# South Mountain Park and Preserve: Judith Tunnell Accessible Trails & Dobbins Lookout

> Place to go for families in the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler area (AZ). Times are Arizona Time.

- When: Open daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM; vehicular access gates to Summit Road open 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Where: South Mountain Park and Preserve, 10409 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042
- Ages: All ages; Judith Tunnell Trail features two barrier-free paved loops (0.5 to 1.3 miles) with shade ramadas, sensory exhibits, and wheelchair/stroller accessibility; Dobbins Lookout accessible by car
- Price: Free admission and free vehicle entry
- Schedule: Open daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM; vehicular access gates to Summit Road open 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Organizer: City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department
- Official page: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/south-mountain
- Last checked: Wed, Nov 4

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/south-mountain-park-and-preserve-judith-tunnell-accessible-trails-and--listing-1f6a2333b84811f889499afc

## About

Covering more than 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park and Preserve is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. Near the South Mountain Environmental Education Center, the Judith Tunnell Trail offers two barrier-free, paved half-mile loops engineered for families with strollers and visitors with mobility devices, complete with resting benches, tactile animal sculptures, and educational ramadas.

Families can also take a scenic drive up Summit Road directly to Dobbins Lookout at 2,330 feet elevation. At the lookout, a historic stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s provides breathtaking, panoramic 360-degree vistas across the entire Valley of the Sun skyline with no strenuous climbing required.

## Similar picks in Phoenix

- [Papago Park: Hole-in-the-Rock Geological Trail & Desert Fishing Lagoons](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/papago-park-hole-in-the-rock-geological-trail-and-desert-fishing-lagoo--listing-e16ce27aac2440c7bda3fa55) — Open daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM; main parking gates open 5:00 AM–7:00 PM · Papago Park · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. Papago Park's Hole-in-the-Rock is one of Phoenix's most beloved natural geological landmarks. A gentle 0.3-mile trail winds up the back of a red sandstone butte with wide, easy…
- [McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Accessible Bajada Nature Trail & Gateway Trailhead](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/mcdowell-sonoran-preserve-accessible-bajada-nature-trail-and-gateway-t--listing-b64b05bf35971aeea0141fb5) — Open daily sunrise to sunset (approx. 6:00 AM–5:30 PM in winter) · McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Gateway Trailhead), Scottsdale · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve encompasses over 30,000 acres of protected desert wilderness in Scottsdale, with Gateway Trailhead serving as the crown jewel for family…
- [Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch: Lake Nature Trails & Kids' Dino Dig](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/riparian-preserve-at-water-ranch-lake-nature-trails-and-kids-dino-dig--listing-e885a433046370ca236a4eb5) — Open daily 5:30 AM–10:00 PM; trails and wildlife habitat ponds open dawn to dusk · Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is a 110-acre peaceful wildlife oasis in Gilbert featuring seven water recharge basins and a scenic fishing lake. Over 300 bird species visit…
- [Usery Mountain Regional Park: Merkle Barrier-Free Nature Loop & Desert Center](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/usery-mountain-regional-park-merkle-barrier-free-nature-loop-and-deser--listing-18a281b0fa3c688addb3dbef) — Open daily 6:00 AM–8:00 PM (Nov 1 – Apr 30); Nature Center open daily 8:00 AM–4:00 PM · Usery Mountain Regional Park, Mesa · All ages · From $7 · checked Nov 4. Usery Mountain Regional Park encompasses more than 3,600 acres in the northeast Valley at the foot of the Goldfield Mountains. The park is celebrated among local families for the…
- [White Tank Mountain Regional Park: Accessible Waterfall & Petroglyph Trail](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/white-tank-mountain-regional-park-accessible-waterfall-and-petroglyph--listing-5812663df3d5d175d1d39cc2) — Open daily 6:00 AM–8:00 PM (Nov 1 – Apr 30); Nature Center open daily 8:00 AM–4:00 PM · White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Waddell · All ages · From $7 · checked Nov 4. Rising majestically along the western skyline of Maricopa County, White Tank Mountain Regional Park features rugged mountain canyons, ancient saguaros, and deep prehistoric…
- [Lost Dutchman State Park: Family Nature Trails & Superstition Mountain Foothills](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/lost-dutchman-state-park-family-nature-trails-and-superstition-mountai--listing-955be0940b8ee63d13f4004e) — Open daily 6:00 AM–8:00 PM; Visitor Center open 6:00 AM–5:00 PM (open until 7:00 PM… · Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction · All ages · From $10 · checked Nov 4. Located at the base of the dramatic, towering volcanic cliffs of the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park is steeped in Gold Rush legends and breathtaking Sonoran…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids in Maricopa County, AZ](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/counties/maricopa-county-az) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/counties/maricopa-county-az.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Phoenix — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/events/2026-11.md)
- [This weekend in Phoenix](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Phoenix](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix.md)
