Located off highway 88 in Apache Junction, Lost Dutchman State Park is a must see with beautiful of…read moreviews of the Superstition Mountains. It's clean and well kept with plenty of things to do. There is hiking and biking trails, camping, RV camp sites, pick-nick areas, restrooms, cabins to rent and plenty of parking. Too hot to hike for me today but will definitely be back when it cools down.

I don't do a good job keeping track of all the hikes I complete (unlike other friends I know who…read moredocument everything), so for the beginning of 2026, I'm going to try to do a better job of documentation. I love the Lost Dutchman and have been here several times and it never gets old and each time I come, I am still so awestruck by the beauty of this mountain. Years ago, I completed Flatiron with my then partner and didnt know that it was rated a very difficult hike. I enjoyed it, got a really nice work out and liked the scramble up to the top! I just remember it was quite windy at the top but spectacular views. Dogs are allowed on Flatiron, but don't do that to your pup, its a pretty gnarly hike, let your puppy rest honestly as I saw so many doggies struggling. Tonight, I came just for a leisurely stroll right before sunset and also hoping to catch the first almost full moon of 2026. I love nature and being outdoors and my favorite way to spend time. Park entrance was packed tonight and the fee was $10. There is a small visitor center with souvenirs, guides, some snacks, bathrooms and last minute hiking needs. I think you can also camp here, check on their website. I parked in the Cholla day use lot and did part of the Treasure Loop and hiked for about 3 miles slowly, and spent about 2+ hours in the park. My goal tonight wasn't really to hike strenously but more to get a glimpse of the sunset and the beautiful 2026 Wolf Moon. All my goals were accomplished. Park is well maintained. I used the bathroom and it was very clean and a nice park bathroom. Plenty of covered picnic tables too. Park closed at 8pm tonight (winter). There are all different level trails here and the rangers here are super nice and helpful. Ask them any questions and they are happy to help. There are also many kinds of free maps available in the visitor center. I had a MTB map, a hiking trail map, a birding map, a native plant map! I am all mapped up! If you come and do a hike, wear sturdy hiking shoes, wear sunscreen, head covering, bug spray (there were quite a lot of mosquitoes when I hiked tonight which annoyed the heck out of me as I left my bug spray at home), lots of water, some snacks, and also headlamps (I hiked back down after sunset and the headlamp helped a lot). One of the best AZ state parks, the views are amazing (so many couples here getting their photos professionally taken), definitely check it out.

Parking lot is small; we were lucky to find a spot around noon on a Thursday. No bathrooms at the…read moretrail head and several were "popping a squat" and leaving behind their toilet paper which was kind of gross. Also no enforcement of the required permit and no other vehicles had parking passes displayed on their dash as instructed by the permit guidelines. Trail is not marked at all and we did get off trail by accident a few times coming down. The entirety of the trail is rocky, which doesn't matter as much during the first mile that is relatively flat but did require strategic footing on the way up the last half mile and extreme caution coming down. I slid several times despite being extra cautious (and saw many others sliding too) and even fell twice (luckily didn't get hurt). There was a small bee hive at the wave and bees followed us the entire way back to the parking lot. Saw some birds and lizards. Made it up in an hour and took just about the same amount of time coming down with full sun the entire time. I recommend this hike because the wave cave is a cool feature but I don't think I'd do it again because of the trail conditions and bees.

Definitely worth the hike, it was a moderate level hike but definitely had me winded at points…read more Check it out if you're in the area!

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.

This was a good workout and moderately challenging trail. We got started a bit too late so it was…read more"hot" on the trail. I'm glad I was wearing a hat, sunscreen, and had plenty of water. The weather was nice today, it's just a lot of sun exposure on the trail. I saw people of all ages on the trail and dogs are allowed. Personally it was a bit busy on the trail for my liking and I don't love paying $7 to access a trail but we were hiking with a friend who is new to the area and thought this is a nice intro to AZ hiking. There are plenty of other trails in the Usery Mountain Regional Park to check out as well, but we were ready to head out after this trail. Wind cave trail is 3.2 miles out and back, it's about 1,000ft elevation gain and on average takes about 2 hrs to complete. One interesting thing we found at the "cave" area at the top was large honey comb coming out of the rock. There are quite a few bees there and man I would have loved to eat that honey comb haha. That added an element of interest. Overall, nice hike and a good mix of effort. I would have liked to do it earlier in the day, but I'm sure it was even busier then so it worked out.

A great variety of trails to hike! It is dog friendly, but be weary of the rocks and cacti. So many…read moreamazing opportunities for pictures! If you're visiting, they have volunteers (called Stewards) that can recommend trails, provide maps, and more! They have nice bathrooms and water fountains with a bottle fill station too. Wonderful place to go hiking, regardless of hiking ability!

The Gateway Trailhead is fully barrier-free and has all the amenities an outdoor recreation…read moreenthusiast could want. We had our elderly parents with us, so we did this Bajada Nature Trail. The trail is laid out like a figure 8. Trail Surface: 100% of the trail surface is hard and surfaced with stabilized decomposed granite. It was a good light walk after a meal with the family.

