I've been on all of the trails and have competed in races on several. Prices have gone up for park entry and passes for the first time in quite a while -- it's $10 per vehicle for entry, which I think is still a bargain for a weekend activity with the family. They keep improving the park and it's always clean when I go -- which is quite frequently (at least once a week, but usually more in the spring and summer). The facilities have changed for the better over the years and there is actually more parking within the park itself than you might guess. The volunteers are friendly and do a wonderful job welcoming people, collecting fees and offering advice. Recently, there has been work on the Pass Mountain trail that reroutes it a bit and makes it more easily passable. Wind Cave is still really popular with families, but I have noticed Talon getting a lot of traffic, especially from mountain bikers. The loop around Pass Mountain is great for a longer challenge. Be sure to subscribe to the Maricopa County Parks newsletter to be notified of activities that take place at the park. read more

See all

We are so lucky. This park is right down the street from us - easy access for walks or hikes year-round. My husband buys the Day Use annual pass for $85. It's good for a car entering or him entering without the car. ($20 extra to add an additional person, but I'm covered if I'm in the car with him.) Such a great variety of trails and elevations here. There is truly something for every type of enthusiast. I walk a lot on Blevins which is about a 3.3 mile loop. My husband does trail running. I always see lots of mountain bikers out enjoying the trails. There are also trails like Wind Cave: it's about 3.2 miles up with around 1000 ft elevation gain. At the top you get a great view of Phoenix and Ft. Hills. If the timing is right you can even see the famous Ft. Hills fountain going off in the distance. In the spring if it's a good wildflower year you might see some good wildflowers on the Pass Mt. trail. It's really just a beautiful park to come visit and enjoy the beauty of Arizona. I've seen a gila monster, rattlesnakes, lizards, jackrabbits, coyotes, tarantulas, deer and scorpions so stay alert but enjoy! read more

See all

What a different and fun way to bike. We got on some really interesting trails. It was the most different biking but really fun. read more

See all

Sunset hike on Usery Chain Fruit Cholla trail out to Harris Hawk's nest. I stood around the Harris Hawk nest 15 minutes. No hawks! I stood motionless near 3 pack rack homes hoping one critter emerges from entry holes in their condo stack of spiny cholla middens but no luck. Eyes wide open, I'm itching to surprise a coyote saunter along the trail. Nah! Heard 'em howling! Waited patiently then walked back slowly. Took about a dozen surreal sunset shots. These pics will stick in my memory and photo gallery for all time. When I look at them, perhaps I'll recall how lucky moment by moment I was to see such splendid surreal natural wonder - sun, sky, Sonoran desert and full moon pouring on together harmoniously so many mind-blowing dazzling short sensations in such a short pan. Shucks! ...Why I wonder...in the natural wonders of it all! read more

See all

Great way to spend a few hours. We live in the desert, but how often do we get out in it? I'm prioritizing getting outside a bit more often, even during the summer. Usery Mountain Regional Park is in Mesa and from my location in Scottsdale, less than a thirty-minute drive. The Nature Center opens on Saturday at 7 a.m. and I was delighted to meet a black rescue cat named Chica (the poor thing had been abandoned in the desert before being adopted by staff). The Nature Center has restrooms (something NOT to be taken for granted as some other parks in the Maricopa County system do not). Another perk? They sell bottled water. Pretty much you can just show up and hit the ground running. Only downside? Parking is $7. I just took a mini hike around the Lost Sheep Trail. Given the monsoons of 2022, things were green and really blooming. The ranger who led me said she was shocked by how much growth there was. Knowing that many parts of the world are struggling with record droughts, we've been so lucky this summer (albeit allergies are bad at the moment). Beyond plants and vegetation, it was great to see lizards, rabbits, quails, and an assortment of birds living their best life. Usery is a great option for out-of-town visitors who need their saguaro cactus post for social media. Quick in, quick out, and can easily snap some "Look ma, I'm in the desert!" shots. All in all, I'm thrilled that I spent some time here on a calm Saturday morning. Definitely bring extra water and wear sunscreen. read more

See all

This is one of the best parks we have around the Valley, periodt. You got trails for bikers and hikers and horses and those that all can share! Every trail is super scenic and one of my fave places to take tourists for an easy "hike" and/or to view sunset. Good for groups, good for going by yourself (highly doubt you won't not see people). Good for driving out to watch sunset or sunrise. I've really yet to see the entire park because like many people, I have my preferred trails. The trails are marked but there could be some refreshing to the signs I've seen in the last few years. On occasion you'll see wildlife but I rarely do. All on the trails need to look out for cholla as they seem to be plentiful on the wash trails. Happy trails! read more

