A classic/go to hike for me! Short but very steep and a great 1ish hr workout! Could be tough to…read morefind parking at peak times but this is one that every Phoenician should do at least once. Great views at the summit, and of course an excellent way to stay active/moving. Think stairmaster, but on steroids! Pretty easy to follow all the way with adequate signage and plenty of people on it at all times, except when there's a severe heat warning in effect! Most people are friendly and mindful of who has the right of way. Only a couple times someone might be blasting music a little annoyingly, but other than that, I can't get enough of this mountain. There are also a lot of nice, longer and less steep perimeter paths as well. @azfitfoodfun

I had an amazing day hiking with friends around Piestewa this week. We originally had another…read moretrail in mind but once we arrived, the group decided on Hike 302 (freedom trail). We went 4.1 miles, 1100 elevation (two summits) and it took us about 3 hours as we took our time. On a weekday; it wasn't too crowded until we got to Piestewa summit for the downhill steps. I time of day gave us sun in the early morning chilly time and shade on the backside of the mountain after a couple miles so that was refreshing. Make sure to bring lots of water; take your time as the rocks can be slippery and a hat is a good idea for the intense sun. Parking can be tight too but people start/end at all sorts of times so just be patient.

I've hiked here multiple times over the years and the trials are always enjoyable and moderately…read moreeasy. I tried a different trail this time with a friend (mohave trial/connector) and it was more of an incline/steep faster so we got a workout in. Beautiful views with plenty of available parking lots or I suggest parking across by the Starbucks and walking over. We arrived at 6am on a Sunday morning and it was pretty dead but the lot was almost full when we left past 7:30am.

This Preserve has really been cleaned up for the better. Once a place for beer drinking, bottle…read morecaps and assorted trash, it now is a pleasant spot for hiking. Trails are marked although when you first enter the premises, it is not that clear. I am so glad it really is a Preserve now. They have their own small parking lot and there is street parking.

Love doing this hike! I always take my out of state visitors here if they want to hike. The hike is…read morechallenging but doable if you go a your own pace. It does get pretty crowded but I always like to go pretty early in the morning, especially to beat the heat. The view from the top is really great

This was a really cool experience to do while I was here in Scottsdale for a conference. THIS IS…read moreNOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. I went up the opposite side of the parking lot and wish there was a sign on the other side that gave a warning but this was a rock climb versus a regular hike. The trails are marked , clean, most trash is picked up. Hikers are friendly and the views are priceless. Once you get to the top it's a great achievement with a prize of a 360 degree view of Phoenix . Bring water and go slow !

Hiked the death trap that is echo canyon trail and it did not disappoint…read more Made for mountain goats aka I recommend it if you're okay with basically rock climbing the whole way up, it's pretty vertical. It's a fun hike and definitely a good workout. It's also very well marked for people who frequently get lost on trails like me. I wasn't super impressed with the view at the top since it's just overlooking the city but it's probably one of the highest vantage points compared to other hikes. Tips: There is one part where the stairs and rails are where it gets very windy so sunglasses can help. You don't necessarily need gloves to do the hike, just be careful with how you pivot with your hands, I got through it without any callouses, scabs or scratches. Like others said, try to wear shoes with some type of traction, I got through it with sneakers. Very small parking lot so come at sunrise or if you come around 7am, sometimes the early risers leave around that time. There's bathrooms and a water fountain at the beginning. Have fun and be safe!

The views on this trail the higher you go are priceless. However, one time is enough for me lol. It…read moretook an hour and a half up and another hour and a half down. This was my first time doing a hike like this and it's definitely not a "beginners" hike but I had no expectations & didn't know what I was getting myself into. On the way down, I fell and busted my knee. My only recommendation is to take your time & take breaks while going up/down the mountain. & listen to your body if you get tired!

The site is full of petroglyphs by the Hohokam. I had a difficult time finding this place and it…read moreturned out to be right under my nose! I went by previous reviews and map directions but it turned out some were outdated which made it confusing. I was so excited to have finally found this rock pile of petroglyphs! A little rock scrambling and I was able to see lots of petroglyphs! :) It is too bad that many of them were destroyed, as stated in a previous review.

The other review gets you here. Please don't harm or destroy them. Pick up trash & help keep this…read morelittle treasure safe. Thanks. If you read this far, check out my photo captions. Hint: pick up trash, throw in church dumpster.

This is way the heck out there, and maybe it depends from which direction you arrive. We arrived…read morefrom south Phoenix and the apocalyptic industrial zone that precedes was not fun. There is also a library right next door - cool, but what an odd location - seems they plan to expand the housing nearby. Okay but about the hiking and the trails and site itself - great. The entire time we were visiting the area we were so impressed by the upkeep of the trails and the abundance of facilities and helpful information. This is an extensive recreation area with a lot of trails to choose, including convenient loops, so you can decide how much you are up for. We ventured up to the waterfall, which of course was not active due to the dry weather; however, there was a small pool there which was stunning. The trails are well kept and there is a mix of cement and dirt trails. Must note, though, that it's a bit quiet and remote, so can be a magnet for crime - we were warned upon entering one parking lot that someone had just been there breaking car windows. We moved on to a different lot and didn't have any issues. So just make sure there are other cars and people around, to be on the safe side. PS there is also a small nature center next to the library; both are prior to the main entrance of the Recreation Area. The nature center has some information, specimens/artefacts and a small gift shop. PPS the staff at the Recreation Area entrance were very friendly and helpful.

Good place for a quick walk. There are several trails here but I like the main one that is…read moreasphalted and takes you by a pond. Takes about an hour to walk. Very flat, easy hike. It is not the most scenic place in town to hike but it is a solid spot.

