I live a short bike ride away from one of the many trailheads at South Mountain. I will not reveal my favorite hikes, as they are usually empty of people and I am selfish and want to keep them empty. There is something very cool and Quentin Tarentino-esque about walking down an empty paved road into the sunset.
South Mountain is part of the Maricopa Trail (it is the National Trail in the Park) that is going to ultimately circle the entire Phoenix Metro area. When the South Mountain Freeway (the 101) is completed, the western tip of the Mountain park will be changed for the highway. This makes me sad.