As a newbie to Phoenix I was very interested in going on one of the highly spoken of mountain hikes everyone raves about. But as someone who is afraid of "falls from great heights", I wasn't all that enthusiastic about the climb. Lookout Mountain Preserve comes through giving an authentic hiking experience without trigger anxiety. There are various trails that wind all around the mountain, and several summits to crest for a Top of The World take of the Greater Phoenix area. The difficulty could be described as moderate in some areas, with resting points along the way to catch your breath. Best time to go is before or after the sun is at its peak, and DO NOT forget to bring plenty of water and apply sunscreen. In short, it's a great primer what takes thirty to forty minutes at the most to complete.