I recently visited Phoenix and stayed just a couple of miles from this trail. I'm a lifelong Midwesterner, so the climate, flora, and fauna of the Southwest is far outside of my comfort zone. During the vacation, I wanted to try a desert hiking that would feel rewarding, but likewise where my chances of illness, injury, or need of rescue were also low.
The Sunrise Mountain Trail was perfect. It was a sufficient challenge to feel rewarding, and featured some pretty spectacular vistas, at least for my Midwestern eyes. I appreciated the clear trail markings (both in terms of direction and difficulty) and the ability to cut it short on various internal loops. The trail is fairly well-trafficked and we hiked on a mild late December day with minimal water. As other reviews have noted, the convenient parking and access is also a plus.