Nice area to walk on boulders along the river's edge. Rather populated and not as many easy-walking…read morepaths as other rec areas, but it's a pleasant place to kick back and relax.

I have lived in the general area and had never been here before. Today, I decided to change that…read moreand added it as part of a bike route I planned for the weekend -- before the rain started! There is a large parking lot and a bathroom. From what I could see, the people at the water were fishing and most of those in the lot were preparing to fish. There were some people further upstream on the water -- either paddle boards or kayaks. The water looked to be deeper than I thought it would be and had a good bit of a current to it. The day I was here, it was getting cloudy and it was starting to sprinkle, but there were many trees so a good amount of shade was available for those sunny days. I need to come back and spend some time on the nearby trails to see what they're like. Note that this is in the Tonto National Forest, so you'll need a Tonto Pass to park -- and there is no kiosk here to purchase those passes, so you'll have to be prepared.

Okay, honestly the landscapes are indeed blurring together a bit, but this was such a nice place!…read moreSo much fun navigating through the terrain here. There's a system of trails, and landscape is also not all flat but replete with valleys and smaller peaks. Lots of cacti of course, and other shrubs and plants too. Awesome desert nature, and would recommend for a hike!

First time checking out Hawes Trail System today! Located conveniently within the city, making it…read moreeasy to visit, even on a weekday with an early start! There is a parking lot, right across the street from the trailhead! Though down the road not too far, quick ride if you're on a bike, it seems people may park near the Walgreens - Though Walgreens does enforce a 60 min time, probably for this reason, but there is a mobile bike station at the lot next to it, which is an awesome touch, and I am sure utilized on busy weekends. The lot had ample space this morning though, so definitely check that out first! The trail has a lot of different route options, so make sure to take a picture of the map or download Alltrails or some other app to keep on track. Though there on markers on the corners, it could be easy to get on the wrong path. As some other reviews said, it is not the most beautiful hike, but does have some scenic parts. There were a lot of hikers on the route today and a lot of mountain bikers. Lots of up and downs and rocky trails. The map is marked and routes are rated accordingly, so worth checking out as you plan your route!

Massacre falls is awesome to visit when the waterfall is going strong. With all the recent rain…read moreit's pretty great right now. I've done this trail a few years ago. The water fall was much more impressive this time. I will say that this time it felt way harder than I remember. Overall I think we hiked about 7 miles out to the falls & back to the parking area. There is a gradual increase in elevation as you hike up to the waterfall. I don't remember all that, I thought the trail was more flat. The views are gorgeous, especially at sunset. This hiking area is next to the Lost Dutchman State Park which charges for admission. Same overall area but no fee to hike up to Massacre falls. Highly recommend it!

Amazing hike not to bad early in the morning took our husky she loved it and our new puppy his…read morefirst hike ever and wasn't hard for him at all!

Peralta Trails is by far one of my favorites in the Phoenix Metro Area. The drive is beautiful and…read moremost of it dirt. You don't need a four-wheel-drive however. Even if you're not a hiker, just go for the drive alone. I'd suggest getting out of your car at the provide lot and taking pictures at the beginning of the trail as it's something in itself to experience.

Fantastic trail away from everything. Pretty easy steady climb to the Needle on the other side…read more 5miles out and back. Today after few days of rain saw running water and everything was so green. The sound of water made the experience even more beautiful.

I came here on a Saturday morning to run, and I arrived at the parking lot at 10:15AM. Note that…read moresince this is inside Usery 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 spend much of my time on this trail running, especially if I want something that provides a lot…read moreof varied terrain and isn't too crowded. Wind Cave is an awesome workout, but it is typically a lot more crowded. A good portion of the trail is runnable, which is nice. For a moderate running pace, two hours should be fine. In talking to people on the trail, it seems that hikers typically plan 3.5-4 hours to do the whole thing. Maybe longer if you stop at the saddle to have a snack and enjoy the views for a bit. Speaking of that, there are several places to stop and enjoy the views, especially on the backside of the mountain, and it is really beautiful when the desert blooms. I was out here a few years ago when we got snow on January 1, and that was pretty cool to see. These days, I mostly see hikers, although there are some adventurous mountain bikers -- there is an interesting climb (or descent, depending on your chosen direction) just before/after the saddle. I've seen people carrying their bikes on that one. I think tackling this trail clockwise on a bike might be best, although I typically run it counterclockwise to get the rougher parts of the trail out of the way first. The trail is pretty rocky in spots between Blevins and the saddle. It is good to note that you can jump on this trail either from the Wind Cave or Blevins (Trailhead Staging Area) parking areas, but the marked trailhead is at the Blevins parking lot. There is nowhere to get water, except at the Wind Cave trailhead, which, depending on where you park, could be your start/end point. It is best to bring all that you'll need, especially in the summer. This is a loop trail, but there are really no shortcuts out of the trail, so you either plan to do the whole thing or pick a spot to turn around when you're halfway done with hiking. (The trail does connect to the Cat Peaks trail about a mile from the Blevins trailhead, and forks off to connect with the Arizona Trail, but once you're really into the trail, there are much fewer options.) As for shade, the only real shade is provided during certain parts of the year and times of day at the saddle. There are some trees and, if you can crouch in the shadow of some rock formations, you can find a little. Beyond that, it is pretty sparse. I suggest starting early in the morning. Keep an eye out for wildlife. I have scared several deer and jackrabbits in addition to the usual lizards, squirrels and occasional rattlesnake. There is a $6 fee to enter the park by car ($2 if you bike, walk, or run in) and the Maricopa County Parks pass is good here.

