This has been on my bucket list for the past 5 years and this weekend I finally made it! I was…read moreexpecting it to be busy since it was a Sunday and a holiday weekend, but we went in the afternoon and tons of people were leaving when we were parking. The downside to that is that you are hiking in at the hottest part of the day. Which makes the water feel that much more refreshing. The hike isn't hard, you just follow the creek. Some people were in flip flops- which is doable, but the rocks can be quite slippery in places. Bring lots of water. There's some shade, but not tons. Oh- and watch out for the random cow. He's not friendly.

There is an awesome hiking spot here. You don't need a pass you can just park and hike. It's a bit…read moresteep in some areas but lots of people of all ages with dogs too. It was so beautiful this time of year. Slightly off the beaten path from Payson but worth a fun day trip from phoenix to get out of the head and see so fall foliage. Highly recommend

It can take a bit of a hike along the banks to enjoy wild-horse sightings, so go prepared with…read moresturdy shoes and a close eye to where you're stepping due to natural debris.

Was told this was a good spot to see the wild horses, but did not end up seeing them…read more You can use your America the beautiful national park pass to avoid any day fees. Got there early and got some milky way pics, sunrise pics, some good landscape pics. Ran into a few nice photographers also trying to get the horses too. Hope they stayed longer and got some pics of the horses. I was there from 5 am until about 830 or 9 am. This place is serene, peaceful, quiet and you will see some fish and birds too. It was not very crowded and it was very cold, I think that was the correlation. Glad we stopped there and got to see the scenic views and landscape, the horses would have been a bonus.

Visited McDowell Mountain Regional Park while in Fort McDowell, AZ. The atmosphere was vast and…read morerugged, and the overall experience felt impressive but spread out. The park is massive -- it's honestly a bit crazy -- with nearly a 20-minute drive just to get from the entrance to the North Trail, which really puts the scale into perspective. Tried the North Trail -- scenic and well maintained, but the sheer size makes it feel more like a destination than a quick outing. Overall, worth checking out once, but not a spot I'd go out of my way to revisit. Saluti

This is a really nice park. Very big lots of trails. We went to the north trail which was nicely…read moremaintained. The huge plus here is the fact that sprinkled through this huge park are actual running water bathrooms!! SO NICE!! Clean bright. Superb.

Hands down the best state park campground I've ever been to! The grounds are immaculate, the staff…read moreis incredibly friendly and it's so peaceful. We stayed in site 25 and it's just perfect. The views are amazing and we loved seeing all the wildlife. We are sad to be leaving but have already decided if we come back to the area we are definitely staying here again.

We had a beautiful camping experience here! Very clean campground with kept amenities and nice,…read moreclean spots! It was perfect for an overnighter so close to the valley.

My friends and I love to kayak and paddleboard so we decided to go to Canyon Lake. The lake did not…read moredisappoint. We launched at the Boulder launching pad, and there were plenty of parking. It was serene, we saw wildlife, and overall it was such a nice day. This is one of the prettiest lake. I've been on in Arizona. Will be back.

Canyon Lake has been a staple destination for my family since before I was born (picture of my…read moreparents added). I grew up spending summers here on my dad's boat, and even hiking as a kid. I definitely recommend, and there are great services available at the Marina & Campground so check it out!

When I am looking for a place to run my motorcycle to, Bartlett lake is always front of the list in…read moremy mind. With nicely maintained roads running out of Cave Creek to the lake it's always a pleasant ride. There is a cafe there if you want to have lunch, which overlooks the lake as well. Every time I am there it makes me want to get a houseboat and ditch city life. One of these days maybe.

We decided to drive over to check out the nearby Horseshoe Dam in hopes to catch the spillway…read morerelease and the waterfall it creates into the Verde River and then head over to Bartlett Lake to see the start of the wildflower blooms. Totally worth seeing both when in the area. The drive was beautiful. Water levels are a bit low, but still amazing. The flowers are already in bloom, but will be even better by end of February into March if you'd love to see them. I love poppies but there are so many more flowers also in bloom, to see the best area I'd recommend the area just before Rattlesnake Cove . There is a small trail with roadside parking if lucky. Or can park in the cove parking and small hike back up to area. You do need to pay for a rec pass if parking and spending the day. You can purchase at stores nearby or roadside spots you'll see along the way. Traffic wasn't too bad today but as it warms up and flowers more in bloom be prepared. There is also a restaurant near the boat dock as well.

