I see Papago as a starter location for trail runners and bikers alike. There's no hard hillclimbs/grades that will challenge a seasoned mtn biker or trail runner but there's plenty of good speed trails to hit cardio and do a nice tour of the park. There's a tunnel under the road so you can go from north to south side of curry I think it is... I've yet to be over to the zoo but I know that's over there and as far as I know you can get a fairly good (free) shot of the zoo from there. There's some good hiking stuff you can do and climb up into some cool caves/holes in the rocks. I've been to an enduro mtn bike ride there on the east side and that's a good track for that, short but make lots of laps and you'll be tired after 4 or 5 of those fo sho. Good park, clean, trails are nice - look out for bees tho sometimes! They've marked off some trails for that before but nothing new - you are in arizona. read more

Papago is a large park for being right in the middle of urban city life. It's easy to get to and free, woo hoo! I walked around and up to the Hole in the Rock area yesterday, which of course i'd seen from afar on my wanderings through the city. I was a little disappointed to find out it is being used by teenagers...as frankly, i think teenagers should be locked in their homes until they are 20. The south-facing side is scattered with pumpkin seed shells and the rocks are a bit worn. I wanted to sit and soak up the really lovely view of downtown Tempe and Phoenix, but a group of teenagers and their babies (sad) came loudly through the hole and staked their claim. I have to say I would love to have a bike and sail through the trails in this park, the sidewalks are very well maintained. read more

For several years I have lived only a short distance away from this park and would find myself here all the time. I still come here just not as much as I would like. Let's see at Papago Park you can: ---Watch fireworks all over the valley, on the 4th of July ---Hike, bike, nature walk ---Feed the turtles and Koi near the zoo ---Look into the zoo for free and watch the giraffes ---Have a picnic ---Have out-of-towners take their pictures with a cactus ---Climb through a hole in a rock ---Go to the DBG. ---Ride your bike along the canal Lots to do right in the center of the Phoenix metro area. read more

I live pretty close to Papago, so it's a place I regularly hike. But it's not because I love this park, it's really because of the convenience of living so close, and the fact that the trails are not challenging at all. Papago is one of the few places that I feel 100% safe about hiking on my own. Unless you take a wrong step while climbing one of the buttes, it's pretty hard to hurt yourself. The park is clean and well kept, and you do get some good views of Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale on your hike. Once in a while I've even spotted some cool birds flying around. Because it's such an easy hike, Papago is a great spot for beginner/novice hikers, and a pretty good spot to take your kids or the dog. If you're looking to get outside and get some air, Papago is the place to hit up for an hour or two on a quiet afternoon or morning. read more

I love this park, mostly for the disc golf course. The first 9 holes are a little but terrifying because there is a small river running along side the course. And since I have no disc control I find myself crossing into the river to get my disc. The second nine holes is all desert terrain and is amazing to play. It provides a minor hike while enjoying the course. Just beyond the first nine holes is a small hiking trail which permits you the opportunity to enjoy the Arizona terrain. Sometimes they have groups that will play a night game of disc golf. read more

I've only hiked Hole in the Wall, but if your looking for a pretty easy, but extremely picturesque hike, then this is the one. The views at the Hole in the Rock are amazing and on a clear, sunny day it's quite nice to take in all the sights of the Phoenix skyline. The hike is not too rugged or steep. You can reach the top in less then 10 minutes. I've done this hike a few times with my dog and it's super easy for them as well. There's a nice little fishing lake not far from Hole in the Rock and again, a nice stroll to take with your pup. It's a great experience for kids as well as their is lots to see and learn with the beautiful rock formations, colors, wildlife and plant life. read more

Hole in the Rock: the quickest, easiest sightseeing possible in Phoenix. A friend came to visit and was just staying overnight until lunch the next day. We were going to be in the Scottsday/Tempe area so I figured at the very least I should take her over to Papago Park to see some of the native plants and the cool looking, bumpy red mountains. I had never been to Hole in a Rock, but I had always seen people standing up there every time I drive by the park. I had no idea how they got up there though. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it is ridiculously easy. Half hour to get up to and down from the hole, stairs carved into the mountain the whole way up and a beautiful view from either side. We went at 10:30 in the morning so we were all alone up there, which was even better. read more

