Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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mountains (and posh desert suburbs). November through April, there are guided hikes
Tuesday through Sunday at 10am. There are also wildflower walks, full-moon hikes, and
astronomy evenings here. To find the park from central Scottsdale, go north on North
Pima Road, turn right on East Happy Valley Road, left on North Alma School Parkway,
left on East Pinnacle Peak Parkway, and left on North 102nd Way.
For much less vigorous hiking (without the crowds), try
North Mountain Park
(
&
602/495-5458;
www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/nmvc.html), in North Mountain Pre-
serve. This natural area, located on either side of Seventh Street, between Dunlap Avenue
and Thunderbird Road, has more flat hiking than Camelback Mountain or Piestewa
Peak. To orient yourself and get trail maps, stop by the
North Mountain Visitor Center,
12950 N. Seventh St. (
&
602/495-5540
).
The
Peralta Trail,
way out on the east side of the Valley in the impossibly steep and
jagged Superstition Mountains, just might be my favorite hike in the entire state. Unfor-
tunately, a lot of other people feel the same way, and on weekends, the trail is almost
always packed with people. However, if you come early on a weekday, you can have this
trail almost all to yourself. The route climbs steadily, though not too steeply, past huge
old saguaros to a saddle with a view that will take your breath away. The view is an in-
your-face look at Weaver's Needle, the Superstition Mountains' most famous pinnacle.
The hike to the view at Fremont Saddle is 4.6 miles round-trip. To reach the trail head,
drive east from Phoenix on US 60 past Apache Junction to Peralta Road, and then drive
8 miles north, mostly on gravel road, to the trail head. For information, contact the
Tonto National Forest's Mesa Ranger District,
5140 E. Ingram St., Mesa (
&
480/610-
3300;
www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto).
HORSEBACK RIDING
Even in the urban confines of the Phoenix metro area, people
like to play at being cowboys, and there are plenty of places around the Valley to saddle
up your palomino. Because any guided ride is going to lead you through interesting
desert scenery, your best bet is to pick a stable close to where you're staying. Keep in mind
that most stables require or prefer reservations.
On the south side of the city, try
Ponderosa Stables,
10215 S. Central Ave. (
&
602/
268-1261;
www.arizona-horses.com), which leads rides into South Mountain Park and
charges $30 for a 1-hour ride or $50 for a 2-hour ride. These stables also offer fun dinner
rides ($39) to a steakhouse, where you buy your own dinner before riding back under
the stars. If you have time for only one horseback ride while you're in Phoenix, make it
this latter ride. Breakfast rides are also offered.
On the north side of the Valley,
Cave Creek Outfitters,
off Dynamite Boulevard at
31313 N. 144th St. (
&
888/921-0040
or 480/471-4635; www.cavecreekoutfitters.
com), offers 2-hour rides for $65 ($80 with transportation to the stables).
WATER PARKS
If you happen to be visiting during the hotter months, consider taking
the family to one of the Valley's water parks for a day of keeping cool. At
Mesa Golfland
Sunsplash,
155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa (
&
480/834-8319;
www.golfland.com), you
can splash in a wave pool and ride a water roller coaster.
Big Surf,
1500 N. McClintock
Rd., Tempe (
&
480/947-2477;
www.golfland.com), has the country's original wave
pool and all kinds of wild water slides. Both of these parks are generally open from
Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend (call for hours) and charge $26 for any-
one taller than 48 inches, $20 for seniors and anyone under 48 inches, and $3 for chil-
dren 2 and under. Mesa Golfland also has three slides that open at the start of spring
break.
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