Looking for a fun, scenic adventure that almost anyone can enjoy? Head to White Tank Mountain…read moreRegional Park and take on the Waterfall Trail! The trail is mostly paved, easy to follow, and packed with beautiful desert scenery. Once you reach the end, the real adventure begins. Climb the stone steps, scramble carefully over the boulders, and explore the waterfall area. During certain times of the year, you may even find water collected in the pool below. Be sure to look up! There are two additional natural pools tucked into the rocks above your head, with plants growing along the cliffs and birds making themselves right at home. Keep watch for the local hawk that loves to perch dramatically on top of a nearby saguaro cactus. The true treasures of this trail are the ancient petroglyphs created by the Hohokam people. Many can be seen inside the protected, marked areas, but sharp-eyed explorers may spot even more etched into the surrounding rocks. They are incredible reminders of the people who lived in this desert long before us. I take nearly every visitor we have on this hike, no matter the season. It is one of my favorite places to show off the beauty, history, and adventure of Arizona! There are bathrooms and picnic tables near the trailhead, so pack some water, bring a picnic, and make a day of it!

The waterfall trail is amazing!!! Beautiful scenery!…read more This trail is so cool, not the hardest hike but great for most people. If you are looking for longer hike do the Black Rock Trail.

We loved staying at Black Canyon Ranch. We were there starting November 2024 and just left the…read morebeginning of May. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Emily and Josh do a great job building community. There is always an event to attend to meet others! The facility is so clean. We cannot wait to go back!

The team here is amazing. It was easy to book and Emily at the office was great with communication…read more When we got there Jan 2nd, Josh helped make sure our trailer was level, water working and that our Internet was working (my hubby wasn't available, so this was a first for me). Then on 2/1 we moved to a new space and Josh was amazing at helping us again. Space was a back in space for our 36' 5th wheel and had a tree that my husband had to navigate around to back in. Josh walked him thru the back up and they did it on the 1st attempt. Love the staff and this is our 1st experience at staying in a park! The grounds are well kept and quiet. Will definitely come back next season! Thank you all for your warm welcoming and taking care of your guests! The White's

FYI: If you're planning to go during the government shutdown, you can't drive all the way to the…read moreparking lot -- it's about an 8-mile hike (a lot of it on gravel). But honestly, it's worth every step! Just when you think you've reached the falls... you haven't. Keep going! The road in is pure washboard -- about 13 miles of bump city -- so make sure you have a 4-wheel drive and that nothing inside your car is loose. Fossil Creek is absolutely stunning, and bonus -- no permit needed after October 1st. The other thing says this trail is easy. No, it's not to be careful if you're taking somebody elderly over that doesn't have good mobility because there's some rocks you had a climb and what not also make sure you take plenty of water to drink and a little snack everything you pack in your pack. I would also suggest leaving the house by three 330. No later you don't wanna be hiking in the pitch dark.

People really need to be better educated on the permit process and the strict requirements that are…read morenow being enforced. We had our permit that one of our husbands printed for us but since he was not in vehicle, they would not allow us to enter!! Worse than our problem were 2 women in thier turn around lot at thier gate and those 2 women were still stranded in the heat nearly 6 hours later. We the park rangers failed to relay a hugely important message to those ladies about thier spare tire being In the middle of the road 10 miles back !! Again a huge disappointment for those park employees who witnessed these women being stranded, and we feel with 3 employees and 2 trucks could have easily assisted these women or at the very least let them know where thier spare was located ! We were hugely inconvenienced by driving back several miles to pile into one car as the option they offered us, but these poor ladies we believe were clearly suffering unnecessary while not one of those employees told them where thier spare was located or possibly offered to get it for them .