City parks offer everything from a gentle stroll to challenging mountain hiking, as well as many recreation facilities. Tourist offices may have brochures, and you can contact the main Parks, Recreation, and Library Dept. office (Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., 16th Fl., Phoenix, AZ 85003, 602/262-6861, www.phoenix.gov/parks, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.). City parks have free admission; they're for day use only.
Encanto Park
This 222-acre oasis (two miles northwest of downtown Phoenix
at 2605 N. 15th Ave. at Encanto Blvd., 602/261-8991) of lakes and trees features
picnic areas and many recreation facilities. The southern section has tennis, racquetball,
volleyball, basketball, a swimming pool, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Free
Coffeehouse Concerts entertain on Wednesday evenings year-round at the clubhouse.
You can check out sports equipment from the Recreation Building south of the swimming
pool; parking is off 15th Avenue south of Encanto Boulevard.
The family amusement park Enchanted Island (602/254-1200,
www.enchantedisland.com) offers a carousel,
train, and other rides on weekends and some weekdays. Parking is north of Encanto
Boulevard between 7th and 15th Avenues.
The northern section
of Encanto has a clubhouse for special events (check the bulletin board or call
602/261-8993), picnic areas, playgrounds, a small lake with boat rentals (602/254-1520),
an urban fishing program, and a golf driving range; parking is off 15th Avenue north
of Encanto Boulevard. Two golf courses lie farther north: an 18-hole course at 2775
N. 15th Ave., 602/253-3963; and a nine-hole course—excellent for beginners—at
2300 N. 17th Ave., 602/262-6870.
Papago Park
Once designated a national monument because of its desert
flora and Native American history, this large park (602/256-3220) on the east edge
of Phoenix offers numerous attractions, such as the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical
Gardens, Arizona Historical Society Museum, an 18-hole golf course, Phoenix Municipal
Stadium, and a baseball field. Enter Papago Park from Galvin Parkway, which runs
between McDowell Road and Van Buren Street/Mill Avenue.
The
park also has a recreation area with picnicking, easy hiking, a bike trail, and
small lakes where children 15 and under may fish without a license. Hole in the
Rock provides a scenic window onto Phoenix; you can hike up into it on a short trail.
Continue to road's end for the short walk to the white-tiled pyramid tomb of George
W.P. Hunt, seven times governor of Arizona. The recreation area is east off Galvin
Parkway; turn in at the zoo entrance, then turn left. You'll find softball and baseball
diamonds and an archery range in the northeast corner of the park near 62nd and
Oak Streets.
Phoenix Mountains Park & Recreation Area
Piestewa Peak crowns a
group of desert hills in the Phoenix Mountains, nine miles northeast of downtown
Phoenix. Formerly known as "Squaw Peak," it honors a Hopi servicewoman
who died in the 2003 Iraq war; you'll see both names used. The park (602/262-7901)
offers some great hiking trails as well as picnic areas with water and shaded tables.
Saguaro cactus, palo verde, creosote bush, and barrel and cholla cactus thrive on
the rocky hillsides. Turn onto Squaw Peak Drive from Lincoln Drive between 22nd
and 23rd Streets.
Summit Trail #300 climbs to the top of 2,608-foot Piestewa
Peak in 1.2 miles one way with a 1,200-foot elevation gain. You'll enjoy a superb
panorama and lots of company—it's probably Phoenix's most popular trail. The
path has steep sections, but it's well graded and easy to follow. On Sunday the
peak hosts a remarkable crowd of teenagers, families, joggers wearing headsets—all
puffing along. No dogs or bicycles allowed, though. In the warmer months, be sure
to carry water and get an early start.
Freedom (Circumference)
Trail #302 makes a scenic 3.7-mile loop—it's one of Phoenix's best hikes.
In some of the beautiful valleys you may forget that you're in the middle of an
urban area. The trail climbs two saddles, so you'll get a good workout and gain
720 feet at the highest saddle, where you'll meet the Summit Trail, 488 feet below
the top. To reach the Circumference Trail, either take Summit Trail #300 to the
saddle or drive to the end of the park road and take the trail signed #302. Note
that dogs cannot go on the Summit Trail section.
Piestewa
Peak Nature Trail #304 and a section of Trail #302 make a 1.5-mile loop from
the end of the road. Signs identify some plants, but the beautiful desert scenery
will be the main attraction; you'll cross two passes with views and a 180-foot elevation
gain.
Camelback Mountain Trail/Echo Canyon Recreation Area
The steep, rough
Camelback Mountain Trail to the 2,704-foot summit will challenge kids and
a lot of adults, yet most seem to make it to enjoy the spectacular views. The adventure
starts on the northwest side of the mountain in Echo Canyon Recreation Area (602/262-4837).
