Best Hikes and Nature Things To Do in Greater Phoenix Arizona
Looking to fit in a quick, easy, hike or other things to do that involve nature? From Scottsdale to Glendale, and across the Greater Phoenix Arizona area, nature and great views are right around the corner. And easy to get to!
Whether you’re visiting Arizona for Super Bowl LVII, Waste Management Phoenix Open, Spring Training, or you live here already, it’s always great to find some time to get out and experience nature. The valley of the sun has a lot of it! Here are some of my favorite places to hike and otherwise experience Arizona nature while you’re in the valley.
Phoenix Mountains Preserve, including Piestewa Peak
Phoenix has a vast open space right in the city, next to Scottsdale, that is perfect for fitting in a hike to your visit to the valley. Within minutes you’ll forget you’re in the 5th most populous city in the country, as you surround yourself by spiny cacti and dusty hills of the desert. There are many hiking trails for people of all ages and abilities — quick and easy trails, or summitting Piestewa Peak, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape as well as the Phoenix skyline.
State Farm Stadium and much of the valley feature a backdrop of mountains to the west, called the White Tanks. The regional park housing these mountains is perfect for tranquil hikes through the desert, including closeup views of rocks carved with petroglyph figures and symbols up to 10,000 years ago.
South Mountain is another great preserve with trails in Phoenix. But if you’re not in the mood for hiking, you can also drive up the mountain to Dobbins Lookout to see the amazing views. Along your drive or hike, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife including javelinas (they look similar to wild boar), coyotes, lizards, and hawks.
The Desert Botanical Gardens are another great way to experience the wild beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The gardens include many of the cacti and agave you’d see traveling through the desert (over 1,000 saguaros!) all in one place, as well as endangered and other hard-to-find plants that need our conservation.
The valley of the sun also hosts the largest butterfly conservatory in the country, located in Scottsdale. Check out these stunning pollinators that are crucial to our ecosystem and pollinate many of the foods we love.
Director, New Member Strategies, The Public Interest Network
Alec develops and tests strategies for organizations in The Public Interest Network to recruit more members to support our work. His areas of expertise include using data and analysis to identify opportunities to build our organizations' memberships. Alec formerly played an advisory role for a systems platform used by half of Fortune 100 companies. Alec lives in Arizona, where he enjoys hiking, camping and exploring the great outdoors.
From buzzing bees to howling wolves, and from ancient forests to sprawling coastlines, our natural world is a gift that keeps on giving. Will you donate today to help keep it that way?