Fork 'em, Devils. If…read moreyou attended ASU, you have probably climbed "A" Mountain. It's a rite of passage as a Sun Devil. Did you even attend ASU if you haven't stepped foot here? It's a tradition for me to hike this mountain on New Year's Day. You got to start the new year heading in the direction you want to go: upwards and forward. Hayden Butte Preserves is a very doable and easy hike in the heart of Tempe. Come for the sights.

Pretty easy hike. Trail could use some maintenance- missing/washed out steps. Not too crowded at…read more8am on a warm Sunday. No bugs or overgrown shrubs. Rails toward the top for safety and easy to grab/hold onto for stability. We finished in 33 mins and that includes a couple stops to take in the views and catch our breath after a set of steps.

Visited Pinnacle Peak Park while in Scottsdale. The atmosphere is scenic, peaceful, and…read morewell-maintained, making it a go-to spot I've been hiking for 20+ years. The vistas are beautiful, with views overlooking golf courses and, as you start the climb, some stunning homes -- clearly a bit of wealth in the area. It's a great mix of desert landscape and elevated viewpoints that never gets old. Over the years, you never know who you'll run into -- I even crossed paths with Ming Tsai on one of my hikes. There are restrooms at the base, free entry, and a parking lot that can fill up quickly, with many people parking along the road leading in. Overall, a consistently great hike with rewarding views -- a local staple I keep coming back to. Saluti.

If you're looking for a short easy hike, then this may be your place. This hike provides a 4 mile…read moretrail that includes some elevation. You may experience wildlife such as lizards, deer birds, and more. This hike is very popular with the locals who you may see running and walking on a trail. What's great about this trail is the free parking, clean bathroom and a visitor area to learn more. The hike should definitely be on your list for beautiful sunset and wildlife sighting is. Prior to coming in, you should note the hours as you don't want to get your car locked in when they close the gate the hours change with daylight changing.

I came here on a Saturday morning to run, and I arrived at the parking lot at 10:15AM. Note that…read moresince this is inside Usery Mountain Regional Park, there's a $7 per motor vehicle. The parking lot was entirely full and street parking was pretty full too, but luckily I snagged a spot right at the trailhead as a car left. I went clockwise on the trail, and the map at the beginning says this trail is 7.5 miles (but actually if I add up the mileage on the map, it's 7.6 miles). The views before going down were good but once I went to the back of the mountain, the views weren't very good. Completely unshaded, most people are going counterclockwise so I ran into a lot of hikers, a few bikes, and even a horseback rider and his horse. Some parts of the path are a bit rockier than the others, but all manageable for running.

I spend much of my time on this trail running, especially if I want something that provides a lot…read moreof varied terrain and isn't too crowded. Wind Cave is an awesome workout, but it is typically a lot more crowded. A good portion of the trail is runnable, which is nice. For a moderate running pace, two hours should be fine. In talking to people on the trail, it seems that hikers typically plan 3.5-4 hours to do the whole thing. Maybe longer if you stop at the saddle to have a snack and enjoy the views for a bit. Speaking of that, there are several places to stop and enjoy the views, especially on the backside of the mountain, and it is really beautiful when the desert blooms. I was out here a few years ago when we got snow on January 1, and that was pretty cool to see. These days, I mostly see hikers, although there are some adventurous mountain bikers -- there is an interesting climb (or descent, depending on your chosen direction) just before/after the saddle. I've seen people carrying their bikes on that one. I think tackling this trail clockwise on a bike might be best, although I typically run it counterclockwise to get the rougher parts of the trail out of the way first. The trail is pretty rocky in spots between Blevins and the saddle. It is good to note that you can jump on this trail either from the Wind Cave or Blevins (Trailhead Staging Area) parking areas, but the marked trailhead is at the Blevins parking lot. There is nowhere to get water, except at the Wind Cave trailhead, which, depending on where you park, could be your start/end point. It is best to bring all that you'll need, especially in the summer. This is a loop trail, but there are really no shortcuts out of the trail, so you either plan to do the whole thing or pick a spot to turn around when you're halfway done with hiking. (The trail does connect to the Cat Peaks trail about a mile from the Blevins trailhead, and forks off to connect with the Arizona Trail, but once you're really into the trail, there are much fewer options.) As for shade, the only real shade is provided during certain parts of the year and times of day at the saddle. There are some trees and, if you can crouch in the shadow of some rock formations, you can find a little. Beyond that, it is pretty sparse. I suggest starting early in the morning. Keep an eye out for wildlife. I have scared several deer and jackrabbits in addition to the usual lizards, squirrels and occasional rattlesnake. There is a $6 fee to enter the park by car ($2 if you bike, walk, or run in) and the Maricopa County Parks pass is good here.

A fun loop trail with nice vegetation, a few wash crossings and a lot of connector trails. It is a…read moresolid, runnable 5K loop that has slight grades and a mostly clear route -- no rock scrambling needed. This one is doable on a bike, even if you're not that experienced, though there's a bit of sand west of the horse staging parking area. There are (flush!) toilets and a water fountain at the trailhead.

Blevins Trail in Usery Mountain Regional Park is a gem! It's a perfect, moderate hike with stunning…read morevistas and peaceful surroundings. A favorite spot for every visit--always an amazing experience! Saluti