Otherwise known as Dog crap trail. It's on the trail, on the side of the trail, in the bushes and on the buttes. Just keep your eyes peeled. Just did the Big Butte trail and that is a 2.3 mile jaunt/loop around the buttes. You can get a sweat going even without walking up, but the trail is poorly marked and you will be lucky if you make it back to the parking lot on your first try. On Sunday at noon, the lot was 90% full, so that could be an issue. A favorite pastime of mine is to heckle/woo hoo the golfers teeing off as you hit the trail - hey what is life without some heckling right? Good view of downtown even from down below the top. read more

Papago Park Trails - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Beautiful landscape! The rock formations and caves are amazing to see in person. On a weekend, a lot of people are there, so it felt a little Disneyland-ish. You're certainly not out there in the wilderness by yourself. However, if you don't want to be on a hike out in the middle of nowhere by yourself, this is the place to go! read more

This park was awesome! It didn't have much parking, but right across the street is the zoo with lots of parking! There was a clear cut easily marked trail but it was also easy to go off route and explore different trails if you wanted to. Danny wanted to go up this hill to check out a little cave at the top. The view was awesome and this particular hike didn't take long at all! You should wear good hiking shoes with grip because the trail can get steep and walking on slippery rocks is just the perfect ingredient for a fall waiting to happen. I would come back again to this hike. There were many runners as well as moms with kids. read more

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Nice relaxing walk. 5k (~3 miles) length, little to no incline or decline. Loops around to where you start so no stressing about getting lost or having to make way back to your car after you're finished. Decent scenery during the parts where you're not skating the edge and seeing road/buildings. Its actually a great trail for biking, many bikers passed us during our go. Definitely a "hike" for those who just want to be outdoors and relaxed, beginner type stuff. If you're used to echo canyon or cholla trail, this may not be what you're looking for. read more

We have been to Dreamy Draw and North Mountain on our weekend dog walks, and so far this is my personal favorite. Very beautiful and a lot of nice trails. On a Saturday the west side lot was very full as we were leaving, so be mindful of the parking. read more

Easy hike and gorgeous views. There is no one in the wee mornings and it's perfect for solitude. read more

Papago Park Trails - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Easy short hike up to the hole-in-the-rock. Even when the majority of my people were wearing flip flops... it was still super easy. read more

Papago Park Trails - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We came here to watch the sunset from Hole in the Rock. This park is fantastic ! what a way to spend a Sunday ! trails are well marked and easy to navigate. Great park !! read more

Personally, this is my least favorite trail in Arizona. I feel like it's not much of a challenge. I also feel that any stage of exercise someone is in is awesome. And I think this would be a good beginner hiker trail. read more

can someone please clean up? This could be such a great place! the views are great, the trails are easy to walk, and it is very close to downtown. So please keep this park up! why is the city doing nothing? what is that huge sales tax for anyway? there was broken glass everywhere. cups, bottles, and lots of clothing. Seriously need to set up a night camera to see what goes on here after dark, could be a good documentary. Start by adding some trashcans along the trails. only saw 2 during our two mile travel. How about assigning someone on a quad to patrol and pick up litter. How about a sweep at night to remove overnight guests? The one thing you can't fix is the noise from cars, makes for an odd walk in nature when you hear so many autos. read more

My top places to see in Arizona include this location where you the city from the top. The sunset beautiful. read more

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Easy Hike, took some friends from out of town and they loved it, it's a great place to go and it's Free :) But as always remember to take water, sun protector and a hat if you go when it's hot!!! read more

Papago Park Trails - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We went here for a toddler-level 'hike' this weekend and I can't believe that in all my life of living in the Valley I haven't stopped here to enjoy this park. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that! In my defense, I have hiked up to Governor Hunt's white pyramid tomb that overlooks the Phoenix Zoo, which I *think* is still technically park of Papago Park...no? But this time I was on the side of the park with the buttes and I've definitely never been on this side of the park before. It was very pleasant and the brisk weather was great for outdoor exercise, and ensuring no snakes. That no snakes thing is a BIG plus in my book. The paved trails all seemed well maintained and stroller friendly. The unpaved trails were even perfect for my large wheeled, jogging stroller, but no bueno for some tiny wheeled, umbrella stroller. The sole picnic ramada area I saw at the base of the buttes was very large and well kept too. I liked how clean the park was and how you can experience a very basic outdoor hike while still being in the city with a full cell signal. In fact I saw someone rappelling down the side of the one of the buttes and numerous people enjoying the cool weather on the bikes; it's nice that people can do that right in the center of the Valley. All in all, it made it the perfect place to take my baby daughter for her first little 'hike' so she could wander around and pick up rocks and see the view of Phoenix, but if needed we were a mere 20 minutes from home. The only complaint was that I didn't see any public restrooms at the entrance to the trail by the parking lot, just a water fountain. By the time we were leaving all that water I drank back there on the trail had gone right though me, and I would have even welcomed a smelly porta-potty. Oh, and I saw that some oatmeal brain had carefully bagged their dog's crap and then left the little bag of dog crap laying on the ground by the trailhead. This was the ONLY litter I saw, by the way. This begs the question of the person that left it, why even bag your dog's crap if you aren't then gonna throw it away in the trashcan a staggering 50 feet away?? Are you attempting to preserve the poop from disintegrating and decomposing in the natural elements by leaving it in that little baggie for all of posterity? Or perhaps you have a butler that follows you around and picks up the little baggies of poop that you leave everywhere? THAT must be it. You are a lucky person to have such a clean up service... Idiot. read more

