Skyline Regional Park was an unexpected delight for our first visit. The terrain was varied and the…read moretrails that we walked were striking, between the variety of plant life and sweeping views. The facilities all seemed so new and the signage was great. This is my new favorite hiking area in the region.

Enjoy trails for every level to include wheelchairs and strollers. Marked trails throughout along…read morewith mini maps on the placard. Plenty of parking and bathrooms. In addition they have events throughout the month with the staff leading hikes and events. See you on the trails.

Victory Steps at Verrado is a great workout. There are about 300 steps and a lot of people do…read moremultiple rounds, but it actually felt a little shorter than I expected. Still a solid climb with really nice views at the top. The hike is rated moderate to difficult compared to the other mountain trails in the area, but I felt it leaned more toward moderate. The stairs themselves are uneven, which adds to the challenge. Some sections have double railroad ties so the step height changes, and there's often sand on the wood, so you do have to pay attention to your footing. It's not like running up a regular staircase with fixed intervals. Every step feels a little different, which keeps you engaged the whole way up. I wore athletic shoes and they were fine, but I would've been more comfortable in hiking boots since the trail portions have loose rock and uneven footing. If you need ankle support, boots are the way to go, although most people were wearing regular athletic shoes. Even in winter, I would suggest a hat, sunscreen and water. Access is easy and weekday parking was no problem. After doing the Verrado Steps, I took the Muck Trail to Muck Park, which turned the whole outing into a longer, more scenic loop. From the park, I walked back around to the parking area on the opposite side of the stairs. Altogether it came out to about 4 miles with great views, steady climbs, and fun variety between the stairs and trail. It's a really enjoyable moderate hike, easy to access, and a nice mix of stair work and desert trail. I'd absolutely do this loop again.

The drive up to this location was beautiful! There's a golf course and some really nice houses in…read morethis area. Once you get there, you'll see the steps to the left and a parking lot shortly right after. Spaces are limited and it can get pretty busy on the weekends. We started off with run around the area then made our way up the steps to check out the view. It took us 9 minutes round trip to complete.

Another Phoenix classic! Also short and steep like Piestewa, just about a 1mile to the summit, so 2…read moreround trip. And about 1,000ft elevation gain. Good 360 views of the city from the top. Parking is tough, especially on weekend mornings and when it's nicer (aka cooler) out. If you want a good workout with scenery, this is worth checking out. Stay hydrated and wear appropriate shoes. @azfitfoodfun

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 !

Great workout with 360 views at the top and lush cactus. This hike is 2 miles each way and is very…read moregradual for the first mile as it winds up and down the desert and through a few washes. There were no wildflowers despite it being late March with some rain the week prior, but there were seas of teddy bear cholla, ocotillos that were starting to sprout their showy red blooms, and healthy saguaros. I think this would be fantastic in mid April when the cactus flower. The upper half of the hike is the thigh burner as you pick your way up the rocky, steep slope. Good hiking boots are required to keep your grip, especially on the way down. If you normally hike with poles, you will find that they are not useful in the upper half due to the rocks and narrow path, also I often use my hands to assist with climbing the rocks. Gloves are helpful for keeping your hands safe and improving your grip, though not necessary. The views at the saddle are endless. If you want to go to the top of the peak, be ware as it is treacherous.

4.2 mile, 1302 foot gain out and back hike with optional loop return. Short, challenging hike,…read moreespecially if you rock climb to the peak. Pit toilet at trailhead. Some trail signs. Nice views from saddle if you stop there versus climbing to peak.

A difficult hike with amazing views! I loved this hike. It's a long way back to the trailhead from…read morethe road and there are places where having 4x4 or higher clearance would be nice, but I saw a Prius at the trailhead. There are workarounds. It's a long and steady climb, definitely one of the more challenging hikes in the west valley. The last little bit there's some scrambling to get to the peak. The views are amazing and the giant slabs of quartz are beautiful.

