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A cool place to visit when you're in Phoenix. There's not much to see and do here, good for a quick visit.
If you have a realistic expectation of what this place is, it's pretty cool. If you're expecting a massive instagram-y waterfall, then god help you lol. Some reviews of this place are negative that it's not "cool enough", maybe those reviewers aren't cool enough? Just saying. Some folks just will not be pleased. This spot is fun to stop at when you're on a long walk, run, or bike along the canal. The water sounds are nice & soothing and you can put a shirt or hat into the falls to provide yourself with some natural cooling when you continue along your journey. I put my hat into the falls, if somehow the water is gross and shouldn't be touched or used, I saw no signage and I'm still here kicking, so it's fine ;)
Who knew a spot like this exists in Phoenix? It's such a serene spot and it's cool as you're surrounded by water!! There is areas to walk along or shaded spots to sit and enjoy the closest we get to any waterfall lol there was plenty of water flowing and no funky smells while we were there. Thanks to SRP for providing a totally free cool spot for us to enjoy!
1/12/22 Quality/Quantity - Ummm, do not visit the fall during a drought... There was NO water, hence no falls. Atmosphere - Disappointed, no water = no fall. Really small park. It was fairly clean, not a lot of litter. Small parking lot, but more than enough space as I guess other people were smarter than I and did not come because they knew there was no water. The rest of the park was okay, but I think the lack of water just killed the mood for us. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Suggestion - I got nothing to say... I guess we should just hope for rain, rain, and rain.
What a hidden gem! I live about 18mins away and never knew about this place! Decided to play tourist this evening and visit it. This is the perfect place to sit and reflect while listening to the sounds of the waterfalls. Not to mention, on a super hot day, the breeze and drizzle from the waterfalls is so refreshing. I experienced it this evening. There are also signs to educate you about water consumption and supply. Definitely worth a stop.
Learned about this place on Yelp or I would have never knew it existed. I had it on my Yelp bucket list and decided to take the girls here to learn and enjoy. Here is a link to copy full of information on the design and history of this project. https://www.srpnet.com/water/canals/AzFallsTour/Default.aspx I like the signage numbered about filled with information about the project. It is a nice place to cool down on a hot Arizona day, The soothing running water from the falls is nice and drowns out the traffic noise nearby. You will see people in the community fishing and riding bikes in this area too. It has a really nice bike bath. The surround area has many options to eat and drink to satisfy anyone's taste buds. If there is a drought there will not be any running water so plan accordingly. There is a view of the south side of Camelback Mountain.
Okay OKAY, WHO PUT 3 MINI MINI WATERFALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY? If that was you, I thank you sir or madam for doing God's work. We stopped by this hidden gem looking to explore more of Arizona and was quite jealous that we don't have something like this in Southern California. When you first get to the location, you don't see anything but a metal clad building next to a park. As you walk up the ramps and then back down, you walk into something that is truly mesmerizing to see and experience. To me it's a flowing work of art, to those in Arizona, this is the greatest gift around... Especially in the summer time. The photos don't do this location justice, but definitely something you should experience.
Arizona Falls was the site of the first hydroelectric plant in Phoenix from 1902 to 1950. The Fall itself is a natural 20-foot waterfall that comes from the Arizona canal in Arcadia. SRP rebuilt it by combining art and technology to generate clean electricity from the canal's waterfall and for visitors to come learn and enjoy. There are a couple levels that you can explore and you can park at nearby Arcadia Park. Why do I like stopping here? Because it is freaking hot here in the summer and if I am in the area, I will stop here to cool off. Arizona Falls has hosted a couple of my 5K's in the past. I love running along the canal and then chilling out next to the waterfall.
What a cool little stop on the trail! I luved that they repurposed this waterworks into a nice little spot w/falling water features! You can come and just enjoy the white noise of the little makeshift waterfalls and watch the sunset sky turn to dusk with the usual Phoenix hues. There are even hummingbirds flitting in and out of the trees near the entry walkway! Great little respite from a trail ride/run/walk or just from daily life.
If my AC breaks in the summer, I'm coming to cool off here, surrounded by waterfalls. What a great place to cool off, learn about hydroelectric systems and get a nice walk or run along the canal. If you like the sound of waterfalls, this is the place for you.