I was fortunate to grow up near this enchanted stretch of Central Avenue between Bethany Home Road…read moreand Orchid Lane. Not only because the neighborhoods are idyllic, but also because this stretch of Central Avenue is lined with arguably Phoenix's best walking and running path. Murphy's Bridle Path is a piece of history that the CenPho neighborhoods have worked hard to keep alive, despite the fact that its original intended use has long since disappeared. To understand why it's still here, you have to understand its origins. Back in the late 1800s, William John Murphy was an Illinois transplant who moved to the Phoenix area. His work in the west valley would eventually earn him the title as the "founder" of Glendale. But before then, he set down roots in the Phoenix area to build the Arizona Canal (the canal which today traverses the Phoenix area and runs into Central Avenue right at Orchid Lane (midway between Northern and Dunlap). It was here at that Murphy not only began construction of the canal, but also the buildout of what was then the northernmost neighborhood in the city of Phoenix. The landscape would eventually be lined with ranches and citrus groves all the way south to Bethany Home road. To make sure there was a clear path for the public (and by extension their horse drawn carriages) to travel southward towards to the main part of town, Murphy had a dirt roadway carved out on Central Avenue between the canal and Bethany Home Road. In the 1940s, increased auto traffic required the city of Phoenix to pave over the old dirt road, but the city agreed to preserve a portion of that dirt path on the east side of the street for pedestrian and equestrian usage. Thanks to the hard work of the Arizona Horse Lover's Club, the Murphy's Bridle Path was dedicated in 1948 with the intent to preserve and maintain this pathway for the public. When my family first moved into Central Phoenix, the neighborhood still had a fair number of ranches with horses right along Central Avenue and it wasn't unusual to see ranchers rent out their horses to families for slow rides along the bridle path. And you could still find a fair number of large citrus groves near Central Avenue as well, with everything from oranges, to grapefruits, to limes. Overtime though, ranches were replaced by large luxury homes and citrus groves turned into brand new luxury home communities as affluence exploded into what was previously a relatively affordable middle class neighborhood. But through all the changes and all the modern updates to the neighborhood, residents' dedication to keeping the Murphy's Bridle Path unaltered remains firm. Today you'll see an abundance of walkers, runners, and even cyclists traversing the east side of Central Avenue along the path on a daily basis. The wideness of the path (about three times the width of a normal sidewalk) provides plenty of space for northbound and southbound pedestrian traffic. Even during the summer months, when the weather is usually too extreme for even the most dedicated fitness junkies, you'll see a pretty good crowd on this path. This is thanks mostly to the well preserved dome of trees (a mixture of primarily olive and ash trees) that line the entire length of the bridal path, making summertime walking and running a little more tolerable. I used the bridle path daily for most of my youth and will still occasionally take a stroll along the path when I visit my parents. So if you're in the neighborhood, I invite you to check out the bridle path. If you're up for a good workout, I'd invite you to try walking or running the length of the path (I've done it a couple of times myself). Chances are you'll meet dog walkers, couples, families, and workout enthusiasts along the way. All the while you'll be traversing a stretch of Phoenix pathway that has survived relatively unchanged for more than a century. Can only imagine what Mr. Murphy would say if he saw it today.

The best running path in Central Phoenix! Love the architecture, landscape & proximity to my house.read more

So, five stars because it's so cool this exists in Phoenix, but I only saw some small groups of…read morebats when I visited May 1 - I think it's too early in the season? I was there about 15 minutes before sunset and half an hour after...no big bat dinner party. Next time!

I love that we have a bat cave here in the valley. I didn't know it was there. The one I'm most…read morefamiliar with is the bats under Congress St bridge in Austin Tx. We joined a group of Phoenix New Times members for an event to learn from local bat experts and hopefully get to watch the bats emerge from their area at dusk. I'm giving 4 stars simply due to the fact that there were bats but not too many this time. We were told it might be late in the season to see a massive emergence. Looks like that was the case. So, I'll try going back another time and once we get a cool view, update my rating. We did catch a beautiful sunset, although it was warm out there.

I love this trail. There are many options…read more You can make a short loop go straight up or make a long loop around the mountains. It's so amazing to be completely in the center of a major city and still be in the middle of nowhere. Totally recommend any of the trails out here. Just bring lots of water and a hiking stick

Surprised Brett is the only one to review this spot, so here I am to add review #2. I knew this…read moretrailhead existed, but didn't remember coming here. We planned to park at the small lot off of Tatum, but of course it was full so I drove to this spot instead. Way more parking here. We initially intended to do Dixie Peak, and so we set off on that hike. There's some elevation here and it's just under 3 miles total, to the peak and back. Decent amount of folks on a Sunday afternoon and it was nice chilling at the top for a bit. We saw some horses as we were leaving. This trailhead has water and bathrooms, and several trails to go on. LV Yates also starts here on the other end of the parking lot and I did that one the following day with a friend. Dixie Peak is referred to as Piestewa's little sister, which feels accurate. It's also part of the Phoenix summits challenge, which I didn't know. Glad to have done this one.

I'll be completely honest. Being that I've already seen Sedona several times I never expected to…read morehave this much fun. It was a completely different experience being guided through some parts I've never seen before. The Dukout tour guide, Chris, took my wife and I alongsmall group on a Sedona wine tour. Chris was extremely knowledgeable about the area yet delivered the info in such a fun approve and never once did we feel bored. The amazing wine tastings from the vineyards we visited definitely didn't hurt either! Highly recommend Dukout to anyone looking to experience Arizona in a different way.

Did a tour with DukOut with guides Katie and Diana. Both were very lovely. We rode with Diana, who…read morewas pleasant, safe, and extremely knowledgeable! She knew it all! From history, wildlife, animals, and the shops. You couldn't be in better hands than with Diana.