For years, I had stared out at the Sierra Estrella mountains wondering if I'd ever get the chance…read moreto hike to the top of Quartz Peak. I'm a Civic owner, so as soon as I heard about the sand roads and necessity of a high clearance/4x4 vehicle, I thought the day would never come (there's no way I'm buying a gas guzzling Jeep with a 30-mi each way work commute lol). That is, until I met some other awesome hikers from the Valley and coordinated an epic carpool! We met up in downtown Phoenix and headed out in the Jeeps to Goodyear. After getting off the 10 and heading down Estrella/Rainbow Ranch roads for what seemed like a good while, along came the sand/dirt roads. And man did they live up to their reputation! Some super fun off-roading action ensued, and let's just say I was so glad I wasn't in my own little car. One of the hiking buddies advised that he once tried to get to the trailhead in his Dodge Caravan but got stuck in the sand and wrecked the transmission. Yikes! Once we got to the trailhead (obviously an adventure in and of itself), it was a steady 5-6 mile uphill climb to the summit. There are definitely some false Peaks to conquer along the way that are grueling physically and mentally; however, once you get to the last half mile or so, it's a fairly short scramble and totally doable. Once you get to the top, you are greeted by a fantastic view of West Valley, South Mountain, Four Peaks, the Supes, East Valley, and the vast desert to the southwest. The way down is easier on the cardio but harder on the knees due to loose rocks so watch your step and don't rush it. Your legs will probably be sore for the next day or two but it'll be accompanied by the feeling of accomplishment! I also recommend going with a group as I did. Strength and support in numbers people! Plus, you may meet someone new and make friends along the way! I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to hike Quartz Peak again, but now every time I look out to the west at it, the memories will never fade!

Went on a hike with my partner and our dog the other day. We had high hopes but were pretty…read moredisappointed. We hiked all the way to the top of the mountain and we just felt it was a little depressing. It's not the most aesthetic trail by any means. It's right near some power plant which gave it an industrial vibe. The mountain was a straight incline on concrete. The very top was the best part, but I'm in no rush to hike here again.

We were able to hike but there really was no more. Like hiking on gravel, not the best AZ has to…read moreoffer

After driving 400 miles on a hot summer day at 102 degrees, the GPS led us to a street with houses…read more There was no monument, no visitor center, no sight of a huge cactus shown on the website! Didn't see any horses for riding as said in the website. Talking about great disappointment! We drove down a few blocks and saw a small building with a sign "visitor center". We went in and showed the website on the iPhone to a lady in the office. She said, "It is just the name for the entire area. There's no single monument in town!" Really??? Why someone wouldn't elaborate a bit more info in the website about the nonexistence of monument in town! Folks, don't waste gas and time to bring your family here for horseback riding! However you can still enjoy a Big Mac on your way home :) I took a picture of a cactus at a street corner! I would have given minus stars for this place!

Beautiful desert home of the saguaro and bufo alvarius. Great dispersed camping area.read more

Wow one of the best places ever…read more Seriously, get great trails great rocks, cool artifacts to look at, (but not touch;) !! Peridot Quartzite Agate Garnet schist Chalcedony

Not the most breathtaking views but it was a picture perfect day for a hike, and I wanted to see…read moresaguaro cacti. Some of the cacti were in the upwards of 30 feet tall. They look like stick figures with arms raised toward the sun in the fields. I took the four mile D trail "Over the Mountain Loop." It does not matter which direction if you are completing the entire trail, but I would go with the "start" direction if you only want to do part of the trail as it heads toward the side of the mountain with a better view. Multiple signs with mile count and QR code. Even though it was only 60 degrees, it was warm in the sun with a gentle breeze. Got to say hello to a horned owl nested in a cactus umbra. I would not have seen it except a fellow hiker who visits every year told me to look over the fence. Not a large parking lot and not any nearby alternatives, so be patient. A ranger was cutting off traffic from the trailer only parking, and she was recording license plates.

Great walk, beautiful rocks although this is a dirt vehicle place I had fun!!!!!!!!!!read more