2024
  • JoAnn M
    Indianapolis, Indiana389 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The great west
    It is an easy to middlin walk /hike up. Beautiful view as you walk up Get to the top and through the hole to watch sunset if you can --- WOW!!what a site!. My advide is to take water with you. There is no place to get anything on the way up. You can get dehydrated fast. The cactus are straight out of a movie or cartoon. The sky and rock are just stunning.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 19 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,124 reviews
Excellent
572
Very good
421
Average
115
Poor
12
Terrible
4
MyTravel3
Purcellville, VA51 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Something to Do
Oct 2020 • Family
My family visited back in 2012 and decided to go back for another visit. More for a then and now picture of my now 10 year old daughter. It’s a small little hike that takes you up to a hole in the rock. Depending on when you go, it can be a quiet place to sit and look at the view. Overall it’s something to do when you don’t have a lot of time, want to enjoy some outdoor time or when you are going to the zoo.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TwoEurophiles
Beaufort, SC432 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Easy Hike with Cool View
Feb 2020
Pretty easy hike up this lovely red rock formation just outside the Phoenix Zoo is a nice bit of exercise after lunch. Hiking shoes aren't absolutely essential, but wear sturdy one to avoid slipping on smooth and crumbly paths as well. Nice perspective viewing from either direction of the "hole." Plenty of parking, and the park has picnic tables, restrooms and water fountains.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tjbales
Austin, TX248 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Something you don't see everyday
Feb 2020 • Solo
Veru unique place. Parking is close, no cost to park or walk the short 10 minutes hike up to the hole in the rock. Does get busy at the top. Good walking shoes a must and balance is needed as some parts are a little tricky. If you are near, take the hour and visit this place and then maybe go to zoo next door.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike X
Chicago, IL3,896 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Quiet despite Phoenix being swarmed
Mar 2021 • Couples
Despite the huge influx of people to Phoenix this week, this place was relatively quiet still. Lots of parking along route. Not challenging to get up to the hole. Afterwards, head down to go check out the pond and the palm trees.
Written 21 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel19711482395
8 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Neat to see
May 2022 • Couples
Looks in person exactly as all of the pictures shown here. It was neat to see but nothing amazing, would have enjoyed it more if we could have gotten some decent pictures but there were too many people to even get a pictures of just the two of us. The walk up I would consider moderate and took 10 minutes or so. Decent amount of parking but some of the lots are farther away than others. In the same area as the zoo and botanical gardens, it’s all together in a traffic circle type parking area.
Written 29 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2020worldtraveler2020
Los Angeles, CA1,002 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
it's a hole. In a rock.
Oct 2020
Set your expectations accordingly: it's a hole, in a rock. But it's a nice easy hike to the tafoni (see, you learn something every day), around the back of the ridge and through the hole. Views are pretty nice from up there. Make sure you don't park all the way at the Phoenix Zoo as there is closer parking once you find the route to the closer lot.
Written 29 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kingofthehill81
Allen, TX275 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amazing Views
June 2023
What a beautiful view. When my wife and I were in town for the weekend I told her I really wanted to see the infamous hole in the rock. We arrived late afternoon when it started to cool down just a bit and before the sunset crowd would have arrived. The parking lot is easy to get in and out of and seemed to be plenty of spots available. The hike to the hole is fairly easy if you are wearing the correct shoes. My wife unfortunately did not pack sneakers and hiked in sandals. Their appeared to be a few trails to the top, but it would have been nice if they were a little better marked. The ground was fairly smooth and it definitely was not too challenging. It was really cool to see some of the wildlife in the area as well. We saw several ground squirrels, pretty birds, lizards and some cool cactus on the way up. The view at the top was amazing. There were some "influencers" taking pictures and getting frustrated if you walked in there line of sight, but overall there was plenty of space for the few people up there to enjoy the amazing views. It was great to see the desert and Phoenix from that perspective. I would say this is a must if you are in the area but bring water and be aware of the temperatures.
Written 19 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cep4079
Vallejo, CA73 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nice Park
Dec 2020
Hole in the Rock is in the Papago Park. It’s a nice park. It has the Hole in the Rock. You can climb the hard way on the front of the rock or you can walk around to the back of the rock and it’s much easier to get on the rock. It has a nice view. The park has a pond that you can fish in. It’s next to the Zoo, so you can get a sneak peek at a few of the animals. We really enjoyed the park.
Written 28 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane B
Edmonds, WA810 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nice tourist spot
Oct 2021 • Couples
Nice walk to this outlook with sweeping views of the city below. The sign detailing the local Indians use of this natural wonder is worth the read. This is part of the bigger Pagoda park system.
Written 30 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WBJM2009
Little Rock, AR758 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A must-do when in Phoenix/Scottsdale
Mar 2022
My kids' favorite part of our trip! We parked at the corner of the zoo parking lot, but there is parking much closer if you enter the park from a different direction. Our three year old had no difficulties walking up to the hole in the rock. Great view from the top!
Written 28 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Hole in the Rock - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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