This is a nice hike to take if you want great views of the Valley. I highly recommend doing this…read morehike in the early evening so you can see the lights around the Valley come on. Just make sure you bring a flightlight or headlamp. The trailhead is located in the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction. I consider it easy to moderate as there are lots of rocks to walk over at the beginning of the trail and an elevation climb as you get near the cave. The total distance is 4 miles RT. The Broadway trailhead is tucked into a neighborhood and has a very small parking lot. Keep this in mind if you are hiking with a group of people. At the beginning of the trailhead, you will embark on your adventure using Jacob's Crosscut Trail. At the half mile point, you'll see the first intersection where you'll want to stay left along Jacob Crosscut Trail. At the second intersection, head right towards Broadway Cave (don't take the Jacob's Crosscut path at this point). The trail will get very narrow at this point as you ascend to the cave. The view of the Valley is amazing in the evening. My group hung out for a few hours as we ate snacks and took photos inside the cave. I hear there are bats in the cave, but we didn't see any. Once again, remember to bring a headlamp if hiking at night and sunscreen during the day. Enjoy this hidden gem of a hike!

Trail has good views as you ascend. The path is very rocky…read moreso footing can be unstable at times. There were not any "flat" areas on the trail. I recommend hiking poles. The total trip is 4.2 miles out and back. It's a slow incline but gets steeper in the last half mile. The trail can be considered moderate difficulty due to terrain and path being narrow with lots pokey vegetation along the way. The last half of the trek is shaded in the early morning as the sun moves to the west you will be totally exposed. The bugs were out in full force in early May. I wish I had bug spray.

This was my second year at AZ Rise Up, and while I haven't been to Tempe Beach Park as an actual…read morepark in... honestly, I don't even know how long... as a festival venue? Solid. Like, genuinely well done. They space the vendor area far enough from the stages so you're not fighting for your life trying to shop while also dodging people who are deep in their "vibe." Huge win. The stages are set up in a way where, even when artists are playing at the same time, it doesn't feel like a chaotic sound clash, which I did not expect but fully appreciated. Also noticed they adjusted the layout a bit this year (especially around the Rise Up stage), and it worked. Way smoother flow overall. GA+ still not exactly bursting at the seams, but hey, more room for the rest of us. Sound? On point. Setup? Thought out. Experience (overall)? Actually great. Now... the people. Let's just say there comes a moment in life where you realize a fan base is no longer your fan base. And for me, that moment was somewhere between hour 8 and hour 9 of holding down my spot, when I got full-on trampled by someone who apparently believed personal space is a myth. Ma'am. I had been standing there for nearly 9 hours. NINE. This was not a casual pop-in situation. Up until that point, everything had been amazing. The music, the energy, the flow, chef's kiss. But that one interaction? Immediate vibe break. That said, I'm choosing growth here: I genuinely hope she finds whatever she's running toward... and maybe learns how not to run directly through people to get there. Overall though? As a venue for this fest, Tempe Beach Park absolutely delivers. I'll be back... just maybe with stronger crowd boundaries and a little more side-eye.

We've visited the Tempe Beach Park area a few times for events like breast cancer walks and…read morefestivals. It's a beautiful location with scenic views of the bridges and water, and there's even a nearby museum which adds to the experience. Parking can be a bit of a mixed situation. There is a parking garage available, but it does require payment. We also noticed an additional open lot next to the garage where you can park for free; however, it is gated and the surface is mostly dirt and rocks, so just something to keep in mind. One thing we didn't come across was a public restroom, so it's unclear where the nearest one is located. Overall, it's a great area to visit and enjoy events. My only suggestion would be to add more parking options or provide a designated free parking area for visitors, so not everyone has to pay for parking.

Been out exploring and looking for new trails to hike out at the Superstition Mountains and came…read moreacross Carney Springs Waterfall. You can access this trail off Lost Goldmine Trailhead East. Its an easy to moderate round trip out back trial with over 4 miles of hiking and almost 700 foot elevation gain. The last trek to the waterfall is when it gets the steepest, and on the way to the waterfall you will come across a cool cave as well. Now Carney Springs Waterfall most of the time is dry, but if you happen to go after a rainfall or monsoon, you will be treated to the waterfall. The Carney Springs Waterfall is visible from Peralta and is apx a 240-foot drop. While hiking along the trail making your way to the waterfall if you look to the left you can see the trial for the Wave Cave and even spot it in the distance. You also will see some interesting canyon views along the way. There isn't any clear signs to the waterfall but if you are going along Lost Goldmine Trail #60, at the fork that goes to the Wave Cave, turn right go past the cave and make your way to the waterfall. We went after a rain fall and got to see the fails. Once you turn off the 60 and head up Peralta trail the road becomes a dirt road, but you don't need a 4x4 to get there. The parking lot will be on the left side of the dirt road just up the road from Peralta Park.