Please note: Piestewa Peak is closed from 11 a.m. Learn more about his summit and performance in the video below. military.Īs a way to pay homage to Piestewa, local taiko drummer and Japanese folk artist Ken Koshio hiked the peak at sunrise every morning to play his taiko drum and flute between 2020-2023. Piestewa was the first Native American woman to die in combat in the U.S.

It wasn't until 2003 when the Arizona government officially changed the name to Piestewa Peak in honor of Lori Ann Piestewa, an Arizona woman who was killed in action in Iraq that same year.

Piestewa Peak was originally called 'Vianom Do'ag' by the Tohono O'odham tribe, which meant 'Iron Mountain.' By the 1900s, white settlers called the mountain 'Squaw Peak,' a derogatory term for Native women. It's one of Phoenix's best hikes, but it's a challenge. If you want to enjoy the panoramic views, there's only one way up: The extremely strenuous Summit Trail (#300), challenging hikers with a 1,200-ft elevation gain and rocky, unrelenting climb. The preserve's second highest point (after Camelback) is Piestewa Peak at 2,608 feet.

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