Loved this hike. Beautiful scenery not overly crowded. Not super easy but definitely not hard…read more This hiking area has partly paved trails and was worth going to in the morning and would probably make a beautiful sunset hike when it's not too hot

If you're in the area, North Mountain Park offers several easygoing walking trails that can be…read moreaccessed directly from the visitor center or locations such as Hilton Tapatio Cliffs. Several loops have low elevation gain and can offer nice views in a short distance.

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.

It's time for you to go to McDowell Park and hike or ride!…read moreThe park is very well marked and loops can bring you right back to a trailhead. Maps available. I'm tempted to bring my commuter bike the trails are in such good shape.. I will spend 3 weeks getting to know this area and come back asap.

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

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.

Lookout Mountain Preserve was on my list of the top hikes in Phoenix. Located in North Phoenix, I…read moremade my way on a weekday afternoon. According to All Trails, this is a moderate hike. I would agree with that assessment. It took me a little over an hour to complete. There are 30 free parking spots or so and I didn't have trouble finding a spot. I'm not sure if this is the case on a weekend too when the weather's nice. While it's not a super long hike, here's what adds to the difficulty: a good amount of steep incline on the way up the mountain with some rocky terrain. For a small portion, you have to scramble a bit. On the way down, some pretty steep decline in some areas so make sure to have the proper footwear. Even with my hiking boots, my shoes slipped a little bit. I didn't fall or anything, but you probably will if you're not wearing the right stuff. Once you get to the top of the mountain, you'll be rewarded with great views of Phoenix. I sat up there for a good 10 minutes. Enjoy it, this is what it's all about.

When driving around the area I came across these ruins. I decided to park and take the trek up to…read moresee the historical ruins at the top. The hike up to the top is easy (in my opinion), but there is a notable climb to the top which could be more of a moderate climb for some people. While there is an ADA parking spot, the hike itself isn't wheelchair accessible as there are no paved areas of the trail. Everyone's abilities vary but I wanted to provide that call out if there's anyone wondering about wheel chair accessibility. There are nice picnic areas and a restroom that are accessible for anyone using a wheelchair. There were some pretty flowers along the trail and the sights are beautiful.

a really cool spot to check out. It is not a long hike, but there is a bit of a vertical climb to…read moreget to the top. Nothing too crazy, just enough to get your legs working a little. At the top, you get to see what a small Hohokam outpost was like, which is pretty awesome. It is wild to think about people living up there and using that hill as a lookout and settlement area. You can still see the outlines of the old structures and get a real sense of the history. The views from the top are amazing too. You get a great look at the surrounding desert and mountains, which makes the climb totally worth it. If you are into local history or just want a short hike with a payoff at the top, Sears Kay Ruins is definitely worth the visit.

I like this trailhead. There is one closer to home that I frequent, but every once in a while I…read moremake my way over here. It's easy to get to and there are signs from Via Linda. Plenty of parking and there are bathrooms and a water fountain, plus a bottle filling dispenser. There's hardly ever a crowd here, which I prefer. I've done a few of the trails, including Lost Dog, Old Jeep, and most recently, Sunrise trail. This one connects to, you guessed it, the Sunrise trail. That one is not my favorite, and it takes longer to get to the trailhead, so I don't go there often. However, this trailhead allows me to get to the sunrise peak (which I enjoy) and continue to the back trail (Andrew Kinsey). From there, I take it until I reach the Adero Canyon trailhead, which is in Fountain Hills. This is a well-maintained trailhead with all the necessary amenities, clearly labeled signs, and lots of trails to choose from depending on preference of difficulty/length/group. Highly recommend!

Just finished a workout and thought I could use some time outside. Alternating Trail running and…read morewalking for me today. Plus an EPIC sunset as my reward!! Really great quick hike before sunset. I like this trail a lot. To the look out spot it's one mile out. Not busy at all on Thursday afternoon. Big fluffy clouds in the sky and perfect temperature out. Weather app says it's 65° right now. Lots of parking, there's a restroom at the trailhead. What's not to like. There are other longer trails to take here, but going to the look out spot is all I wanted for today! Came back to the trailhead l/ parking lot with a lit up sky.

I was so surprised to not see this location already on Yelp. You will love it! We decided to take a…read morejeep ride out here today and then head over to Bartlett Lake to see the wild flowers blooming. I highly recommend both. Horseshoe Dam is located off a roughly 10 mile dirt road. Built between 1944-46 and created Horseshoe Lake. It was created for copper production during World War II. It serves as an important water supply for SRP . We came to witness the "waterfall" where you can walk the spillway "bridge" and behind the waterfall. Check the SRP lake level website for water release dates to witness the waterfall. It does not flow constantly. The water flows from the release into the Verde River. Views from the spillway are amazing. There are a few hiking trails nearby. You can walk through tho capillary up a maintenance road to the top of the dam with perfect views of Horseshoe Lake. The area is great for hiking, fishing, and its views. The dirt road can be rocky at times and you do need a pass to park etc. for the day or camping in the area. These are accessible in nearby shops or on side of the road before you get to the dirt road. You do not want to drive here during heavy rain as is a flash flood area. The entire area is beautiful. You can even witness a ton of wild flowers including the poppies along the dirt road, but definitely more near Bartlett Lake. If you love history, off road drives, and want to see something a bit different it's an awesome stop. I will add there is no cell service out here so if you need a map do not unhook your phone from your car or download if possible if nervous about directions.

Rose Garden Mountain has a very small parking lot able to hold possibly 6 to 8 vehicles. There is…read morealso street parking but a little further away. I had been here some time ago. It looks like the city has cleaned it up quite a bit and made it into a hiking area. To begin, the path is very level with easy terrain. There are some hillsides that you can climb up. Make sure you wear hiking shoes. Athletic shoes may not have the same grip. If you only have athletic shoes on, just stay on the level path. Lots of saguaro to look at as you hike. I did see patches of garbage here and there.

THIS IS A CHALLENGING HIKING TRAIL if you end up going up the mountainside/hill! full of large…read morerocks to scramble over and loose rocks as well. there isn't a well marked trail path going to the top of the hill so just be aware of that! if you stay on the lower part and don't go up the hill, its pretty flat.