Phoenix Mountains Preserve Night Glow Hike

Paul is an excellent guide and you can tell he truly enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge of desert ecosystems with others. He also has a lot of experience with photography and if you bring a real camera, he will help you get some excellent shots. I am a solo female traveler and I was the only person who signed up for a tour and I felt extremely safe the whole time. Paul even waited with me until my uber picked me up at the end of the hike. We saw a ringtail during our hike which was a treat! Also many scorpions, which never gets old with the black lights. The hike was the highlight of my trip to Phoenix and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys being outside in nature.

This was definitely the highlight of my Phoenix trip. Paul was super knowledgeable about the area, the scorpions, and the hikes. Be prepared for a bit of a workout, but it was totally worth it!

We had a great time on the Phoenix Mountains Preserve Night Glow Hike with our group (3 adults and 1 kid). It was a very cool and unique experience. During the hike, we only saw scorpions, but it was super interesting! The best part was that we even spotted two giant scorpions, which was really exciting for everyone. The guide made sure we were safe and showed us how to find them in the dark. We loved the experience from start to finish. Highly recommended for families looking for an exciting night activity!

Wear cool, white or bright clothing, short sleeves, shorts, comfortable hiking shoes. Bring water. Bring your phone fully charged for pictures and videos! My husband and I ended up being the only ones on this hike. It was great! Paul was very knowledgeable. We saw lots of scorpions and a mouse! The view of the city from the top was lovely! If I go again, I would bring glow sticks or glow necklaces/bracelets! So fun!

My family and I were really looking forward to this tour, especially coming all the from Michigan but no one showed up for the tour. No participants and no activity director. The only positive thing I can say is Viator returned our payment without issues.

Very cool experience; would be especially great for kids who might not be thrilled with a more traditional hike.

It is easy hike, but still make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes , and have a bottle of water . We saw 25 plus scorpions!! The tour guy was wonderful, and very knowledgeable. We learned lots of interesting facts about night desert life.

It was very informative and beautiful views. We learned a lot about desert creatures and plants. Our tour guide was very knowledgable and communicated very well to our group of various ages; kids, parents and grandparents.

Such an amazing experience for a first time visit to Phoenix to learn some history and see scorpions under UV lighting! The hike was nice without the beating sun and enjoyable with the night breeze. We recommend this night hike and the sunrise hike. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining!

Fun activity for the entire family. The guide was great. He was very knowledgeable, organized and engaging. I would definitely recommend this hike.

Super interesting. Spotted 62 scorpions, often right on the path, and learned lots of interesting faces about cactii. Pro tips: hotter days yield more scorpions, but if it’s above 100, you may have to wait for the rocks to cool below 85 or so.

Amazing nighttime hike, with two great guides. They were knowledgeable about the area. They made sure we were safe. They got to know everyone by name. They helped us get great pictures of the environment. The hike was amazing.

Paul and Wendy are a power couple! They made the trip interesting and informative. Very kind and thoughtful! Would definitely do again!

Seeing the glowing scorpions was a really cool experience. Paul was an interesting guide and very helpful.

Great leader, I was a solo person but felt very much part of the group. Everyone was moving around to see who found a scoripan and warned each other of "rocky stones coming up", though the hike/walk was easy.

This was such an informative tour. It was fun to see the scorpions glow in the dark

Paul was a great guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. Even waited for our Uber to get there to pick us up. The nature we saw during the hike was so cool.

We loved this night hike! Very experienced tour guide, who also waited with us for our Uber to show up at the end of the hike. Thank you Paul!

Guide and hike were great, saw a dozen scorpions lit up by the time we finished, not a given in December. He even took pics of us at the best spots.

This was a great night Hike. Paul was a great guide and very informative. Fun and interactive, not too strenuous!

2 hours, 2 miles, up to 1800 feet, moderately strenuous night hike complete with reflective vests, UV flashlights, water, and amazing beauty of the flora and fauna of the area surrounding Squaw Mountain. Paul was the perfect guide. Very knowledgeable about different cacti, etc. Surreal getting an up-close view of glowing scorpions while listening to coyotes howl in the distance while looking at the city twinkling lights below. Exceeded my expectations!

Super cool experience. Seen a ton of scorpions, a owl and even a rattle snake. Nice easy hike. We had never hiked at night before but we will be now.

I went on this hike with my son at the very end of our trip to Phoenix and it was an absolute blast and best way to end our trip! Paul was very informative and super friendly and we had a great time! Bonus, he was a great photographer!

Such a fun night! Weather was perfect and Paul was great! We have been to Phoenix many times but have never done anything like this before! Must see!!

Paul was a great tour guide and cool guy on top of that. Had a great time exploring & talking. Will definitely be reaching out again when I end up back in Arizona!

We had a super fun and unique experience at the Phoenix Mountain Preserve! Our guide was super knowledgeable about the trail and history of the area. We saw at least 30 scorpions, beautiful night skyline of Phoenix and the evening was capped off with a horned owl perched on a cactus!

The night hike was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Catching the sun set and night hiking with only the soft glow of our lights created a calm and magical atmosphere. Paul did a fantastic job pointing out scorpions, glowing rocks., anything cool that we might have missed, and sharing stories of the land and things around us that brought the more meaning to our hike! The trail itself felt completely different at night—quiet, peaceful, and full of small details you’d normally miss during the day. It was the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Safe, well-organized, and unforgettable—I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a unique outdoor experience.

