It's always an awesome experience at my favorite nature preserve in the area. Today, there were so…read moremany turtles out in the water they were enjoying the oat cereal a lot. There's so much wildlife here, especially today. It was fun having our bird app to help identify the different bird calls. We also saw 3 families of ducks with babies. So cute. There were also bunnies, quail, pelicans, and even a coyote today. If you haven't been here, it's a must see.

This riparian area is a great place to get outside and walk around. There are a lot of trails that…read moreloop around multiple ponds, and we usually end up doing about 2 to 3 miles without even trying. There is a ton of wildlife here. You will see rabbits, squirrels, ducks, turtles, fish, and a wide variety of birds. It feels like every time we go, we see something new. It is also one of the few places in the Phoenix area where you can see pelicans out in the wild, which is really cool. On our last visit we saw a coyote, a whole flock of pelicans take off and soar for a long stretch, and a bunch of little duck families with baby ducks. It is just a really peaceful place to spend some time. This is a perfect spot for a walking date or to bring the family and enjoy being outside. Definitely one of the better outdoor spots in the area.

Been out exploring and looking for new trails to hike out at the Superstition Mountains and came…read moreacross Carney Springs Waterfall. You can access this trail off Lost Goldmine Trailhead East. Its an easy to moderate round trip out back trial with over 4 miles of hiking and almost 700 foot elevation gain. The last trek to the waterfall is when it gets the steepest, and on the way to the waterfall you will come across a cool cave as well. Now Carney Springs Waterfall most of the time is dry, but if you happen to go after a rainfall or monsoon, you will be treated to the waterfall. The Carney Springs Waterfall is visible from Peralta and is apx a 240-foot drop. While hiking along the trail making your way to the waterfall if you look to the left you can see the trial for the Wave Cave and even spot it in the distance. You also will see some interesting canyon views along the way. There isn't any clear signs to the waterfall but if you are going along Lost Goldmine Trail #60, at the fork that goes to the Wave Cave, turn right go past the cave and make your way to the waterfall. We went after a rain fall and got to see the fails. Once you turn off the 60 and head up Peralta trail the road becomes a dirt road, but you don't need a 4x4 to get there. The parking lot will be on the left side of the dirt road just up the road from Peralta Park.

Super easy hike comparable to A mountain just a little more rugged. My 7 year old and 12 year old…read morejoined me on the hike with no issues.

A hike with a view! Easy, quick hike with a view of the superstitions and the valley.read more

Super easy hike up to Hole-in-the-Rock…read more Plenty of parking in the area with trails up either side to the money shot. At 11a in the morning, there were plenty of people around to follow up. When you get through the smallish opening, you are greeted with vistas of the city in the background. We stopped on our way out of town and it was the perfect spot to reflect about our time in Phoenix.

This place is sooooo crowded. It's a beautiful view and parking is plentiful although you may need…read moreto walk a bit more from a parking lot. But from the base of the "trail" to the top, it was really only .25 and very easy. There were a few spots that could be tricky for older people but overall, this was a very easy and a well graveled walk up. I came on a Monday afternoon and there were crowds already. I couldn't imagine enjoying it when it's more crowded on a Thursday/Friday/Sat kind of afternoon. The views are different from the back to the front. So make sure you actually go through the hike and see the other side! Not a hike worth calling a hike. More like a mini adventure climb if you will.

These soccer fields are located on the South side of Brown Rd in Mesa West of the loop 202…read more These fields are new so it is very difficult to find a map of the fields so I made one (see photo). It shows the orientation of the fields, the parking and entrances, and where the bathrooms (stars) are. There are entrances on the N, E, S, and W, as well as between fields 12 and 15 to get to the bathrooms. You should look at the map to see where to park. The grass fields are in good shape and the bathrooms are pretty new and clean. Just check my map so you know where to go. It also shows where they are compared to the original fields 1-6 which are SW of these fields.

Wonderful disc golf course and beautiful park. Very busy on the weekends in the fall.read more

Beautiful and simple hike that will take you to a half way mid point, then you can keep going to…read morethe top. Lovely local hike with good views. Going up can be rocky, not a smooth path.

Great hiking area with beautiful views all around! The trailhead starts right at the base of the…read moremountain - don't be misled by Google Maps - just drive straight up the road leading to the mountain ahead. Once here there are several routes you can take varying from easy to challenging. Most importantly, please wear appropriate footwear!! I saw an older guy wearing Crocs without the back supports going up the path and he nearly toppled backwards several times. I was very worried for his well-being - this path really requires socks and shoes. Of note, depending on when you go and which direction you choose to go in, one side of the mountain has no relief from the sun - it is hot! The other side is shaded and pleasant. Whichever route you take, make sure to bring liquids to hydrate and know your limit. You can always get to a lower elevation and walk around the mountain if it gets too steep.

Mountains are to me a cleanse for the soul.This trail was a 1100 gain off of 145 th in Scottsdale…read more We were lucky enough to discover this trail after meeting a Scottsdale local who recommended it. We found parking at the entrance although there is parking down the mountain another 500 feet away from this one if full. Even though it was 56 degrees at the start it can get warm as the trails are a moderate climb in parts but with good trail shoes and balance you most likely would not need hiking poles . The views from different points are worth a view and we were lucky to go early on a Saturday where the trails were not crowded. It was dog friendly and clean.No facilities so definitely need to bring water or drink of choice. Return: definitely for the views

A lovely hike. It has some elevation gain but is not overwhelming. There is also a lovely false…read morepeak a bit over a mile from the top which is a nice rest or place to stay as the rest of your party does the last bit of the hike. Lots of cute desert plants as well!

Nice trail to walk especially with doggos! They love seeing all the bunnies and ducks on the trail…read moreas we walk and are always ready for naps by the end of it. Such nice scenery and very well lit at night as well on one segment of the trail which is about .50 long and enough to get their energy out at night while still feeling safe

I'm currently training for a half marathon and I had seen this trail in passing and thought it…read moremight be a good place to do my "long runs". It is perfect for a nice a easy run. I was able to go 12.5 miles and while it was not easy (because of the distance) the trail itself was flat and there was a lot to see. Cows, ducks, llamas, pretty parks, people riding horses...you've got it all! Definitely better than my typical Chandler green belt jaunts!

Very cool spot! It's a short distance from the car to the water…read more You can bring stuff to hang out by the water if you're not planning on floating on down. There's a lot of people tubing and paddle boarding downstream, dogs included too. This is a great place to cool down with the kids, families, and dogs. Parking was easy. Even though there was a sign that says the lot was full, there was plenty of parking spaces.

Another stop on the trail to try to find the wild horses. You can use your America the beautiful…read morenational park pass to avoid any day fees. Didn't see the wild horses here but you could tell that it is a good spot where they could come through. Short walk from the parking lot to the river, and it did not look like it was going to be much on the walk over but glad I decided to walk down there and check it out. Some of my favorite pics on this adventure.

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.