This regional park is absolutely breathtaking. There are many options here with hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and more. The people working the checkin station and at the Visitors Center are always friendly and extremely helpful when we visit. The hikes are all on well maintained trails and their are usually rangers around to help answer questions on directions or landscape. The Wind Cave Trail is a must. The facilities are well kept and there are plenty of picnic spots throughout the park. Happy to be annual members after visiting 3 days in one week. read more

See all

First visit here to hike the Wind Cave, and we were delighted with the park facilities. Ample parking, water stations, clean bathrooms, and even park volunteers on the trail checking to see if hikers needed water! We will definitely be back to discover new trails! read more

See all

This is one of our favorite regional parks. Usery is so vast and has all skills level trails, from simple to difficult. It has many pavilions with tables to picnic, washrooms and even an outdoor exercise area. Love the Wind Cave trail. read more

See all

The Princess noticed early on in our courtship that my favorite color (unbeknownst) to me, was green. Seems like I chose green for furniture, towels, furnishings, etc. It might have been due to. My home state of Montana where green is the dominant color, pine trees and lush National Forests. While I won't go so far as to say my favorite color is now brown or tan, my adopted home state of Arizona and it's Sonoran desert is one of my favorite places to be. Mesa. . . I don't get out there often from the NW side of Phoenix but the long Holiday weekend and my brother-in-law's suggestion of mountain biking Usery gave me good reason. Usery is part of the Maricopa County park system and requires a pass to use, I think it was like $7 a car load but BIL had an annual pass which is a great deal even if you only use it once a month. This park is amazing. Clean, well laid out, excellent facilites, and the hiking and biking are first rate. We rode the Pass trail which is a circumference trail with some serious elevation over nearly seven miles. We did it clockwise out of the trailhead and I would recommend being warmed up before you start. It's a slow, steady climb at first, the type that will get your heart pumping right away. Coming down has some very steep, rocky, and loose scree areas that are not for beginners-you could easily get injured on some of these. Overall, really good morning on the bike, glad I made the drive, it was so worth it. The park rangers at the pay station were fantastic also, so accommodating and friendly. The beauty and openness of the Sonoran desert always amazes me. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Biking or hiking, this is the place! - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

See all

This park is absolutely gorgeous! We are camping here for 3 nights. The sites are large, easy back ins and super clean. The volunteers and staff keep everything so clean. We are planning on hiking the nature trail to the Nature Center. This park is definitely on our best campground list. read more

There are so many fun activities to do in AZ and Usery is the place to do them! Spring and winter are the best times to hike, bike, ride, and more in this regional park. Bring your kids, pets, friends, and cameras. Don't miss out on what our beautiful state has to offer. read more

It was my last day in Mesa and I was so happy I dragged the entire family to the park. We arrived shortly after 6pm and did the Merkle trail. It was gorgeous! Great views, especially of the sunset, and easy enough to do with all the kids. We did have a few of them fall and skin knees but hey that's kids for ya! My boyfriends family has lived in Mesa for years and never been here and they all really loved it. I got some great pictures and broke a little sweat and ended our trip on a beautiful note. When we return during the cooler months I definitely want to try the Wind Cave trail without the kids. Will update then! read more

See all

Another beautiful AZ park! I only went to the Merkle trail which was super easy...it is about a mile all the way around the mountain with beautiful views. Would love to come back and visit other trails since this one was not very long and I didn't spend much time here. read more

See all

Living in the east valley has its privileges. Without question, one of them is the close proximity to some wonderful state parks. Lost Dutchman, Boyce Thompson and Usery are some examples. What makes these parks so special? Well, let's start with the views! Oh yes, even Usery's route to enter the park is preceded by an awesome drive through east Mesa- cacti and other vegetation to be amazed by. Entering the park ($7 per vehicle entrance fee) you will be greeted by super friendly park rangers. Make sure to ask for a map, it's loaded with trail information (even if you use mobile apps to trek)... there may also be events occurring during your visit- those are usually posted on a board near the entrance booth. Usery park seems to be quite the RV destination, we saw plenty of space carved out for RVers- looked like some had water hookups too. As we drove through the park it appeared that mast of the RV spaces were taken already so if that's your thing I would recommend checking for availability in advance to avoid headaches! We took the Cat's Peak Loop vis the Blevins trail. It was an easy 3.2 mile hike with minimal elevation and clearly marked trails. There was slight inclines in some spots but nothing dangerous. Perfect for a family hike. We saw so many interesting things along the way- the wildflowers were everywhere. Saguaros peppered the mountain ranges making for some fantastic photos. There are a few benches scattered around the trail if you need a breather. A few spots had excellent shade. There are trail markers where you would expect them, but keep an eye on your map (always). Bring plenty of water and a protein source- there are no water stations. The trails are bike, dog and horse friendly and we saw all three during our hike. Our daughter had an amazing time spotting butterflies, birds and other wildlife along the way! We will be back to try Usery Pass trail next! read more