One of the most peaceful, tranquil, and of course, coolest places to cool off in an Arizona! This place is priceless to have in our community. Thank you SRP and City of Phoenix for providing such an incredible experience for us all to embrace and enjoy.
On our visit the falls were dry and there was a terrible rotten sewage smell and green algae everywhere, nothing like all of the nice photos so we didn't stay long. I am assuming we just picked an unlucky time to visit. There were a few maintenance trucks and one area was closed off with fencing so perhaps it was under repair. On the plus side, the gears and other mechanical systems under the falls were visible since the water was not running. It was interesting to see these structures. Also the adjoining canal jogging trail is nicely landscaped. I will have to try visiting again, perhaps in the winter.
I heard about Arizona Falls in a Landscape Architecture class at school. It sounded really cool so when I realized I was nearby I stopped to check it out. I'm glad I did! Arizona Falls is a feature in G R Herberger Park. There is a large shaded parking lot and the trail to the falls is handicap accessible. The falls are not very large, but they are very picturesque. I love the urban waterfall vibe and there is a lot of educational material about the site.
Ok, I'm going to give this place 5 stars because, technically, it is a cool place that not a lot of people know about. It's actually a hydroelectric plant along the Arizona Canal. As we approached the building (you can't go in it), the smell hit us and I thought, oh no, I've made a huge mistake. I think I was just there on a bad day or something, because I didn't see many reviews mention the smell at all. What smell? Raw sewage, very sulphur- and trash-like. I mean, it STUNK. It was strongest at the top overlook, right next to the building. As we went down the staircase to the lower level, the smell began to dissipate and eventually, to my nose, disappeared altogether. On the lower level, we saw the waterfalls. You can walk under/behind two of them and there are "seats" made of stone blocks in front of the third. The water was flowing pretty hard the day we visited, so the seats and all the pavement was wet and there was a slight mist coming off the middle one. The overall place is like a mixture of industrial and environmental architechture. There are metal-looking columns holding up the upper deck, yet the waterfalls look like they were copied from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and there are large stones/rocks embedded into the walls everywhere. It sits on the edge of a small park with a decent sized lot and there are hiking paths. We only came for the falls, so I can't speak to the hike, but the area looked fairly nice. I'd like to see it at night as it looks pretty cool in pictures I've seen. If you're looking for something a little different to do or show your visitors from out of town, this is a neat place to go. Hopefully, the smell is a one off, but even if not, hold your breath and go down the stairs..... 13/2026 read more
I heard about this place recently and was in the area and decided to check it out. It basically mini-hydroelectric plant on the canal system and the origin of the canal system is traced back to the Hohokam Indians that lived in the valley about 1500 years ago. The water falls are a cool secondary benefit of the water works plant at Arizona Falls. There is a nice park and biking trail that we look forward to exploring on our next visit. Highly recommended for a unique opportunity to enjoy waterfalls in the valley of the sun and learn about how the innovative Hohokam Indians. read more
2 years ago
If you have a realistic expectation of what this place is, it's pretty cool. If you're expecting a massive instagram-y waterfall, then god help you lol. Some reviews of this place are negative that it's not "cool enough", maybe those reviewers aren't cool enough? Just saying. Some folks just will not be pleased. This spot is fun to stop at when you're on a long walk, run, or bike along the canal. The water sounds are nice & soothing and you can put a shirt or hat into the falls to provide yourself with some natural cooling when you continue along your journey. I put my hat into the falls, if somehow the water is gross and shouldn't be touched or used, I saw no signage and I'm still here kicking, so it's fine ;) read more
Who knew a spot like this exists in Phoenix? It's such a serene spot and it's cool as you're surrounded by water!! There is areas to walk along or shaded spots to sit and enjoy the closest we get to any waterfall lol there was plenty of water flowing and no funky smells while we were there. Thanks to SRP for providing a totally free cool spot for us to enjoy! read more
1/12/22 Quality/Quantity - Ummm, do not visit the fall during a drought... There was NO water, hence no falls. Atmosphere - Disappointed, no water = no fall. Really small park. It was fairly clean, not a lot of litter. Small parking lot, but more than enough space as I guess other people were smarter than I and did not come because they knew there was no water. The rest of the park was okay, but I think the lack of water just killed the mood for us. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Suggestion - I got nothing to say... I guess we should just hope for rain, rain, and rain. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