This hike was absolutely unforgettable! Paul came fully prepared with glow sticks, plenty of water, and UV flashlights that made the hike both safe and exciting. He timed it perfectly so we reached the top just in time to catch the sunset, and honestly, the pictures don’t even do it justice. IT WAS STUNNING!! What made it even better was his knowledge of the area. He shared so much history and fun stories along the way, and on the descent, we got to see minerals glowing under the UV light and even spotted a few scorpions (from a safe distance!). It was such a unique, fun twist on a hike. The whole thing took about two hours, and the trail itself was mild. Not too intense, which made it easy but still adventurous. I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a different kind of outdoor experience. It was the perfect mix of nature, learning, and a little thrill.

Paul is GREAT!!! He is personable and knowledgeable and guided us on an unforgettable hike!!! The hike was great but the scorpions were the main event. We were able to find 50+ with our UV lights. I highly recommend booking a glow hike with Paul. It lasted about 90 mins and the hike was super manageable. The view from up top was spectacular. THANK YOU PAUL!!!

This was such a cool experience. It was nearly a full Moon too which was a bonus. The views were definitely worth the effort. Using the ultraviolet light to see the scorpion’s was so neat. We are so glad we did this. Paul was a perfect guide.

My two grown sons (ages 20s) and my husband and I participated in the glow hike in the preserve and had a terrific time! Paul had everything we needed and he was patient when I had to slow down a couple of times. He gave a lot of interesting information and cool stories about the area, the animals and the plants in the preserve. He made us all feel very comfortable and we especially loved finding scorpions. The view from the top is amazing and worth the hike! Paul took photos of us on the tour and they are fabulous. We highly recommend this tour and consider it a highlight of our time in Phoenix.

It was great! I wasn’t expecting to see as much as we did but even the hike itself was great. Cool night views of the city and Paul was friendly and knowledgeable. It was great to get out in the evening and see some nature in the middle of Phoenix.

Make sure drive to the pickup point before 8PM. The hike happened in the evening on 7/3/25. My mom and I used an uber to arrive here. Paul was our tour guide. He arrived perfect timing. Since it was just the two of us and Paul for the hike, the tour felt more personal and more comfortable! Paul told us a few things to prepare for the hike so he gave us mini UV flashlights and Paul gave me a reflective vest for the night glow hike. We hiked close to sunset! Paul taught us the types of rocks/cacti, and animals that roam here. We had the opportunity to see scorpions with the UV light. Paul was very understanding and compassionate when my mom needed assistance so he gave her his hiking cane! Paul also took his time for us during the hike. The steep area of the hike was near the top. I would say the hike to the top lasted around an hour and by then it was very dark outside. We saw the northern city area of Phoenix, although I also wished to see the south side as well but the mountains covered it so we couldn't see the south side. Paul took great pictures for us during the hike and also at the top! Paul was very patient with us during the hike! Thank you Paul for the incredible and safe hike experience. Javier Salinas

Paul was a great guide! He was very personable, knowledgeable & accommodating to our 17 year old girl who was really scared. He was patient and kind and talked to her when she was not wanting to go further. He even told her he was proud of her! The boys loved the lessons he taught them. My husband and I loved all the views!

I have titled it so because I not fond of hikes, especially in the dark. It was my 8 year old's birthday gift, hence I went along with it. He was super happy finding scorpions and listening intently to the guide, Paul. I would say I'm a beginner in hiking not in great shape, but this was doable, pleasurable, and I just didn't know how the time went by. The view from the top The View along the way, is so that I brought myself a UV light from Amazon. I'm promising myself to go on more hikes, and more Adventures. This experience was on par for both of us with the rest of Arizona period the price should not matter as you really cannot put a price on experience.

Paul was very friendly, punctual and prepared as well as informative. The hike location was with a great view and we saw a number of scorpions. The price however was not commensurate with the experience

I was on this hike with my daughter and her husband. Paul is a great guide, and very informative. He supplied everyone with lights and some black lights to make the Scorpions glow.. Between us and the others on the hike, we counted 44 scorpions seen with the black lights.

This hike is a must do! Paul knows the desert facts and interacts well with his guests. He provides black lights, humor, and an unforgettable excursion! The hike was filled with the unexpected moments of searching for what is going to be "lit up" -we laughed, we screamed, we found 42 scorpions! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This night glow hike was absolutely amazing! We saw owls, hawks, so many different species of cactus, and of course scorpions 🦂. Paul was such a professional and informative guide and has so much knowledge about the area, terrain, and the wildlife that live in the Phoenix mountain preserve. Not only do the scorpions light up under the black lights, but the quartz rocks also lit up with purples, oranges, and reds. I didn't know there were different species of cactus. Our guide Paul identified and described the different types and how important they are to the environment. It's difficult to describe the breathtaking views and hard to capture rhose accurately on camera. I HIGHLY recommend this hike! You will not be disappointed! Paul was a fantastic guide and made this experience memorable.

Just wow, one of the best experiences, the guide Paul is the best, super friendly, very chatty, knows the area very well, in total we could see 26 scorpions from the smallest to the already adults. RECOMMENDED 1000%. You won't regret it! Get ready as soon as you can!! A very beautiful view of Phoenix and its surroundings!!