See all

Maricopa County parks are some of the best run I've seen in my extensive experience as a camper -- via motorcycle, auto, and RV. They are top-notch and consistent in their amenities and quality of sites. We were only able to get 2 nights at Usery during peak season but like the other parks, it's simply gorgeous. Our site was spacious and level on the parking pad. Plenty of room to pull out our sidecar and park it without having to trip over as we moved around camp. The bathrooms are always clean and the free showers are a huge bonus. The partial hookups worked fine and the 2-slot dump station was in good order. The only issue we had was that getting the toy hauler far enough back to accommodate the full length of our rig (50') meant the rear jacks were in a lower area that dropped off at the rear of the site so they had to be extended to their full height to stabilize. But that's a very workable problem though. A little more rearranging and we probably could have avoided that issue. But setting up on the rain and being quite tired, we just made it work instead of faffing about more for the short time we would be there. The Buckhorn nature trail from the campground is lovely but narrow in parts and tough to keep the dog from bumping into cactuses. So just take care if you have a pooch with you. There was a good bit of noise from the nearby shooting range that wasn't awful but still frightened the dog. We chose the furthest site available for our stay to minimize that so I'm not sure how much worse it is closer to the range. If not for that noise, this would be a 5-star park. You just have to be aware that there is a range nearby and accept the noise. It's still worth it for such a lovely park. There was almost no Verizon signal. Just enough to be a tease, not enough to be useful. We work from the road as full-time RVers and we had not yet acquired a signal booster so we were dead in the water as far as work goes. read more

See all

I stumbled upon this park looking for a trail to hike near my home. Being new to the area I was looking for new activities and hobbies. To my delight while purchasing a parking pass in the nature center, I found out about their monthly programs. They have a large archery field and offer free archery lessons! I am so excited to come back and learn. We have attended their scorpion hunt night hike which I found to be really exciting! I've never seen a scorpion and didn't know that they illuminate under black light! We also got to see a live snake feeding...very cool! They are also very kid friendly and have many educational programs about edible plants in the desert, bats, desert animals, snakes, and so much more! I had the best time on their last lunar eclipse blood moon hike! Really fantastic! :) read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - 2 mile Blood Moon group hike! - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

See all

Many trail choices! We did the Merkle Trail (easy) during late afternoon one day and the Wind Cave Trail (difficult) during early afternoon another day. The Merkle Trail was so pretty it almost seemed landscaped! The Wind Cave Trail was also really pretty, but with an incline and rocks to step over or on. We saw all ages though, so don't let the "difficult" label scare you. If you don't make it all the way to the cave take comfort in the fact that the view isn't drastically different from anywhere on the hill side. The 1 1/2 - 2 hours round trip is pretty accurate. We did it in 1:20 and called it "extreme hiking." ;) We like to jog on the downhill as it is almost easier on the knees... read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

See all

Great place to get out in nature right outside of town. We loved the Merkle trail,it's even stroller friendly. Tons of saguaro cactus and wildflowers read more

I came here on a Saturday morning to run Pass Mountain and hike Wind Cave afterward, and I arrived at the parking lot at 10:15AM. Note that since this is inside Uresy Mountain Regional Park, there's a $7 per motor vehicle. The parking lot was entirely full and street parking was pretty full too, but luckily I snagged a spot right at the trailhead as a car left. I went clockwise on the trail, and the map at the beginning says this trail is 7.5 miles (but actually if I add up the mileage on the map, it's 7.6 miles). The views before going down were good but once I went to the back of the mountain, the views weren't very good. Completely unshaded, most people are going counterclockwise so I ran into a lot of hikers, a few bikes, and even a horseback rider and his horse. Some parts of the path are a bit rockier than the others, but all manageable for running. I then did Wind Cave after the run, starting around 12:20PM. There were a lot of people on the trail, and most weren't wearing masks. The hike is completely unshaded and slopes gently up, not too bad. It's quite rocky so sturdy shoes are good. I got up in about 45 minutes and 35 minutes down. The cave at the top was cool compared to the hotter temperature going up, views were alright. read more

