Papago Park
4.7(13K)google
4.3(222)yelp
HikingRock Formation
Overview
Papago Park is a vibrant, accessible desert playground nestled between Phoenix and Tempe, characterized by its distinctive massive red sandstone formations. The park offers scenic, low-intensity hiking and biking trails winding through native desert landscaping and small desert lagoons. It serves as the historic home base for major city treasures, bordering both the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden. Visitors can explore smooth sandstone hills, fish in stocked ponds, or enjoy a picnic amidst the giant saguaro cacti. Its central location and stunning geological backdrops make it an indispensable destination for families, outdoor recreationists, and photography enthusiasts looking for quick natural beauty.
Practical Info
Mon5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tue5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wed5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thu5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Fri5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sat5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sun5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-3 hours
Best TimeSpring and autumn are best for outdoor recreation. It's highly recommended to go in the afternoon: first feed the wild ducks and watch palm-tree reflections by the several large ponds in the park, then walk to Hole-in-the-Rock to wait for the perfect sunset
Getting ThereStraddling the border of Phoenix and Tempe. The transportation network is extremely developed with multiple entrances. If you only want to enjoy the basic park and ponds, you can park for free at the Papago Park West Playas lot
Travel Tips
- This is a huge central-city natural park in an extremely prime location, famous for its large expanses of distinctive red sandstone hills, giant succulents, and clear desert oasis lagoons
- The park is an extremely large culture-and-tourism complex; it not only contains the aforementioned popular Hole-in-the-Rock but also wraps in the two top-tier attractions of the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden
- The park also has a highly historic monument—the family tomb of former state governor George W. P. Hunt (Hunt's Tomb), a white pyramid built atop a hill with an excellent view
Reviews
Positive
- A green gem of the city of Phoenix! At the foot of the red sandstone hills there are actually several emerald lakes, where you can often see egrets and wild ducks swimming; the scenery has very rich layers and it's completely free
- Here you can catch the zoo, the botanical garden, and Hole-in-the-Rock all in one go. The trails are flat, and there are large lawns and picnic tables around—a perfect weekend recreation spot for locals
Heads up
- Apart from a few core photo spots, most of the area is pristine desert with no shade at all, so walking around during the day feels fairly dry and prone to wind and sand disturbance