A short 1.17 miles trail begins off Panorama Dr at the Fountain Park. Small entrance and signage,…read moreeasy to miss if you are not looking for it. Trail is open from dawn to dusk. Easy trail suitable for most everyone. I come here for trail run as incline is just right to practice running up the hills. I like to come here at dawn and be at the top by the sunrise to witness the gorgeous sunrise. They have a few benches at the top for those who want to sit down. Parking is at the fountain park. Park your car off Panorama Dr parking lot and cross the street. It is across from the fountain park. No restrooms along the trail. Closest public restrooms are at the park near the splash pad area parking lot. I only come here to run in the morning but I bet sunset is beautiful as well.

Talk about an adventure! Four Peaks is a sight to behold from anywhere in the Valley but even more…read moreso from the summit! Came up here with some of my hiking buddies with the mission to hike to the top of Brown's Peak, the tallest of the four. Accessing the trailhead can be done using either of two roads -- the access road off the 87 beeline highway or El Oso, which is a road found off the 188 near Roosevelt Lake. If you want to drive your sedan or non 4x4 vehicle, you're going to want to go with El Oso (which still is a gamble as it's a dirt road with rocks jutting out). If you have a 4x4 high clearance vehicle and want a true adventure, then take the access road. You will not regret the 18 miles of roller coaster action! Upon reaching the trailhead, we encountered a few switchbacks amongst the pines (which I was shocked to see as you don't think of Four Peaks having pines from how they look in Phoenix). After that part of the trail was over, we were met by a steep scree of rocks that you basically have to scramble to clear. Some near-rock-climbing followed as we made our way to the summit. On the day we went, it was cloudy so we couldn't get a good view of the Valley, just the Roosevelt Lake side. However, don't let this weather discourage you from going! There's a cool mystical feeling to being high within the clouds atop Brown's Peak. In either condition, you're in for a treat!

Beautiful place for a hike, especially if you're seeking solitude in a vast open space, high above…read moreand far away from the frenetic, polluted valley. The biggest downfall is the constant sound of distant gunfire, along with all the litter in some spots, comprised mostly of cheap beer cans and bottles, shotgun and bullet casings and targets left behind by the vulgar, uneducated, ordinary shit bird ghetto trash that frequent the desert in search of cheap thrills. Them kinda folks like to shoot shit up, while they hoop, holler and cuss for the world to hear. Aside from that, it's terrific! ;-))

Cool hidden spot that I've found many locals to not even know about! The Verde River winds through…read morethe Tonto National Forest, and a great hidden spot is between Bartlett Lake before the river makes its way down to joining the Salt River. It's called Needle Rock recreation area. You'll find off-road trails, some shade for picnics, and little areas to play in the water along the shore. Drive out to the end of Dynamite, where it becomes Rio Verde drive, and instead of heading to Fountain Hills, take a left into the beautiful Tonto National Forest. Be sure to stop and grab an $8 day pass at the entrance. If you're lucky, Dave will have his hot dog truck out at the entrance so you can grab a dog and some Huckleberry ice cream on your way down.

What a spectacular find! We drove back to this site after finding it on a map of trails. We had no…read moreidea we were going to find such a beautiful area to explore! There is a daily park fee of $12, which you pay at the park "box" located on the side of the road when you turn left off off of Dynamite Rd/Rio Verde Dr at Forest Rd. About .1 miles before you reach the park, it becomes a dirt road but it is compact so we had no trouble driving on it. There are trails that go beyond this park and they are very sandy so an ATV or truck would be better if you chose to venture farther down the route.

Amazing place to view Red Mountain. There were a lot of big ants (9/14/2024), so be ready for that…read more Geese, horses, ducks. Parking was full by 7am on a Saturday, need tonto pass.

Great spot to easily SUP!! Parking is limited but we were able to get a spot no problem during the…read moreweeknight but could get busy on the weekend. Easy to navigate and great spot to watch the sunset

Adero Canyon trailhead is a great experience for all skill levels. Lots of trails and beautiful…read moreviews. The volunteers were very helpful. Ample parking. We had a wonderful family outing.

Someone needs to call authorities in regards to how the animals are cared for or there the lack of.read more

I had an amazing day hiking with friends around Piestewa this week. We originally had another…read moretrail in mind but once we arrived, the group decided on Hike 302 (freedom trail). We went 4.1 miles, 1100 elevation (two summits) and it took us about 3 hours as we took our time. On a weekday; it wasn't too crowded until we got to Piestewa summit for the downhill steps. I time of day gave us sun in the early morning chilly time and shade on the backside of the mountain after a couple miles so that was refreshing. Make sure to bring lots of water; take your time as the rocks can be slippery and a hat is a good idea for the intense sun. Parking can be tight too but people start/end at all sorts of times so just be patient.

This area is a very nice city park with plenty of parking, lots of hiking trails, and great views…read morethroughout. We had a great time exploring and enjoying the scenery. Definitely recommend it if you're looking to spend some time outdoors!

Really good hike You can see the valley the whole time…read more When you get to the top you can't help but think of what a great accomplishment you just made.

I had heard good things about this trail and it has a cool name, so I decided to check it out one…read moremorning. I didn't want to pay for parking so I started at a different trailhead and hiked a few kilometers to get to the beginning of this trail. I saw a good amount of people along the way, but not too many. They were all courteous and respectful of the trail and its rules. There are lots of switchbacks and some decent elevation, I'd classify it as a moderate hike. The top with the "cave" was nice, more like an indentation, and I saw 2 chipmunks. I guess I didn't make it all the way to the top according to my map, but close enough. I went back down the trail and continued on my loop back to the parking lot I came from. There isn't much cover from the sun so be sure to dress appropriately, wear sunscreen, a hat, drink water, etc. I'm glad I got to do this trail.

Great hiking area although it is also off road vehicles too. Cannot access during rainy times due…read moreto wash running. Lots of great nature and flowing water in areas and good place for dogs as well. We loved it!

This incredibly beautiful trail is one that shouldn't be missed if you're around Scottsdale. It…read moreshould be noted that this full hike (approx 2.2 miles one way or 4.4 round trip) isn't a beginner trail by any means, but it's doable. All of the cutbacks, significant incline in elevation, minimal shade & loose gravel in areas should be factored in when considering the time of year you want to go. However, if you want to do it (and I strongly suggest doing it) you'll experience views, terrains & serenity that's unlike anything else. Not only is there a main trail that'll take you directly to Tom's Thumb, there are a good handful of side trails that'll lead you to other awesome areas. I can't remember the specific one I stopped at but it led to an overlook of a massive valley where I saw some rock climbers on a the face of a huge mountain. Basically anywhere you stopped there was a 360 degree view of mountains, gigantic cacti, the surrounding cities & all of the beautiful dessert you're fully immersed in. It was my 1st time visiting AZ & wanted to get the full outdoor experience so I'd say this hike let me accomplish that. There were times I was focused on just making it through the trail but every time I stopped to take it all in, I was truly blown away. I can't suggest it enough to check it out, it's well worth a trip out of your way to make it happen. Just be sure to bring lots of water & take rest when you get to shaded areas. Have fun & safe hiking!

This is my go to Saturday morning breakfast spot. Michelle at the counter there is amazing general…read moremanager, Joe rocks. Can't beat this place for some barbecue.