I've been on all of the trails and have competed in races on several. Prices have gone up for park…read moreentry 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.

We are so lucky. This park is right down the street from us - easy access for walks or hikes…read moreyear-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!

Beautiful and simple hike that will take you to a half way mid point, then you can keep going to…read morethe top. Lovely local hike with good views. Going up can be rocky, not a smooth path.

Great hiking area with beautiful views all around! The trailhead starts right at the base of the…read moremountain - don't be misled by Google Maps - just drive straight up the road leading to the mountain ahead. Once here there are several routes you can take varying from easy to challenging. Most importantly, please wear appropriate footwear!! I saw an older guy wearing Crocs without the back supports going up the path and he nearly toppled backwards several times. I was very worried for his well-being - this path really requires socks and shoes. Of note, depending on when you go and which direction you choose to go in, one side of the mountain has no relief from the sun - it is hot! The other side is shaded and pleasant. Whichever route you take, make sure to bring liquids to hydrate and know your limit. You can always get to a lower elevation and walk around the mountain if it gets too steep.

We hiked around sunset time. I like the Pima Canyon trailhead parking area. Lots of spaces to park,…read morethere are restrooms, and water fountains. Dogs are allowed on leash...please just for the love of god pick up their poop. I truly don't understand how dog owners think it's cool to leave it. I had my fur baby with me, and I carry extra bags. It's not hard. The sky was really pretty at sunset. We ended up doing the Pima Canyon loop due to time constraints. There are other trails you can do here, and the entire south mountain trail system. I didn't feel like messing with my phone so I didn't take any photos. This is an easily accessed trail system for all levels.

Everytime I show up, I find myself and others exploring a different part of South Mountain. Get out…read moreearly and pay close attention to route you travel!

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.

Beautiful place, highly recommend going. Day or night it's pretty epic. Lots of free parking and…read morethings to do.

I came paddle boarding here on a Saturday evening with some friends. We parked at the Butcher Jones…read morearea. We arrived between 6-630p and the main parking lot was full, but there was another lot close by that had some spots open. Lots of people were swimming and hanging out on the beach. There were lots of boats and jet skis too. It was a really great night/sunset with the canyons surrounding the lake. Kind of a cloudy sky, but the stars eventually came out! A very relaxing time! I would definitely come back here!

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!

This hike is a 6.4-mile out-and-back trail in the hills of Phoenix's South Mountain Preserve…read more Corona de Loma is a challenging trail that is located just east of Eagle Pass and will take a few hours to complete. The beginning of the trail connects with the Thash Kavid Loop Trail or Warpaint Loop Trail. It is usually called the Warpaint Loop because it is off Warpaint Drive. I came here with a friend and we did the loop trail portion of the hike. The Warpaint Loop trail is around 2-miles and easy to hike because there is no elevation. It is a popular area for hiking, mountain biking and running. Because it is in a desert region, proper precautions should be taken while hiking it during the warmer seasons. Dogs must be on a leash. The Corona de Loma Trail takes you through a diverse terrain with a combination of flat sections. Parking is on the side of the road.

Great South Mountain trailhead, commonly called Warpaint trailhead due to entrance on Warpaint Dr…read morein Awahtukee. There's a decent number of trails with varying degrees of difficulty for hikers and bikers. Most of the trails are fairly flat// little elevation change, so if you're a local and want to try hiking, this is a great start. Also good for visitors/tourists. Most popular trails are Desert Classic and Warpaint Loops. If you want climbing, try the Guadalupe Perimeter. Most of the trails can connect you to other trail systems in the park. Because of the fairly-flat nature of this trailhead system, it's great for star-gazing & observing sunrise/sunset. Fair warning though, some of the bigger desert critters (coyotes) will come out at night... I've heard them! The only downside of this trailhead are limited street parking and no bathrooms. Happy trails!

Jacobs Crosscut Trail. It was a great day, but turned out…read morevery difficult as we lost our way on the path. We did make it to our destination, and we got to experience the beautiful flowers. So the broken finger tip, could of been worse! I WOULD RECOMMEND

Yes, I agree with the other reviews. Incredible hike, especially if you continue up to Flatiron…read more The waterfall was dry, and I bet its fantastic when its flowing. If you make it to Flatiron and back, go ahead and pat yourself on the back for making the 5.8 mile trip. I'd suggest hiking in a group. You'll park in the Lost Dutchman State Park. There is a $5 day use fee per vehicle.