Papago Park

Papago Park is one of the most scenic and easily accessible desert areas in the Phoenix metro area. Explore its 1,500 acres filled with hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and lagoons. Papago Park is also home to attractions including the “Hole in the Rock” hike, Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo and AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park.

Just 2 miles beyond the skyline of Downtown Tempe, and in the foreground of the Valley of the Sun’s famous Camelback Mountain, a collection of sandstone rock formations rise from the desert floor. These unmistakable buttes are known as Papago Park, an urban oasis located in the center of the nation’s fifth-largest metro area. 

The park is home to generations of rich history, a wide variety of modern-day attractions, breathtaking views and more recreation opportunities than one itinerary could possibly hold, including several worthy hikes.  

Top Trails

• At 2.3-miles, Double Butte Loop is a perfect, leisurely selection for both mountain bikers and casual hikers, thanks to the generally wide, flat dirt path that circumnavigates the massive sandstone buttes. 
• The most popular path is Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, a 0.2 mile-hike that offers 200 feet of elevation gain, which leads to a very appropriately named formation: A hole in the rock’s ceiling that is believed to have been used by the ancient Hohokam civilization to track the position of the sun. This spot is bustling during sunset, but you’ll understand why once you see the views overlooking the lagoon and on to the distance skyline.