White Tank Mountain Regional Park

I volunteered about three hours of my time this morning to help "trail blaze" one of the trails located at White Tank Mountain Regional Park (WTMRP). Located in Waddell, far west of my central Phoenix home, I didn't think I would ever take the time to visit this county park. But, a volunteer opportunity gave me the motivation to get out there and see it.

The trail blazing part wasn't easy work. For the most part, it involved filling wheelbarrows up with dirt and rocks, then pushing them up a slightly steep trail grade about 1/2 mile, and repairing the washed out parts of the trail. Good thing it was relatively cool out this morning!

But, after we finished for the day, I decided to hike one of the easier park trails (Black Rock Trail) and enjoy the views. I have to say, I was impressed with all WTMRP has to offer.

It's a newer park (about two years old), with a large and beautiful, high-tech, nature center and library located at it's entrance. What a great place for a library! And the park was also a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Nearly 30,000 acres makes this the largest regional park in Maricopa County.

Like many other Maricopa County Parks, WTMRP has many different trails with varying degrees of difficulty, but all with great views of the landscape and wildlife. They also have many Ramadas with picnic tables and grills throughout the park, and plenty of water stations and restrooms.. great for a family day out or picnic. There are more than enough parking spaces.

San Tan Mountain Regional Park

San Tan Mountain Regional Park is pretty cool, huh? Ranger Adam Martell explains where the park is located and what it has to offer. BTW, that wasn't a Gila Monster, it was a chuckwalla.

Consisting of over 10,000 acres, the southeast Valley park is a fine example of the lower Sonoran Desert. The park ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet. Goldmine Mountain is located in the northern area, with a spectacular San Tan Mountain escarpment in the southern portion of the park. The vegetation changes from creosote flats to dense saguaro forest.


Source: San Tan Mountain Regional Park and East Valley Tribune: Get Out

Usery Mountain Regional Park

Sometimes a lot of us think that it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort and money for an urban dweller to become a hiker. But, it's easier and cheaper than you may think.

There are plenty of parks located close to home, that aren't too difficult to hike, cost very little money (or no money) to enjoy, and allow us to experience the Sonoran Desert beauty while having fun and getting some exercise.

Usery Mountain Regional Park is one of them.

In this video, a production of the East Valley Tribune in partnership with the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, park ranger Brennan Basler explains where the park is located and all of the great amenities that it has to offer.

Budget Cuts Affect State Parks

State parks that survived closure due to statewide budget cuts in 2010 are in danger again of being shut down. Volunteer efforts were previously enough to maintain the parks, but park officials now say they'll need more than $15 million to keep the parks open.

Cronkite News reporter Corbin Carson has the story.


State parks face familiar danger of being shut down from Cronkite News on Vimeo.

Celebrate A Sonoran Labor Day

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was founded on Labor Day in 1952 and will celebrate its 60th anniversary year this weekend with a variety of new exhibits and programs.

The museum is one of the nation’s leading outdoor, living museums, featuring more than 230 animals and 1,200 varieties of desert plants. Its mission is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the bi-national Sonoran Desert region.

“The Museum’s 60th anniversary year is not only a celebration of what the Museum has achieved in the past but also a reminder that it continues to evolve with new programs and new exhibits,” states Craig Ivanyi, the Museum’s Executive Director. “The new Animal Keeper Animal Interaction Program is just one new initiative planned for this 60th anniversary year.”

If you ask me, it's great way to spend some quality time with the family.

Source: KVOA News - Tucson

Kartchner Caverns State Park

Are you on vacation or got a day off from work and are looking for something cool to do?

Experience a spectacular limestone cavern found in Southeastern Arizona that boasts world-class features. Located about 10 miles south of Benson, AZ, this "live" cave known as Kartchner Caverns, discovered in 1974, is host to a wide variety of unique minerals and formations.

A great place to visit on a hot and dry Arizona Summer day, the cave has an average temperature of 72° Fahrenheit (22° Celsius) and 99% humidity year-round. Water percolates from the surfaces and calcite formations (speleothems) continue to grow, including stalactites dripping down like icicles and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground.

Tour guides will unveil this fascinating underground landscape during a memorable 1½ hour tour.


Source: Arizona State Parks

Exploring The Curandero Trail

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the place to learn about Sonoran desert plants and their useful properties - especially on their twice-a-month guided tour interpreting Edible And Medicinal Plants of the Desert the fourth Sunday and again on the second Saturday each month of February, March and April. Visitors can also explore the Curandero Trail on their own.


Jean Groen Plant Walk from San Pedro River Videos on Vimeo.

Related link: Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park