South Mountain is a perfect mountain for travelers that don't have much time or gear to go hiking and find the scenic views of phoenix. We were in town for a wedding, and had only 8 hours to really explore Phoenix. It was recommended we drive up South Mountain to Dobbin's Lookout. We didn't have any hiking gear or trail knowledge, so hearing that we could drive to the top of a local peak was ideal.
It takes about 20-30 minutes to drive up to the top, and it is a great pretty good view. A couple of benches and a shaded tower structure occupy the lookout. There are random points along the way where you can stop and take pics of the view. Kudos to those who are able to bike/hike their way to the top.
There are bathrooms near the bottom of the mountain, and just an FYI, those bathrooms come with no doors. And if reaching the summit is not your thing, there are plenty of trails for you to explore.