Truly a beautiful view , great pictures taken. Great area to relax , let go , meditate

Caution for dogs! There is broken glass all over the trail closest to E McDowell rd. My dog's paws were sliced open. It used to be one of our favorite places to walk and hike. read more

I love how convenient this trail is to access. I feel like it's one of the best kept secrets because the parking lot always has ample spaces, unlike Camelback down the road. Although the trails aren't as challenging as Camelback, there are some steep hills you can charge a few times to get in extra cardio. read more

This park would garner a 5-star rating if it didn't have any mosquitoes in it but unfortunately it does. After my wife had sprayed on a whole bunch of bug spray she had only been walking for about five minutes before she was attacked by a monster mosquito that managed to begin the feeding process before my wife was able to remove it from her arm. Is it dead or alive? She is not sure, but the bite is already causing distress. This park is a wonderful place to come and wander through a desert environment surrounded by some impressive rock formations. Parking is sometimes an issue unless you park in the zoo lot which nearly always has enough spaces for everyone. On the west side of the park you can watch golfers speed by in their golf carts as you enjoy the dry rocky walkways with only a fence separating you from the desert oasis. As you ponder nature, watch out for crazy cyclists and runners as well as lucky dogs out walking their masters. read more

Great hiking spot and amazing views for beginner hikers! Keep in mind if you're meeting a friend here - it is VERY difficult to articulate exactly where you're parked, etc. I have tried meeting 3 separate friends here within the last several years, and it's taken 20-25 minutes to find each other. Why? Probably bc there's the zoo parking lot, Desert Botanical lot, trail lot, etc - not a LOT of helpful signage either. Park is doggie-friendly also. read more

Follow Mia's advice on how to get to the park. Once you get here, if its a weekend, you may find that it's very busy and hard to get a good photo without lots of strangers in it. But all in all a very easy walk for a toddler and a good choice for a less busy day. There a lot of shelters with shade if you enjoy picnicking. And my little toddler enjoyed throwing countless rocks. read more

Great spot for an easy hike! I also like to run the stairs on McDowell side. Parking is limited by the stairs read more

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This scenic and well-kempt oasis amid the sprawling Phoenix metro is a great venue for an early morning jog or a leisurely hike. I'm not a cyclist, but the bike trails looked like they'd be a lot of fun too. Plus it's just a short climb to a great panorama of downtown Phoenix. read more

Papago Park Trails - Panoramic view of Phoenix - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Easy hiking trails with decent climbs. You get a good view of the airport and plenty of plan landing/take-offs. The best thing is probably the long trails for running around the park. This is where I ran to train for half marathons. I would totally recommend this area for biking, hiking and running. read more

Papago Park Trails - View of Papago park - running and biking trails below - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Connected to hole in the rock, the zoo and botanical gardens, this is a beautiful place to go. There is a excellent variety of trails, including a fitness trail where there are stations for various workouts. The length can vary from .1 mile to 5k (but easy to do multiple pathways). Super easy to get to and parking is great. The park does frequent activities it seems like. I recommend going for sunrise at hole in the rock then doing the hike. You'll beat parking traffic and the weather is much cooler. People jog, bike and walk their dogs here frequently. Great place for everyone! There are even bathrooms by hole in the wall and lots of picnic tables. read more

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This is a great fitness trail. I biked it and it was a workout for a 65 year old man in fair health, but not too strenuous. There are shorter walking trails and a good representation of desert flora. read more

Fun place to hike. Well manicured trails plus you can peel off and climb on your own. The trails only go around the buttes but you can find a spot that fits your fitness level and climb up. Make sure you were appropriate shoes if you plan to climb up. Also, check out hole-in-the-rock across the street next to the zoo. Cool rock formation. read more

Hit this place up on the fly. It surrounds hole in the rock and the museum campus. Thankfully the sky was the most gorgeous I've ever seen, made the visit even better. Stop her for a great sunset or a mild hike. Ample parking. read more

