HIKE OF THE MONTH

HIKE of the month PYRAMID TRAIL South Mountain Park is a magnet for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. In all, there are 29 trails, including this splendid 6-mile route on the south side of the mountain. BY ROBERT STIEVE / PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOEL HAZELTON

The debate about the “north” and the “south” usually centers on MidAtlantic battlefields, but sometimes, it spills over into Arizona, too. In particular, as it relates to the two rims of the Grand Canyon. “Which is better?” readers ask. “The North Rim or the South Rim?” (Hint: They’re both spectacular.) There are two sides to South Mountain, too, but there’s no debate about which end is best for an inner-city escape. Although you won’t be alone on the south side, you will have more separationthan you would on the other side. That’s because the access points on the south side are used primarily as trailheads — no picnic areas or restrooms or ramadas to attract crowds. The westernmost trailhead on the south end is the launch point for the Pyramid Trail. It’s one of the best hikes in the park, but before you put it on your calendar, you should know that it’s not an extremist like so many of the other trails in Arizona. There’s no tundra at the top, no alpine forest along the way and no waterfalls to boast about on your Instagram feed. Like the late Charlie Watts, the Pyramid Trail is well dressed but understated. Even compared with other Sonoran Desert hikes, such as those in the Superstition Mountains or Sabino Canyon, it’s a trail without flair. What it does offer is an accessible and invigorat-