This volunteer maintained trailhead is very well marked, with multiple benches for enjoying the…read moreviews or the river canyon to the west or the desert to the east and south. We were a bit early for the wildflower and flowering cactus display but did see a nice carpet of yellow ground cover around the healthy looking saguaros. The total loop trail is 1.8 miles and easy to moderate. You can also connect on the southern end to the Black Canyon City trailhead and hike down to the Agua Fria River and, river level permitting, continue west up the hill for an "as long as you want" hike into the foothills. The parking area at the High Desert Trailhead is on the southern end of the municipal park which has restrooms, children's play areas and a ball field. This is a great place to take a break and stretch your legs if you are traveling north on I-17, and it is off the road just enough that tourist do not seem to stop here.

Great place to do easy hiking close to Phoenix. Not a crowded trail. Gets you close to nature and…read morefresh air.

Location: Trail begins off the intersection of W Pioneer Road & N Gavilan Peak Parkway heading…read moretowards Anthem. Parking: Free dirt trail off of N Gavilan Peak Parkway and W Pioneer Rd intersection Trail difficulty: Easy consisting of well-maintained dirt. A doable and quick hike for family and furry friends. Length: 0.7 of a mile Ambiance: Lightly trafficked with highway and airplane noise in the background.

We like to come stay here for a few days when we need a change of scenery. It's really beautiful…read morehere and not a far distance to travel. The back in spaces are compact but they are spread out so you feel like you have some privacy for others. Really nice picnic tables with a roof over them too. No sewer hookup tho, which is a pain, but they do have dump stations on the way out. You can only stay here maximum of two weeks. They also have a lake side campground just on the other side of the road if you prefer lake views The lake is really low water level right now You are just about a mile from the scorpion Bay, Marina and restaurant Ice $7 for a 10 lb bag. Rates for this time of year are about $32/night. Electric and water included.

This was a nice park,especially if you have a boat. There are wild animals running around that's…read morewhy we went there beautiful view of the water. You can also camp there.

I have a home for sale just a little north of Buffalo Ridge Park in Scarlett Canyon. Families with…read moresmall children have considered purchasing my home and asked about playgrounds. So, I decided to go check it out for myself and was pleasantly surprised. I visited on a weekday, in September, at 4 PM and the temperature was about 102° These are my observations: 1. very clean playground areas with sand and rubberized surfaces 2. Both playground areas have large sun blocking canopies 3. Covered picnic table with single grill 4. Very well maintained ball field 5. Drinking fountains that we're functioning and had good tasting cool water. Yes, I even drink out of them 6. City of Phoenix maintenance personnel came to the property while I was visiting and emptied the trash containers 7. four basketball hoops, with intact back boards and the little chain netting thing that dangles from the hoop we're all intact 8. Initially the park was almost empty When I arrived to explore, but around 415 some high school kids walked over from the school across the street. Shortly after I observed three adults who in the large grassy area stretching their muscles, then another adult came with his dog and was playing in the field. 9. This park Is situated far enough from 16th street and Wescott Road to keep small kids safe from cars. 10. The house I have listed for sale is in a subdivision called Scarlett Canyon, about a half mile north of this park, and there is sidewalk access the entire walk or bike ride to and from Buffalo Ridge Park.

Checked out Buffalo Ridge and had a great time exploring! The play structure looks awesome for…read morekids, and there are also basketball courts, a big grass field, and a disc golf course. I decided to follow All Trials and go for a nice walk... and somehow ended up getting a little lost To be fair, it had recently rained, so some of the trails were a little harder to follow and I definitely wasn't always sure I was still on an actual trail. Even with getting turned around, I had a great time! It's a really nice area to get outside and explore, and I'm looking forward to going back and giving the trails another try!

My son and I were in town for the Arizona Cup and after he shot we needed somewhere to explore…read more This was close and wasn't supposed to be to hard and only 3.3 miles. Not sure where they started there measurements from but my Garmin watch clocked over 10 miles. The trail is not well marked but we did make going to the right and up and around. The suggestions were to go left but the lack of trail markers and a well defined trail we opted for the clearer path. Great hike. I am over 50 and over weight and made it fine. Bring water and snacks and enjoy a great hike.

Nice designated trails but Super rocky terrain! I didn't have the proper hiking shoes and coming…read moredown was quite the challenge. I would recommend hiking sticks as well.

I believe there are a couple of trail options to get to the overlook. We took the trail right off…read moreof 17. There was a gravel area to park (only a few spots available) at the base. The trail is a bit steep with a good amount of loose rock. I recommend hiking shoes. It was a workout to get to the top but it doesn't take long, less than 30 minutes. There is a bit of road noise but the overlook is beautiful.

Location: Trail begins off the intersection of W Pioneer Road & N Gavilan Peak Parkway…read more Parking: Free off of N Gavilan Peak Parkway Trail difficulty: Moderate consisting of rocks and dirt. I recommend hiking poles for stability :) Length: 0.9 of a mile Ambiance: Lightly trafficked with highway noise in the background.

My husband and I accidentally ended up here after trying to find the Apache wash trailhead. I am so…read moreglad we found this place. This is one of my new favorite trails in the valley. It is super peaceful and we only saw one or two other people (during the week). There is a large parking area and restrooms. Dogs are allowed. Horses are also allowed. I would say the trail is pretty easy in general. This is not the place for a long and strenuous uphill hike, but more of a nice stroll through the desert with stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere.

We took the Ocotillo Trail from the Desert Hills Trailhead. The distance was just over 6 miles,…read morehowever with children we were not able to make the full loop. With children in mind, I thought the trail was appropriate for them as it was fairly easy. The biggest downside of this trailhead, in my opinion, is the traffic noise from Carefree Highway. However, after you get about 1-1.5 miles into the hike you come around the Preserve and the noise disappears. As with most areas of the region, the scenery is wonderful, however on this trail the view is disrupted a bit by the sporadic neighborhood.

My husband and I came here on a Sunday morning to do some bird watching. We spent about 5 hours…read morehere and could have spent longer if we weren't hungry for lunch. The preserve is well maintained and has plenty of benches and shade throughout. We were able to see a variety of birds. The parking lot had more cars than what seemed people in the preserve- so it doesn't feel crowded at all. The only downside is you do hear a lot of traffic noise especially in certain areas. We will definitely be back!

This is one of my favorite places in Maricopa County to come to be with nature and do some birding,…read moreand get in a nice walk. I have been birding for the past 5 years, and I have found this activity to be very relaxing but also at the same time really helps with improving pattern recognition, and it's a fun hobby! We came here on a Sunday morning around 8:30 am. Ample parking available and $5/entry, and since it is now summer here in Phoenix, the preserve closes at 4pm. I noticed that all the bad reviews came down to people either not reading clearly hours of operation or wanted to bring their dogs in (which is not allowed and states it on their website) or people couldn't seem to get good photos. I have been here multiple times, and each time I am here, I've loved coming here. The Palm Lake trail is nicely shaded, so you get some reprieve from our warm and sunny weather. I've been here for organized birding walks, and they offer other activities also, just check on their website. When we came this time, I renewed my annual Maricopa Parks annual pass, which is $85. Shockingly, this is more than the US National Parks Service annual pass. I didn't make too much a fuss about it as the money goes towards taking care of these parks that I love so much. Definitely come check this place out and don't forget your binoculars!