Papago Park, the home of the Spring Training Oakland A's, is a wonderful place to go in Phoenix. It is truly a park within the city and you feel like you can get away from it all for a day or so. One thing Phoenix doesn't have much of is good parks. You can get up early in the morning, before the heat takes over, and walk the hills and mountains. The rocks are just beautiful, maybe the most beautiful in all of the area. If you get up early, you can watch the sunrise and if you go late, you can watch the sunset (only in the winter, it's too hot in the summer to take the hill). In winter, I love this place because of all of the blooming cactus and wildflowers and smells of the dirt and rocks. Nothing like the desert smell, you never forget it. I grew up here and found many gemstone rocks, crawdads in the water drains, ate tons of grapefruit, even a lizard or three found my net. Plus i learned to ride a bike in our sand driveway, I can still remember my dad running along side me, then letting me go. isn't that how life is, a series of training then letting go? So come to Papago, it's really interesting, fun and a break from the buildings and streets of the city. It's also near the Zoo and Botanical Gardens for added fun and experiences. read more

I kept staring at the buttes when we were over at the botanical garden and finally I just couldn't stand it any longer especially after I saw some people hiking up the rocks. I can only comment on the trails part as that is all we did, we just went for a hike on the trails. They have a map at the parking lot listing the different trails; some foot some bike some paved some natural. We didn't go at sunset and I wish we had as we were told the sunset from up on the rocks is beyond awesome. Watch out for the mountain bikers, they can whip past you with speed that just amazes me as I was busy trying to make sure I did not fall off any paths. You can and many many do go off the trails and climb up into many of the crevices and holes in the buttes or to stand on the very top of some of them. Braver souls than I! We were within 50 to 100 feet of the "summit" of one of the buttes and I chickened out and elected to just walk around some more. Spectacular views from up high of the rest of the city and great photo opps. Have the right shoes and proper clothing (the sun will beat down on you) and go out there and enjoy nature and get some exercise. And be neat and take your trash out with you. Like another reviewer noted, it was sad to see some broken glass and a few empty water bottles strewn about. read more

Really have to say I was completely disappointed in this park. After reading the other reviews I was excited about taking my dog for an afternoon hike today. What I found hiking around the rock formations was beyond disgusting. First off, trash was everywhere. Paper containers, clothes and the like. Worst of all, there was broken glass everywhere. I don't mean just here and there either. It was so bad I ended up carrying my dog 90% of the time so she didn't get hurt. Honestly it even made me uncomfortable simply for the fact that there are places you have to use your hands to climb and I feared getting cut. The only reason this place got 2 stars was because of the decent dog park area. I'm glad I tried this place but most certainly will not be going back. read more

Great Park in the Tempe Phoenix area that is free to get into and has plenty of picnic tables and shade for barbecues as well as nice hiking and biking trails. Hole in Rock is also in the park which is always a fun stuff... Spectacular place to catch sunset shots read more

Papago Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I hate not giving this park more than 3 stars, it is so beautiful. The rocks and the landscape are amazing. And it has some great hiking trails. I view the park in 2 "sections": North of Curry and South of Curry (by the Lake). 1) The area North of Curry, by the zoo and botanical gardens is a great place for hiking. Amazing really. There's a lot of poop around first thing in the mornings, but I'm going to give dog owners the benefit of the doubt and instead put the blame on coyotes and foxes, which roam around here. If you are a visitor to Phoenix, specially for a short visit, do not miss hiking up to the Hole in The Rock, great view. 2) Now, for the "South of Curry" area, which unfortunately is closer and more convenient for me to hike. Did I miss the sign where it says "The City of Tempe Encourages Littering, Specially if It's Broken Glass"? I don't understand if this is being done on purpose so the mountain glitters???? Ridiculous. Don't bring your pets or little kids to the area south of the playground. This is absolutely the filthiest hike you can find. Obviously this must be a huge drinking hangout at night, and somehow the City or the police don't care to enforce any laws. As for the area between Mill and the playground (College), it is a beautiful hike. You get up on the peaks and see all of Tempe and other eastern cities. The views are breathtaking. But...I'm going to be honest. As a woman who hikes alone, I just don't feel that comfortable with the amount of homeless people at the park. I'm not trying to be mean. I know that homeless doesn't equal dangerous. But when they are in large groups, yelling at you or yelling at each other, or saying crazy stuff...well, that's when I'm uncomfortable. I've hiked with my kids around 6 am in the summer and we get yelled at, and one lady threw a beer can at us. I don't think there's a solution here...I totally see the appeal of living in this park. I just wish I could feel more comfortable hiking here. read more