What a hidden gem! I live about 18mins away and never knew about this place! Decided to play tourist this evening and visit it. This is the perfect place to sit and reflect while listening to the sounds of the waterfalls. Not to mention, on a super hot day, the breeze and drizzle from the waterfalls is so refreshing. I experienced it this evening. There are also signs to educate you about water consumption and supply. Definitely worth a stop. read more
5 years ago
Learned about this place on Yelp or I would have never knew it existed. I had it on my Yelp bucket list and decided to take the girls here to learn and enjoy. Here is a link to copy full of information on the design and history of this project. https://www.srpnet.com/water/canals/AzFallsTour/Default.aspx I like the signage numbered about filled with information about the project. It is a nice place to cool down on a hot Arizona day, The soothing running water from the falls is nice and drowns out the traffic noise nearby. You will see people in the community fishing and riding bikes in this area too. It has a really nice bike bath. The surround area has many options to eat and drink to satisfy anyone's taste buds. If there is a drought there will not be any running water so plan accordingly. There is a view of the south side of Camelback Mountain. read more
5 years ago
Okay OKAY, WHO PUT 3 MINI MINI WATERFALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY? If that was you, I thank you sir or madam for doing God's work. We stopped by this hidden gem looking to explore more of Arizona and was quite jealous that we don't have something like this in Southern California. When you first get to the location, you don't see anything but a metal clad building next to a park. As you walk up the ramps and then back down, you walk into something that is truly mesmerizing to see and experience. To me it's a flowing work of art, to those in Arizona, this is the greatest gift around... Especially in the summer time. The photos don't do this location justice, but definitely something you should experience. read more
Arizona Falls was the site of the first hydroelectric plant in Phoenix from 1902 to 1950. The Fall itself is a natural 20-foot waterfall that comes from the Arizona canal in Arcadia. SRP rebuilt it by combining art and technology to generate clean electricity from the canal's waterfall and for visitors to come learn and enjoy. There are a couple levels that you can explore and you can park at nearby Arcadia Park. Why do I like stopping here? Because it is freaking hot here in the summer and if I am in the area, I will stop here to cool off. Arizona Falls has hosted a couple of my 5K's in the past. I love running along the canal and then chilling out next to the waterfall. read more
What a cool little stop on the trail! I luved that they repurposed this waterworks into a nice little spot w/falling water features! You can come and just enjoy the white noise of the little makeshift waterfalls and watch the sunset sky turn to dusk with the usual Phoenix hues. There are even hummingbirds flitting in and out of the trees near the entry walkway! Great little respite from a trail ride/run/walk or just from daily life. read more
If my AC breaks in the summer, I'm coming to cool off here, surrounded by waterfalls. What a great place to cool off, learn about hydroelectric systems and get a nice walk or run along the canal. If you like the sound of waterfalls, this is the place for you. read more
3 years ago
One of the most peaceful, tranquil, and of course, coolest places to cool off in an Arizona! This place is priceless to have in our community. Thank you SRP and City of Phoenix for providing such an incredible experience for us all to embrace and enjoy. read more
On our visit the falls were dry and there was a terrible rotten sewage smell and green algae everywhere, nothing like all of the nice photos so we didn't stay long. I am assuming we just picked an unlucky time to visit. There were a few maintenance trucks and one area was closed off with fencing so perhaps it was under repair. On the plus side, the gears and other mechanical systems under the falls were visible since the water was not running. It was interesting to see these structures. Also the adjoining canal jogging trail is nicely landscaped. I will have to try visiting again, perhaps in the winter. read more
I heard about Arizona Falls in a Landscape Architecture class at school. It sounded really cool so when I realized I was nearby I stopped to check it out. I'm glad I did! Arizona Falls is a feature in G R Herberger Park. There is a large shaded parking lot and the trail to the falls is handicap accessible. The falls are not very large, but they are very picturesque. I love the urban waterfall vibe and there is a lot of educational material about the site. read more
4 years ago
It was a surprise to see this lock while driving and came back biking on the waterway. It was also a surprise to see all the water features here. I was again surprised at all the little walkways to explore this tiny but formidable water item. Loved seeing the diver birds patrolling the entrance of the waterway. It really was a lot of birds, diversions, levels, cinder blocks, falling waterways and photo opps. Its connected to a park, so you can drive and park there, too. A perfect place to bike through getting to the OHSO brewery which is bike and pet friendly. read more