In 0.3 mile you'll reach a minor ridge. Continue up along the base of 200-foot cliffs
to the Camel's Neck, from which additional steep climbing takes you to the summit,
1.2 miles one way total and a 1,264-foot elevation gain. On a clear day you can
take in countless aspects of the vast Valley; you won't need a map to identify the
edge of the Salt River Indian Reservation to the east—it's the line where
the city ends and irrigated fields begin. For a much easier walk, there's a short
trail to Robby's Rock, a popular area with rock climbers. Beautiful rock formations
provide a bonus for either hike. Carry at least a quart of water on the summit trail;
it's a good idea to get a very early start in summer and avoid the trail after rain,
when it becomes slippery.
From Phoenix, head north on 44th
Street, which curves east and becomes McDonald Drive, then turn right (south) on
E. Echo Canyon Parkway just 200 feet past the Tatum Boulevard junction. The Recreation
Area has water but no restrooms or other facilities. On weekends and holidays, you'll
either be lucky or wait a long time to snag a parking space.
Cholla Trail, approximately 1.5 miles one-way, climbs 1,200 feet in elevation
from a trailhead at about 6200 E. Cholla Lane; the first section is easy, then the
going becomes very steep. Some parking is available along the west side of Invergordon
(64th St.).
North Mountain Recreation Area
This desert park (10600 N. 7th St.,
602/262-7901) features many family and group ramadas along a loop road, plus a playground
and basketball and volleyball courts. The easy Penny Howe Barrier-Free Trail
#40 has interpretive signs about plants along its one-third-mile loop; the trail
starts from the northwest corner of the Havasupai parking lot. For a workout, many
locals head up North Mountain Trail #44 from Maricopa Picnic Area at the
north end of the road loop; it climbs to a road that leads to the summit (2,104
feet). You can make a loop by taking Trail #44A to the left of the towers and southeast
along ridges to the Quechan Picnic Area on the southwest part of the loop road.
The hike is about 1.6 miles long (roundtrip or the loop) with an elevation gain
of 614 feet.
Christiansen Trail #100 offers more areas
to explore for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. You can start from a trailhead
opposite the Pointe Hilton at Tapatio Cliffs, 1.4 miles north of the North Mountain
entrance on 7th Street; the trail leads west to Shaw Butte and southeast to Piestewa
Peak in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Altogether, the easy-to-moderate trail is
10.7 miles one-way, with elevations ranging from 1,290 to 2,080 feet; many other
trails loop off it. The west trailhead is on the north side of Mountain View Park
at 7th Avenue and Cheryl Drive. East trailheads are at Dreamy Draw Recreation Area,
40th Street (south from Shea), and Tatum Boulevard (opposite Tomahawk Dr.).
South Mountain Park
The world's largest city park, South Mountain encompasses
16,500 acres of desert mountain country. A paved road winds to the top for great
views of the Valley. On the way you'll pass several picnic areas and trailheads.
Hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers can explore 58 miles of trails in the backcountry.
A park map shows roads, facilities, lookouts, and trails; pick one up outside the
ranger station or at the visitor center. A stable just outside the park's entrance
offers trail rides, and there's an equestrian area inside the park. An activity
center on the left just inside the entrance hosts special events. The Environmental
Education Center (on the left just inside the gate, 602/534-6324, 9 a.m.- p.m. Tues.-Sun.)
offers maps, literature, some exhibits, and picnic area reservations. A short nature
trail nearby introduces the desert's flora and fauna. South Mountain Park lies seven
miles south of downtown Phoenix on Central Avenue.
After the ranger station,
roads branch off on both sides to covered picnicking areas, some of which can be
reserved. San Juan Road forks right two miles inside the park, leading four miles
through a valley to a trailhead and a low overlook of Phoenix. Take the Summit Road
left at the fork to reach the heights. The road climbs to Telegraph Pass, then on
past several lookouts on the left, of which Dobbin's has the best views of the Valley.
Continue to the end of TV Towers Road for panoramas to the south from Gila Valley
Overlook.
The 18 trails, many of which form loops, present
a range of lengths and challenges. Besides the views, you may spot prehistoric petroglyphs.
National Trail extends the length of the park, climbing from low elevations
at each end to high ridges in 14.3 miles one-way; it's not recommended for equestrians.
Hidden Valley, a popular half-day trip through a landscape of giant granite boulders
and stately saguaros, is 3.5 miles roundtrip via National Trail. To reach the trailhead,
go two miles past the park entrance gate, turn left onto Summit Road and follow
it four miles (keeping right past the turnoffs for two lookout points), then stay
left at the next fork to Buena Vista Lookout. The first quarter mile of trail follows
a ridge east with good views before gently dropping into a valley. After a mile
or so, some large slick rocks must be negotiated before entering wide, bowl-shaped
Hidden Valley. Near the lower end of the little valley, you'll pass through a natural
tunnel about 50 feet long. This makes a good turnaround point, or you can explore
more of the valley and surrounding hills. In summer carry extra water and avoid
the heat of the day.