See all

The customer service at the Usery Mountain Park Center could have been better if the lady working the counter today was more knowledgeable about the passes versus being condescending. After asking to renew an annual pass she stated that my husband and I needed two passes for $85 each for both of us to enter the park. We chose to do another hike that was free and came upon a pamphlet that stated the annual pass for $85 allows for a single, private, non-commercial vehicle entry with passengers or four (4) park visitors if they hike, bike, or ride in. An additional pass may be purchased for any member of the same household/address for $20. I wish the lady would've been more professional in giving us the facts versus pushing aggressively that we both needed an $85 pass. read more

I would not recommend this campground to anyone very dirty Showers and Bathroom, we were here for 3 days and the bathrooms were not even cleaned once during the 3 days, they don't even rake the sites as we had cigarette butts all over are spot we don't smoke, they ask you to recycle cans and bottles but don't empty the bins either, camping here you are risking your health with the fifth. We will not return, we have stayed in Mc Dowell and you could have eaten off the floors in there bathroom. This is sad that a park can be open and this dirty during Covid. read more

See all

Hiked the Wind Cave trail although there are several options here. Beautiful park and fairly well kept. Only negative is the admission cost. Very peaceful and calming place though. Wind Cave is a relatively short hike but the uphill hiking makes it feel longer... which is nice read more

See all

We stayed at Buckhorn family camp ground. Water and electric hook up. This is our second time staying here. We love the desert atmosphere. We spent one week because we're playing in the Western Shuffle tournament 2022. Big sites, clean and raked. Quite no lights at night. Love the coyotes howling at night. We seen couple walking through the park during the day. Sunsets at absolutely stunning. read more

The park is a jewel with amazing views and beautiful plant life. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. There's camping, hiking and nature walks along with classes at the nature center. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Saguaro by moonlight - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Beautiful spacious area, every time I've gone the ticket booth has been empty (COVID) but I was able to drive through and drive up and down the roads. Haven't done a long hike but I've gotten out at a few stop points to check out the cacti and take some photos. Lots of natural land, need to explore it more when it's cooler out but an overall great place that I recommend to people visiting who want to see the full desert landscape! I'll update this more when I have more interactions with the staff and visitor's center. read more

This is an awesome place to hike. It can be busy, especially during Winter Visitor season but there are plenty of trails for all skill levels and it's so close. I recommend Wind Cave for a unique view of the Phoenix Valley. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - View from Wind Cave - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

This is a great nature preserve and park. Over 100 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. One of the most famous trails is the Wind Cave trail. It has a moderate difficulty with a mile and a half steady climb. At the top there is a cave carved out of the limestone by the wind, hence the name. From here you can look out over the east valley. On a good day you can see all the way into Phoenix. I like the less traveled Pass Mountain trail. This is a seven mile hike around the base of Pass Mountain. It is an easy relatively even terrain with a couple short climbs. The lower trails are short loops nicely groomed for biking and horseback riding. These trails get a lot of multi use activity. Riders, mountain bikers, and hikers generally yield to one another. My only complaint comes after I've stepped in horse droppings. There is a nature center as you enter the park. Inside you will find maps, hiking guides, plant and animal identification charts, plenty of souvenirs, and the nicest rangers around. They do activities geared toward kids and family. We watched them feed the snakes one night, and watched a movie about the desert on another. They offer a full moon hike once a month. The hike follows a 2 mile loop usually guided by Ranger B. He will talk about native plants and animals, about the history of the park, and answer all your questions about the park. The city lights are captivating on this hike. They say to bring a flashlight but the moon is bright enough you only need one on overcast nights. The park admission is $6.00 or $75.00 for an annual pass. There is a campground and an archery range on part of the park, but I'm not sure what the fee is for those. This is my favorite park in Arizona. read more

This is one of the most scenic mountain parks in the Valley, and one that is recognizable even from a great distance because of the distinctive horizontal "gash" of rock along the Wind Cave Trail in the park. There are good facilities for parking, hiking, and picnicking. Trails are varied - there's something for everyone, regardless of fitness status. The road system within the mountain park is well maintained and not too extensive so that it is not overly intrusive of the gorgeous desert landscape of the area. This is also one of the best places for viewing the spectacular blooming of desert wildflowers in the springtime. read more