7 years ago
There were a few things that impressed me in the Phoenix area: 1) the heat! I have never been so hot anywhere in my life. It feels like I was baking in an oven every day. 2) the large amount of water in the area. I went to so many places in Phoenix filled with fountains and bodies of water... they have done a lot to make this one huge oasis. A perfect example of this is Arizona Falls. Arizona Falls is a restored hydro-electric plant, that had been in use by the city for over a century. They essentially turned it into a shrine for water, and considering it's a desert I totally understand. Water is life. It's beautiful, and gives plenty of opportunities for great photos. It's also peaceful, and because of all the water... the place is actually cool... it dispels the ever present oppressive heat in Phoenix. Totally happy that Apple S, who I came with, found this awesome place! If your in the Phoenix area, check this place out! read more
9 years ago
Such a great place tucked right between Old Town and Arcadia. Definitely worth a stop to ponder the history of canals in the area. Great photo opportunities and instagrammable architectural features. My fav part is the birds and ducks that sit right on the edge of a tiny ridge, eat kelp and do what appears to be the equivalent of body surfing. So cute! This is close to some restaurants and Arcadia Park, well worth a 15 minute side trip! read more
5 years ago
I was just driving through Phoenix and saw Arizona Falls on the map, it sounded cool so my wife and I went and it was great! Super pretty walk and nice to see the water and facility. I love how something functional is also being displayed as art. Absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately the falls weren't true to their name during our visit. Not sure if it changes throughout the year or what, but nevertheless it was a nice stroll. read more
8 years ago
It's a really nice place to take picture with the water falls. It has a tennis court it's really nice small Area to view the water falls read more
Ok let's be honest. A waterfall in the deserts of Arizona seemed like an amazing attraction for us to visit. But this is really just a water processing facility site. I guess being from California has made us privy to a host of incredible natural waterfalls and beaches etc, so I'm a little biased. But really this is not worth the visit... read more
It's best if you come here with low expectations. It's not the most fabulous thing in the world but it is a refreshing peice of land in an otherwise bustling city. When I was a teenager me and my friends would come here to have little picnics and watch the sunset. It's also a great place for a photo opp! It's absolutely worth checking out if you're already in the area. read more
This is a good place to relax (the sound of falling water is always relaxing) while taking in some tidbits of history of the area and increasing your awareness of green energy. The Arizona Canal drops 20 feet at this point and this was a favorite picnic area for Phoenicians in the late 1800s. Since the early 1900s, the falls were used to generate hydroelectric power and has since been redesigned to be an park where art, history, and technology are combined for the enjoyment of the public. Enter through the G.R. Herberger Park on Indian School Rd. near the Scottsdale border. In the parking lot you'll see the beginning of the walkway to the falls. read more
Interesting free thing to do in the Phoenix area that can also be a learning lesson for elementary students and above on water and water power generation source. Handicapped accessible. Self guided walking tour with information posters around explaining the process with the water. My husband and me spent about 20 minutes there. Very picturesque to see the falls. Worth the time to visit at least once. Lots of parking available and close to a walking\running trail. read more
7 years ago
Need to do a better job of maintaining the area. Update the lightening. Make sure burnt out lights are replaced read more
6 years ago
4 years ago
6 years ago
9 years ago
Went to see the falls and went for a short run and walk here. Tennis courts and bikes to rent and very clean quiet area with a view of Camelback! Love it and I'll be back read more
Stumbled across Arizona falls last weekend when my boyfriend and I were out geocaching. The weather has finally been cooling off so we decided to spend some more time outside. I forgot that there are so many interesting things to see in this particular area! There are spots to sit to have a nice picnic. I went down the stairs and just stood there listening to the sounds of the flowing water. I've never seen anything like it and am definitely going to return to relax and take in the sounds. read more
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More info about Arizona Falls
Ask the Community - Arizona Falls
Are the Falls well lit at night?
I can say there is plenty of lighting at the Arizona Falls at night until they Close at 10pm. Enough to enjoy the close quarters water area, but not beyond into the canal or surrounding grounds.
