5 Hikes in Any Corner of the Phoenix Valley

Phoenicians are spoiled.  Regardless of where we reside, there’s a hiking retreat nearby.  Here are five great options for all levels of hiking ability right in your backyard.  What a fantastic way to celebrate our best time of year and enjoy the outdoors.

Hiking along the Go John Trail

North – Cave Creek Regional Park

The Go John Trail (5.8 miles) loops around a mountain providing the illusion of being miles away from civilization.  In the 1870s, gold seekers staked their dreams on these jasper-studded hills.  This guided trail and the others at Cave Creek Regional Park give visitors an opportunity to travel back in time.  I take my dog on this hike, picnic at the main picnic area and visit the new Nature Center for information about the plants and animals that inhabit the Sonoran desert.

Cave Creek Regional Park
37019 N. Lava Lane, Cave Creek (map)
623-465-0431 

Admission:  $6 per vehicle

6 a.m.-8 p.m.  Sundays through Thursdays; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Fat Man's Pass

South – National Trail to Fat Man’s Pass at South Mountain Park
Want to gage where you are in your fitness routine?  Just squeeze yourself through the foot-wide slot of Fat Man’s Pass (1.5 miles one way). The 20-foot-long squeeze takes you between two enormous boulders.  Many bellies have been put to the test over the years to see if they can easily slide through this passage.

South Mountain
10919 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix (map)
602-262-6861

Take the park’s Summit Road to Buena Vista Lookout, then hike on the National trail east-northeast to the signed junction to Hidden Valley.  Fat Man’s Pass is just beyond this point.

Admission:  Free

East – Merkle Trail – Usery Mountain Park
This easy stroll (0.9-mile loop) is a good fit for hikers of any age or fitness level.  It offers amazing views of the Superstition Mountains and Usery.  Breathtaking views from all angles are available at a 2,840-foot elevation.

Usery Mountain
3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa (map)
480-484-0032

Admission:  $6 per vehicle

6 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

West – Black Rock Loop, White Tank Mountain Regional Park
This loop consists of two overlapping trails; the Short Loop is 0.5 mile and the Long Loop is 1.3 miles.  During your trek you will get a close look at ancient Hohokam petroglyphs and on a clear day see the Phoenix skyline off in the distance.

White Tank Mountain Regional Park
13025 N. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell (map)
623-935-2505

Admission:  $6 per vehicle

6 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

A blooming saguaro at Piestewa Peak

Central – Dreamy Draw Nature Trail at Piestewa Peak

As a Dreamy Draw fan, this is another leisurely hike (1.5 miles) that I take my dog on to experience the fantastic views and secluded valleys.  The trail surrounds the base of 2,608-foot Piestawa Peak, the former Squaw Peak, named in honor of Lori Ann Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat in the US military, and the first woman soldier to be killed in action in the 2003 Iraq Conflict.  I like to feel as if I’m honoring her presence while hiking this beautiful terrain.

Piestewa Park
2701 E. Squaw Peak Drive, Phoenix (map)
602-262-7901

The trailhead is located just north of the parking lot in Dreamy Draw Recreation Area near 19th Street and Northern Avenue.

Admission:  Free

Phoenix Mountains Park is open from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Photos from personal collection and Take a hike Arizona