Pick up your freaking trash people! This is a nice park that I would really love, but it's half spoiled in certain areas by all the broken glass, beer cans, cigarette butts, plastic bottles, USED CONDOMS, and other miscellaneous trash. The garbage is especially awful near the little lake, where the mud mixes with all the refuse to look like a waste pit. I don't want to say that this place is totally bad at all. There's lots of beauty here, which makes the trash that much more distracting. Apart from the grassy area, there's a lot of winding trails that twist up, down, and around the hills. It's great for a workout or just a relaxing walk. As you can see by all of the positive reviews, most people aren't phased by all the garbage. So, this may not be an issue for you at all. This is absolutely a nice park with lots of space for fun and relaxation. Just be warned. read more

Papago Park is another childhood memory place that I still get to enjoy today. Growing up in Tempe, these strangely shaped mountains always set in the foreground of Camelback Mountain. They are part of the namesake of the Loop 202 - Red Mountain Freeway. Some of the best views in the valley can be had without even leaving your car by driving through McDowell Rd or Priest (from the South) or 64th Street (from the North). This place is so iconic that you will be hard pressed to not see a scene from a movie or a clip of this place show up when a film is shot here, or NBA All Star Game, Super Bowl, MLB Playoffs, etc. Diving deeper into the park and you'll find tons of well known and hidden gems. Phoenix Zoo. Desert Botanical Garden. Phoenix Muni Stadium (Oakland A's spring training). Hiking. Mountain Climbing. Bike Riding. Golf Courses. Disc Frisbee. It connects to Tempe Town Lake. Even the elderly can make the simple walk to view Central Phoenix from the 'hole in the rock'. Bike trails cut through here that connect you from Old Town Scottsdale to Downtown Tempe. Bet you didn't know that! It's the desert's version of Balboa Park or NY's Central Park. Sure it may not have wide lakes, huge shade trees everywhere and skyscrapers surrounding it, but it's our park and one we should be dang proud of. So if you are feeling like visiting/living in Arizona is a mistake, go give this place a visit for a day (on a nice weather day!) and explore. It just might start changing your mind. read more

What a shame since this area is so beautiful. I wanted to enjoy these easy trails with my pup, but there is glass and trash everywhere. I hope the park staff or community put more into security here or a clean up crew- probably both are needed. These trails are not good for dogs or children. read more

Papago Park - Beautiful from afar, but unfortunately littered with trash and broken glass. - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Things I really like about Papago Park: ~ Trails that are "customizable"; you can take the mountain-goat-steep way or the actual marked trail depending on your mood. It's not the same steepness off the trail as it is on (but stay out of the native plant restoration areas, please!) ~ Convenience to Scottsdale/Tempe/Phoenix ~ The scenery. The red rocks are beautiful, Hole in the Rock is really neat, and from the top of the trails it looks like you'd descend into a rainforest from the palm trees and zoo plants. Things I do not like about Papago Park: ~ The maintenance. There was a TON of broken glass on all the trails except Hunt's Tomb. I know they're high traffic and trash is bound to happen (tsk tsk, people!) but come on, send out maintenance a few times a week. I spent half my hike making sure my dog didn't step on a piece of glass. ~ The maintenance again. There was a dead sunfish washed up and rotting on the shore of a pond along with other trash all through the reeds. Pretty unattractive. ~ The families with small children. Please, please, keep your 6 kids under control. You shouldn't even be hiking with that many of them, it's too hard to keep track of them, hence dangerous. Also, please stop frowning at my dog (ew, he might sniff you!), and I will stop frowning at your kids (ew, they might puke on me!). read more

Wanting a second, but slightly less intense hike, a friend suggested we head to Papago Park in Tempe. This area is filled with trails and hiking and has a nice little side parking lot underneath an overpass so you don't have to park in the dog park/playground area. I was absolutely amazed to see the Loma Del Rio Ruins, which I had no idea existed. It brought a sense of peacefulness on top of being thought provocative (yeah, I just wanted to use the word provocative). It was wondrous to see the lush green areas, that even though you can't always see the water, give way to its presence. None of the trails are very long or intense, so they're perfect for beginners or relaxing hikes. Additionally, they have handicapped accessible trails also. What a great addition. It won't be my go to place, but on windy days such as the one I ventured there on, it made for a great end of the day and incited great conversation. read more

