If you are looking for some fun outdoor activities for this summer in Phoenix, there are always lots of things to do at local parks in the area. Here are some parks you can visit to have a good time while outside, enjoying the sun.
Papago Park
If you enjoy being the great outdoors, Papago Park offers beautiful hiking trails and a variety of recreational facilities. The range consists of sandstone and has massive buttes throughout the park that rise and fall. Visitors can walk, run, or bike the paths. The park also has an archery course, fishing lagoon, and an orienteering course.
In addition to exploring the paths and other activities in the area, Papago Park is also home to the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden. The Phoenix Zoo is a world-class zoo focused on wildlife conservation. Enjoy looking at the animals in their environments as you walk through the Arizona Trail, Africa Trail, Tropics Trail, and Children’s Trail and see what each area has to offer.
The Desert Botanical Garden features lots of different trails that you can explore. This is a great opportunity to learn all about the desert and its plants. Trails that you can explore include the Desert Discovery Loop Trail, Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail, Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, Center for Desert Living Trail, and the Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Loop Trail.
South Mountain Park/Preserve
The South Mountain Park and Preserve covers more than 16,000 acres and includes three different mountain ranges; the Ma Ha Tauk, Guadalupe, and Gila. It has over 50 miles of trails that allow visitors to hike and ride their mountain bike. The roads are also very popular among avid road bicyclists. If you would like a unique experience, you can go for a trail ride through the mountains with horses from Ponderosa Stables.
For hiking fans, there are lots of different trailheads to access, and several trails stem from each trailheads. Some of the more challenging trailheads include the 19th Ave Trailhead, Holbert Trailhead, and San Juan Rd. Gate. An easy trail can be found near the South Mountain Environmental Education Center.
The South Mountain Environmental Education Center offers a variety of programs that teach visitors about the Sonoran Desert. Guests can learn about the natural history of the area, as well as the plants, animals, and their conservation needs. There are lots of different programs for adults, families, and children to take part in.
While you are in the park, be sure to look for some of the thousands of petroglyphs that were left by the Hohokam prehistoric culture. Petroglyphs are “rock art” that are created by scraping away the outer layer of stone and exposing the lighter stone beneath. Petroglyphs represent life-forms such as people, birds, and animals. You may also find geometric designs, shapes, or lines that could have had symbolic purposes.
These two parks in Phoenix offer lots of different activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and biking. You can also visit a zoo and some beautiful gardens. Whichever park you decide to explore, you are sure to have a lovely day outside in the sunshine.
“Papago Park” via Flickr by Gage Skidmore. Used with permission via CC BY-SA 2.0 / cropped from original
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