Home/Phoenix homes for sale/Phoenix Mountains Preserve (Piestewa Peak)
Preserve or park · Phoenix, Arizona
Homes near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve in Phoenix
Maricopa County bought 388 acres at what was then Squaw Peak in 1958 and later transferred it to Phoenix; about 483 acres of adjacent BLM land were patented to the city around 1970.
The Phoenix Mountains Preserve at a glance
Maricopa County bought 388 acres at what was then Squaw Peak in 1958 and later transferred it to Phoenix; about 483 acres of adjacent BLM land were patented to the city around 1970. Phoenix adopted 'An Open Space Plan for the Phoenix Mountains' in 1966, the Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council formed in 1970, and the city placed a building moratorium on about 15 square miles of proposed preserve in 1971. Maricopa County records show about 20,600 homes within about half a mile of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
Official boundary, from the City of Phoenix park boundary map.
Where the Phoenix Mountains Preserve is
The boundary on county street centerlines.
City of Phoenix preserve land around Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw, between roughly 16th St and Tatum Blvd from about Lincoln Dr north toward Northern and Shea, wrapped around by Biltmore, Sunnyslope, the Phoenix Paradise Valley Village and Clearwater Hills. Use the official polygon.
Official boundary, from the City of Phoenix park boundary map.
Search homes near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Updated continuously from the MLS. Filter, save, and tour any home.
Homes near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Within about half a mile, from county records.
Source: Maricopa County Assessor residential parcel records, pulled November 3, 2026. These are county figures for every home, not MLS statistics, and recorded sale prices come from deed records.
The story of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve
How the area came to be.
Maricopa County bought 388 acres at what was then Squaw Peak in 1958 and later transferred it to Phoenix; about 483 acres of adjacent BLM land were patented to the city around 1970. Phoenix adopted 'An Open Space Plan for the Phoenix Mountains' in 1966, the Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council formed in 1970, and the city placed a building moratorium on about 15 square miles of proposed preserve in 1971. Voters approved preserve acquisition bonds on May 8, 1974, and in 1985 voters added Chapter XXVI to the City Charter to protect preserve land.
The peak was renamed Piestewa Peak on April 17, 2003 by the Arizona state names board in honor of Army Spc. Lori Ann Piestewa.
Homes around the Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Eras, styles, lots and home types.
No homes inside the preserve. Homes on its edges include Clearwater Hills, Biltmore area hillside lots, and Phoenix neighborhoods along 32nd St to 40th St.
- School districts (county records)
- Paradise Valley Unified School District (65%), Madison Elementary School District (14%), Washington Elementary School District (14%), Scottsdale Unified School District (6%). High school: Paradise Valley Unified School District (65%), Phoenix Union High School District (16%), Glendale Union High School District (14%), Scottsdale Unified School District (6%)
Living in and around the Phoenix Mountains Preserve
What is inside, what is close, and what to check.
Inside the Phoenix Mountains Preserve: Piestewa Peak Summit Trail (about 1.2 miles, about 1,208 ft of gain, a National Recreation Trail), Piestewa Peak Recreation Area, Dreamy Draw Recreation Area trailhead, many connecting trails. Summit elevation 2,610 ft.
Nearby: SR 51 (Piestewa Fwy) runs through the preserve; Biltmore, Clearwater Hills, Town of Paradise Valley and the Phoenix Paradise Valley Village surround it.
Before you buy
Preserve land sale or exchange is restricted by Phoenix Charter Chapter XXVI. Edge homes get views and trail access but also trailhead traffic. Address specific.
Related areas and communities
Keep exploring the Northeast Valley.
The Phoenix Mountains Preserve questions, answered
Where is the Phoenix Mountains Preserve?
A chain of city owned desert mountains across north central Phoenix; the Piestewa Peak unit sits just west of Paradise Valley along SR 51.
Can homes be built in it?
No. It is protected city preserve; Charter Chapter XXVI requires voter approval to sell or trade preserve land.
Is Camelback Mountain part of it?
Camelback is a separate City of Phoenix mountain park (Echo Canyon Camelback Mountain) that is not connected to the Phoenix Mountains chain on the ground.
What are the exact boundaries of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve?
City of Phoenix preserve land around Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw, between roughly 16th St and Tatum Blvd from about Lincoln Dr north toward Northern and Shea, wrapped around by Biltmore, Sunnyslope, the Phoenix Paradise Valley Village and Clearwater Hills. Use the official polygon.
How many homes are near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve?
Maricopa County Assessor records show about 20,600 homes within about half a mile of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, 79% of them single-family, with a median year built of 1979.
Which school districts serve the Phoenix Mountains Preserve?
By county parcel records, homes near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve are mostly in Paradise Valley Unified School District and Madison Elementary School District and Washington Elementary School District. School assignment is address specific, so confirm with the district before you buy.
How does the home search on this page work?
The search shows homes listed in the MLS within about half a mile of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, using an outline drawn around it. Official boundary, from the City of Phoenix park boundary map. Listings update continuously. Housing figures on this page come from Maricopa County Assessor records pulled on November 3, 2026, not from the MLS.
Thinking about the Phoenix Mountains Preserve?
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Sources
- Maricopa County Assessor parcel records (residential parcels inside the search area), pulled November 3, 2026. Recorded sale figures use each parcel's most recent recorded sale since November 1, 2024, at $50,000 or more.
- Street centerlines on the map: Maricopa County GIS. Listings: ARMLS via Flexmls.
- City of Phoenix GIS, ParksOpenData MapServer layer 10 Park Boundaries, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council, Preserves (acreages from City GIS), accessed November 3, 2026.
- Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council, Acquisition of Land timeline (PDF), accessed November 3, 2026.
- Phoenix Mountains Preserve, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Piestewa Peak, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Phoenix City Charter Chapter XXVI, Mountain Preserves, accessed November 3, 2026.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listing information is provided by the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Area boundaries on this page are for orientation only and do not follow school, HOA or service boundaries, so confirm the city, zoning, HOA, water service and assigned schools for a specific address. Housing figures come from Maricopa County Assessor records and are not MLS statistics. This page is for general information only and is not financial, lending, legal, or tax advice. Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Office 480.766.1515. Brokerage License LC629808000. Equal Housing Opportunity.
