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.

One of the nicest things about Phoenix is having hiking opportunities close by. Phoenix Mountain…read morePreserve is a great example of that. This sprawling preserve has a ton of trails to choose from. It's also the home of Piestewa Peak. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon with my buddy who was visiting from out of town. Since he was in charge, I'm not sure what trail we selected but it was a one-hour hike that we followed on the All Trails app. I'd say it was of moderate difficulty and rocky terrain which is what you will mostly find in Phoenix. Your reward, halfway through the hike, is some nice views of Phoenix in between a valley in the mountains. The type of spot you sit for a while and take it all in. While not mesmerizing, it was nice. If you're looking for a ton of different options, of various difficulties and length, Phoenix Mountain Preserve is a great choice. It's right within the city so you don't have to venture far to check it out, either. Parking wasn't an issue at all on a weekend which is nice, too.

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

Camelback has my eternal love. What a solid mountain, always there to greet you at the summit…read more Cholla trail is it, with steady incline and slight scrambling. Bring water, be prepared to move your body. Hard work is always worth the view from the top!

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.

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

What is a good reminder that I live in the wild wild west? Where can you see families riding their…read morebikes, friends out for a good walk, athletes training for marathons and me pretending I love marathons? The lovely bridle path, that's where. And how do you know when you're at the bridal path? When you get to the horseshoe and dirt path. Yep. I'm serious. And, it's in the middle of Phoenix. I love the bridle path. It's my favorite place to get a good jog in and do a good bit of people watching at the same time. And stay in the city. When I'm not on a hike, this is usually where my run takes me. It is a little bit of the olden days right here in the city. The path is pretty frequented on weekend mornings, especially Saturdays, but it's not too crowded that there won't be room for you. Trust me. You should try it out. You'll get a good workout, some beautiful scenery, and it's a lot better than running on the pavement :)

Come during the summer months. Not just when it starts to get hot. Came here March 16 and it was…read moreabout 95 degrees today. Didn't get the swarm of bats or maybe none of us stayed long enough. Getting there was easy from the tips here. I parked at 5080 N 40th St and walked down to the river area. Walk right and the first chance to veer right, do it and you'll see this fence. There's a wide trail along the river. Bring a flashlight to use when walking back after bat viewing. Bring bug spray! Plenty of space to even bring a food out chair or something to sit on while you wait.

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 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.