Very confusing layout. Lots of construction when we tried to visit. Several roads were blocked. Some of the park appears to be behind the zoo which causes more confusion. Hope to return when the roads are clear and we can find the areas we have seen in photos. read more

I could not for the life of me find the dog park I was by the little lake area with my pups and they loved it there! We went early in the morning so it was pretty empty a few people fishing and others walking their dogs. It was a really nice morning walk for both us and the dogs. They loved the scenery. If anyone can tell me how to actually get to the dog park that would be awesome lol other than that I really liked this place PLUS it's free! read more

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This was great! Easy parking and an easy hike to the top rock with the hole/view. I'm not a hiker at all and this was fine to hike. Easy ten minutes up. read more

This review is to all parents! Papago Park is going to crap! What happened to Papago over the past few months? Maybe since it is summer the city's staff isn't taking as good of care of the grounds as they should, but there was dangerous broken playground equipment, all kinds of trash in the sand, and the general upkeep of the playground was horrible. BTW: I just have to say, Papago park gave me the creeps today. It was completely empty other than a few shady guys in the parking lot that I am pretty sure were doing a drug deal. I wont be going to Papago Park again. I like to hike there (just N. of McDowell,) but I don't feel this park is a safe place for my kids to go and play anymore. read more

Fun hike, sandy trail, clean easy to access parking.

Papago Park is operated by the cities of Phoenix and Tempe. We only had time to explore the beautiful geographical red sandstone formations and beautiful desert plants. The park also features the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo, small man-made lakes, a picnic area, hiking trails, bicycle paths, baseball and softball fields, and a golf course. Thankfully, this beautiful area was preserved and the cactus are protected for everyone to enjoy. I can't wait to return to spend more time exploring this gorgeous area. www.phoenix.gov read more

Papago Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Papago Park is by far and away my favorite easy-level hike within 15 minutes drive (my criterion for most activities). It is a great retreat for those who are tired of looking at endless cactus and brownness. it is split into three main areas. There is the Lo Piano habitat and canal area which takes up the space north of Tempe Town Lake and the 202 freeway that has a beautiful riparian area (look it up) and well-kept trails through groves of Palo Verde, Oak, and Beech trees. North of the canal (it's Hohokam and one of the oldest canals in the Valley btw) is the red rock hiking area for which Papago is known best. There are formations that have been carved out by the elements that you can explore, per say, by climbing to the top of one of the largest formations and stand in the window/hole that the park is famous for. The north side of the park (accessible from Curry), is a regular park with large old trees, picnic areas, a small pond, a playground, and a large dog park area. I do not recommend entering the hiking area from this side (especially with your dog), as there is a lot of broken glass on the hillside (you can see it glimmer in the afternoon sun). All in all, I would recommend this as a regular hiking spot for anyone living in the south Scottsdale or north Tempe areas. read more

The view at the Hole in the Rock is great. The only downside is sometimes homeless people do show up here. I visit about every 2 months. It's great place to walk your dog, my dog loves it. read more

Went on rainy Sunday... Loved it. Free parking and easy to find. Hiked trail #5 and then a parts of another trail (but it was not marked)... ??? But it was up and on the side of the mountains (good calve workout). read more

Awesome park to get a feel for the nature in Arizona. I only went to Hole in the Rock, but the Desert Botanical Garden is also located here along with some other areas to look at or hike. Hole in the Rock was a short and easy hike, but still fun and very scenic once you get to the top (takes less than 10 minutes). There are also plenty of cacti here to take pictures with. Parking was ample, and they have bathrooms that were decently clean. This is a must stop if you're in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area! Parking is really easy, and they have very clear signage so you won't get lost. read more

What a nice place, I lived near this park and have always been attracted to a place that makes us remember the land before concrete. If the eyes are the window to our souls a small climb at papago can bring new life threw one's windows. You don't always have to drive away from the city to get away. I'll take some photos next time and post them read more

