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Outdoors Papago Park & Camelback

Hole-in-the-Rock

An outdoor spot in Papago Park & Camelback, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Sunrise.

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Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park & Camelback
Photo: Tony the Marine (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

Sandstone butte with a natural opening, reached by a short trail, looking out over Phoenix and the zoo.

It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Papago Park & Camelback, alongside 1 activity, 1 place for a drink and 1 place to eat. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Papago Park
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Sunrise

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Papago Park & Camelback. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Phoenix Zoo

    Zoo in Papago Park whose ZooLights season ran from late November to mid-January in 2025-26.

    Activity · 0.4 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Desert Botanical Garden

    Trails through saguaros, cacti and wildflowers from deserts worldwide.

    Outdoors · Phoenix · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Desert Botanical Garden

    Garden of saguaros, agaves and desert wildflowers set against the Papago Buttes, with trails of under a mile each.

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Rusty Spur Saloon

    Old Town Scottsdale saloon, open since 1951, with live country music.

    Drinks · Phoenix · 2.8 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Camelback Mountain

    The city's landmark peak; the Echo Canyon trail climbs about 1,200 feet in 1.2 miles to a summit over the whole valley.

    Outdoors · 4.1 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    La Grande Orange

    Arcadia's long-running cafe, bakery and market at 40th Street and Campbell, busy with brunch crowds.

    Food · 4.3 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Hole-in-the-Rock is a stop on our Phoenix New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Papago Park & Camelback

Hole-in-the-Rock is our only outdoors pick in Papago Park & Camelback; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Papago Park & Camelback guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Papago Park & Camelback run from 65°F in December to 107°F in July; January is usually the wettest month. For Hole-in-the-Rock itself, we suggest: Sunrise.

Modelled monthly averages for Papago Park & Camelback from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Papago Park & Camelback weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Hole-in-the-Rock, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
33.45650, -111.94550
Destination
Papago Park & Camelback, Arizona

Hole-in-the-Rock: quick answers

How much time do you need at Hole-in-the-Rock?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Hole-in-the-Rock. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Hole-in-the-Rock?

Our pick: Sunrise. Insider tip: It takes about 15 minutes up; go at sunrise or sunset when the rock glows red.

Is Hole-in-the-Rock free?

Yes, we list Hole-in-the-Rock as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include Hole-in-the-Rock?

Hole-in-the-Rock appears on Phoenix New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Hole-in-the-Rock to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Papago Park & Camelback.

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Also in Papago Park & Camelback

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.