I love that this park is in the city! If I don't have time to do a long drive for a more difficult hike in the outskirts of Phoenix, then I'll come here for a nice nature walk/easy hike. Also, it's great for mountain biking! My dog enjoys running around here and I love that it makes me feel like I'm out of the city. Trails are well maintained and the park is clean. read more

Papago Park Trails - Zoey enjoying Papago park - Hiking Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Many people go to the hole in the rock, which is great! But it can be crowded at times. So I'd rather go to the other one which is much bigger and challenging when getting to the top. For sure a great place to walk with pets on the easy flat trail, but if you like a challenge walk directly to the rocks and climb for an unforgettable view! Live that it's open from Sunrise to Sunset! read more

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Beautiful views with easy trails. If you're not much of a hiker but are looking for something to do then give it a try. You'll find easy trails and some trails a bit more challenging so there's something for everyone. The Arizona skyline will take your breath away once you reach the top. It's well worth the view alone. Highly recommend it. read more

I new out here and I absolutely love the red rocks. I wanted a nice easy hike that I could enjoy, and this fits the bill perfectly. There are a lot of little paths that circle the buttes. There's a little rest area in the middle and sometimes I'll stop and watch the climbers or the bikers on the trails while I take a water break. Across the street is a lake and the hole-in-the-rock which is a fairly easy climb. The parking on that side is a little confusing because you are sharing the entrance with the zoo and the botanical garden. Other than that, it's a neat place to visit. read more

Like the rating indicates, A-OK. There is an inlet in the rock where you can watch the sunset and see a sweeping view of the area. Trail to the hole in the rock was fairly easy and can be done in less than 10 minutes if you are in decent shape. Lots of parking too! Unfortunately, didn't have time to explore different trails but from other reviews it seems they are worthwhile. read more

Wish I could say a lot, but this place needs no explaining! It's beautiful here. One of my favorite places to do photoshoots in Arizona. Hiking wise the trails are fair and good, not strenuous like camelback mountain. Good scenery and friendly ppl. Dog friendly environment. Aaahhh read more

This was a great place to spend my first day in Arizona. The park has many other cool places nearby like the botanical garden, zoo, and hole in the rock. My recommendation, bring good hiking shoes and plenty of water because water bottles are difficult to find nearby. read more

Did a night ride here the other night. Normally a very easy, but fun and fast trail here in middle Phoenix. Night riding out here was a whole other beast. So much fun, with the white dirt out there its like riding on the moon under a HID headlamp! I'm not 100% sure the park is "open" when I was there, which was around 0100. But the parking lot by the zoo had its gates open, so I am just going to assume I was in the legal right. Didn't run into anything sketchy. Rode the big loop, but avoided going across McDowell as I a) didn't want to get run over by some DUI, and b) didn't want to draw attention to myself just in case the park was closed. No people, a couple jack rabbits, no snakes. But the high lumen output of my lamp did illustrate how much CRAP there is in the air of Phoenix. In the sort of head trip you get into while riding at night it makes you wonder if you're going to come off looking like you'd just left the Playa at Burning Man after a wind storm. This will be more regular as it gets hotter. 0200 seems to be when the heat really breaks. read more

this park is right behind our house....well, a short bike ride/walk down the canal from our house. with multiple trail heads and plenty of stuff to do, papago park is just so much fun. rock climbing, hiking, mtn biking, fishing, picnicing....and it's a rather large part if you consider the area just north of the 202. it's great for beginner hikers and bikers, but don't be fooled....with multiple options for hill climbing, you can make papago park very difficult. if you wait on the path near the big pyramid, you can even see the big ol bighorn sheep in the early morning and late afternoon. just a fun, easy park to enjoy. read more

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Well manicured, clean parking lot and free to park, Drinking fountain and picnic table area with shade - plenty of places to run, hike and bike! read more

Great trail to follow! Kid and pet friendly. Workout stations periodically placed along west side of trail.

I live in an apartment complex on the west end of papago park and will climb my way onto the trails, especially at night. These trails are safe, easy, and provide incredible views. I've hiked these trails several dozen times and can always find a great new viewpoint. Just gotta adventurous. Doesn't get 5 star because there is a lot of dog poop on the trails which just kinda chills there slowly decomposing. Good for the environment I suppose but a definite eye sore. read more

I believe the only knock on this place we could think of was that it is a 30-45 minute drive. The trails were not too challenging, but the sights while trekking made it an enjoyable experience. The only thing that might be improved is the distance as nothing is over 3 miles, but for our purpose this day it served our needs. If in the Phoenix/Tempe area, definitely a place to check out. read more

Our "off trail climb" was a 5 star experience. We scrambled up to the right of the amphitheater. Great sunset. Trail as is gets 4 stars for being mild. read more