Great park! Well thought of when created & planned I guess.. The zoo is close by and so is the botanical garden. Both are great to visit in your entire day trip to the park. They got it all.. Dog runs.. Hiking trails to and around "Hole in the rock".. Exactly what it says it's a giant hole in a giant rock which you can climb up to relax on. Very nice at the height where you can see the city scape & plans landing.. Great come visit at least once when your out here! Enjoy your trip! read more

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Great park that is well taken care of with free parking! It's an easy location to find and the hikes are easy to moderate. Bring a picnic lunch, there's plenty of picnic tables with shelter from the sun.You can easily spend a couple of hours here just taking in the scenery. read more

Papago Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

A nice park. It has lots of playground equipment and things for kids to play on, as well as the mountains you see in the background. You can mountain bike here, (the trails are mostly beginner, but there is a 'secret' jump park nestled next to the reservoir) disc golf, hike, look at stuff in the distance, watch the planes land at Sky Harbor. The only drawback is that near sundown lots of homeless people usually hang in the park. Not really a big deal for me but y'know, little kids and stuff. read more

This place is very convenient for me to ride my mtn bike to from my home. The Trails are great for beginner as the elevation climbs are short. There is a lot of loose rocks on the single track so it can get pretty treacherous. It has beautiful views when you climb to the top of downtown Phoenix. It takes 10 minutes to get to the top if you hike up from the parking on McDowell. read more

There's one nice views, other people are sparce and when you son see them they're friendly. There are some Pokemon Go stops and water inside too if you're playing that. But there are also homeless people sleeping with bottles nod liquor around them every once in a while and some area smell bad. It's got a path that splits in some areas and you need to decide which way to go although they all can take you anywhere else since its mostly circular. The bridges are really pretty and the sculptures are cool. I love love love taking my dog here but make sure you bring lots of water as there's very little shade. read more

Beautiful park with great views of the city. Several "round trip" trail routes selections available allowing you adjust your hike to meet your level of difficulty. read more

There are lots of reasons to come here, which you'll learn as you peruse the other reviews on here, but my favorite 3 are mountain biking, hiking, and outdoor gyms. 1) Mountain Biking: This place has GREAT beginner mountain bike trails; perfect for getting yourself initiated into the sport of off-road biking or introducing your newbie friends into the sport. Park at the West Butte Parking Lot (at the light where you turn East into the Zoo parking lot from Galvin Pkwy, turn West instead and you're there). The mountain biking trails run from this point Northward along the West side of Galvin Pkwy and the South side of McDowell Rd. From these trails you can access a really cool outdoor amphitheater and watch the Oakland A's practice their craft. 2) Hiking: Awesome rock formations to hike. See other reviews. 3) Outdoor Gym: I am a HUGE fan of outdoor gyms because they provide a powerful full-body workout rivaling any commercial weightlifting gym for FREE. I happily found this outdoor gym quite by accident, and don't really see it advertised as a feature of this awesome park. it runs along the West side of the golf course. Park at the West Butte Parking Lot (See #1 for location). read more

Amazing park that is in the city but gives you that feeling of being far away. The grounds are kept very well, very clean. Great place to see different birds, small fuzzy critters, lizards, stuff like that. The Hole is alot of fun and easy to access for all and sizes. There is a short tail that goes up the backside of The Hole, So no need to scale the steep front. You can forge your own trails or use some of the main ones. Their are dog friendly areas, picnic tables throughout, fishing pound, restrooms and Hunts Tomb. If you decide to visit Hunts Tomb it has a great view of the giraffe inclosure at the zoo and beautiful views of surrounding areas, downtown Phoenix and Tempe. Great place to relax and inwind. Sunrise and sunset are popular times at Papago so be sure to get there early for a good seat. read more

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A nice leisurely walk. I loved snapping pictures around the water. The view from that famous guy's grave is pretty neat as well. Would definitely go back to walk around. read more

So confusing so hard to find the right trails wtf. Needs more maps. Bring lots of water at least you'll have something to do during these boring trails read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE riding my bike through here. Especially on our way back, with all the down hills!!!! It's like a roller coaster but better!!!! I also drive through here every morning to get to work, so that is a nice, relaxing, pretty way to start my day. read more

Nice to have a visit here when the temperature in not too high. It has a lake inside which is adorable. Overall, the park is well designed and gives you a relaxing experience. read more