See all

This is a great hiking spot! One of mine and my husband's favorites. There are several hiking trails to choose from, ranging from easy to difficult. Today we chose our favorite Pass Mountain Trail. It is a 7.5 mile loop around Pass Mountain. This trail has flat areas, hairpin turns and plenty of climbs to get your heart pumping. The scenery is beautiful. I would say this is a moderate level hike. There is also has the Wind Cave Trail, and the "flats". This park also has camping, several picnic areas and a nature center where you can purchase snacks, drinks maps, books and apparel. The park admission is 6.00 per car or you can buy an annual pass for $75. read more

See all

I've hiked at Usery Mountain Regional Park quite a few times (and just learned more about it than I ever knew by reading David S. B.'s review). It's kind of a trek from Phoenix, which you don't quite grasp until you have hiked up the mountain and see the Phoenix skyline far off in the distance. I've never seen this place too crowded, though not many people tend to hike mid-June (or maybe they were just there much earlier than we were). I've seen wildlife here more consistently than any other park I have visited in the Valley. A wide array of lizards from collared lizards to chuckwalas (I'll add photos). I've even come across a rattlesnake or two, so keep an eye out! And as with any hike, bring more water than you think you will need. We underestimated our need and had to turn around prematurely.... read more

See all

Beautiful views and some great hiking but the shooting range takes away from the atmosphere. Unfortunately because of that I will not be going back. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Highly maintained Park! You pay a fee to come in and utilize the park and trails but for good reasons. The trails are maintained, bathrooms are plentiful and clean, they hold numerous event/guided hikes all year round, there is even a mini outdoor gym! A while back I went on a scorpion hunt guided hike after sundown and while the group was very large the park ranger did a fantastic job of explaining what we were to see and many other helpful tips. I hope to go one of their sunset hikes soon as I have probably missed the wildflower blooms hike. As always, treat these public lands with respect and leave no trace! read more

This place is wonderful. First went to the visitor's center, where they couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Maps, tour of their snakes, helpful tips, etc. Even bought a t-shirt and hat because the vibe was so good (plus a fuschia women-cut v-neck AND awesome owl hat? whoever is buying for this place is doing a good job). Hubby and kids used the archery range while I hiked the Wind Cave trail. We were all happy-as-clams when we finished up and decided we need to come back here again and again. read more

Beautiful park with a good variety of trails. They could use a bit for signage throughout the park indicating which trail you're on or mile markers. We saw birds, jackrabbits and several lizards on our hike. There is a $7 fee to enter the park. Early in the day there were a lot of bikers who sped through and were not patient and a little rude. After 10 am we didn't see any more bikers. read more

One of the most beautiful desert landscapes in Arizona! Very well kept. No trash on any of the trails. The guard at the front gate was extremely helpful as to where the best trails were. And $7 for entry and they take credit cards which is convenient. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Flower in bloom on the trail. - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

See all

Great hiking trails! Well maintained, with water and restrooms at the trailhead. Love Wind Cave trail! My 6 year old was able to do it in 80 degree weather without mouthbreathing. $6 per carload entrance fee. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Wind Cave Trail - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

I love hiking this mountain range. Usery Mountain is just northwest of Apache Junction and neighbors Tonto National Forest. It's over 3,000 acres and has several camping sites (with picnic tables, BBQ ring, water and electrical hook-ups), an archery range, horseback riding and a nature center. There are also a few hiking trails with the popular one being the Wind Cave trail. Wind Cave is a out-an-back trail that is just under 3 miles. It's dog-friendly, easy to moderate and offers spectacular views of the Valley as you hike up to the cave area. The elevation gain is around 700 ft. If you want to keep hiking past the cave just keep in mind that it is unmarked. The cave itself is not much but there is plenty of room to rest and eat a packed lunch. For photographers, this is a great trail to take photos on as the hike itself isn't too strenuous and the landscape is gorgeous. The entry fee is $6 to get in and they are open all year round. read more

See all

Came here with a friend and we wrote our horses and this was a fantastic trail to ride with our horses plenty of mountain bikes and joggers and a remote control airplane and some other weird hazards but gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous read more

See all

Gorgeous scenery! A great place to escape the city without traveling far at all. I hiked the Wind Cave Trail and it was just perfect. I will definitely be back. read more

Usery Mountain Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Mesa, Arizona