The City of Glendale website lists all the trails available at Thunderbird Park: Glendale's Thunderbird webpage
At the 59th Avenue entrance, there are multiple picnic areas, covered ramadas and parking access for most of the trails.
Mileage: Each trail intersects with another, so it's likely your hike will cover sections of more than one trail. For context looking at the map above, trail H-1 is 5 miles in entirety, while H-3 is 3 miles. However, if you take H-3 you'll end up hiking a portion of H-1 to make it a loop.
Elevation Gain: If you're looking for elevation gain check out the topo map on the City's website. It appears that the bottom elevation at all the trailheads is around 1350'. On trail H-3a you can reach 1800'. And the top of trail H-2 appears to hit 1850'.
Experience Needed: Nothing special. Get out and walk!
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Parking: For the H-3 or H-1 hiking trails I recommend you turn right when you enter off 59th Avenue and park all the way to the North end, past Ramada 8. It will seem like you’re driving into a neighborhood but the trailhead stops just short of the housing perimeter. There is an access trail leading east that will connect you with the H-3 trail. You can choose your loop direction and route, creating your own adventure.
Pets: Dogs, cats, and this park is also open to trail stock (aka horses)
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset. Gates will lock you out at sunset
Safety: Watch for mountain bikers, dogs, and snakes. There have been reports of car vandalism/theft in the past so be sure to lock your valuables up and out of sight. Take your cell phone with you on the hike. Remember as always to carry enough water, and bring a headlamp just in case you get stuck. It's not hard to find your way; visibility is great, and these are well traveled trails (I think I spent maybe 5 minutes in solitude) so be courteous to other hikers.
People Meter: On my 80 minute hike I counted nearly 50 people in groups ranging from 1 to 4. That’s about 1 person every 96 seconds. The trail is wide enough to pass comfortably, and no traffic jams ensued.
My Experiences: My hike started by turning left on the H-3 trail, heading around the park to the NW, before circling around to the NE where the trail meets up with Pinnacle Peak Road. I crossed the road at Pinnacle Peak and joined up with the H-1 trail before turning right to cross the Pedestrian Bridge to finish my loop where I started. All in all it was probably a 4-5 mile hike.
I was happy to run into a Chuckwalla that wanted to pose for the camera:
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At the 59th Avenue entrance, there are multiple picnic areas, covered ramadas and parking access for most of the trails.
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| Source of Map: City of Glendale, Photos/Art: Amy Bartlow |
Elevation Gain: If you're looking for elevation gain check out the topo map on the City's website. It appears that the bottom elevation at all the trailheads is around 1350'. On trail H-3a you can reach 1800'. And the top of trail H-2 appears to hit 1850'.
Experience Needed: Nothing special. Get out and walk!
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Parking: For the H-3 or H-1 hiking trails I recommend you turn right when you enter off 59th Avenue and park all the way to the North end, past Ramada 8. It will seem like you’re driving into a neighborhood but the trailhead stops just short of the housing perimeter. There is an access trail leading east that will connect you with the H-3 trail. You can choose your loop direction and route, creating your own adventure.
Pets: Dogs, cats, and this park is also open to trail stock (aka horses)
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset. Gates will lock you out at sunset
Safety: Watch for mountain bikers, dogs, and snakes. There have been reports of car vandalism/theft in the past so be sure to lock your valuables up and out of sight. Take your cell phone with you on the hike. Remember as always to carry enough water, and bring a headlamp just in case you get stuck. It's not hard to find your way; visibility is great, and these are well traveled trails (I think I spent maybe 5 minutes in solitude) so be courteous to other hikers.
People Meter: On my 80 minute hike I counted nearly 50 people in groups ranging from 1 to 4. That’s about 1 person every 96 seconds. The trail is wide enough to pass comfortably, and no traffic jams ensued.
My Experiences: My hike started by turning left on the H-3 trail, heading around the park to the NW, before circling around to the NE where the trail meets up with Pinnacle Peak Road. I crossed the road at Pinnacle Peak and joined up with the H-1 trail before turning right to cross the Pedestrian Bridge to finish my loop where I started. All in all it was probably a 4-5 mile hike.
I was happy to run into a Chuckwalla that wanted to pose for the camera:
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For information and photos on the 67th Ave & Patrick entrance check out that post here: Thunderbird Park: 67th Ave & Patrick Lane
