Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Arizona > Phoenix area
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 07-06-2009, 09:31 AM
 
13 posts, read 57,349 times
Reputation: 15

Advertisements

I'm lookong for a place to visit that has nice scenery. Not looking to hike just want a scenic adventure to see the cacti and surroundings. Any recommendations?

White Tank Mountains
Estrella Mountain Park
South or North Mountain Park
Others??

I wouldn't mind seeing a roadrunner in the wild. The only one I ever saw was a coyote chasing it, lol! Where's the best place to see them as well?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 07-06-2009, 10:49 AM
 
Location: Inside the 101
2,784 posts, read 7,443,931 times
Reputation: 3275
So, if you're not hiking, is your intent just to drive around and maybe get out to take a few photos?

If so, scratch North Mountain off the list. It's better for short, aerobic hikes with a convenient location.

You might want to drive up to Dobbins Lookout at the top of South Mountain. You'll be rewarded with a great view of the city.

The Desert Botanical Garden and the nearby rock formations in Papago Park would also be good for a low-impact view of desert scenery.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-06-2009, 11:44 AM
Sco
 
4,259 posts, read 4,916,911 times
Reputation: 3373
South Mountain or White Tanks. However, you will be much happier with the scenery and the wildlife sightings if you take at least a short walk on one of the trails. If you are a complete novice, try the Waterfall trail in the White Tanks, it is a short, level trail with good scenery and a large portion of it is very wide and designed for wheelchair use.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-07-2009, 09:51 AM
 
9,091 posts, read 19,214,540 times
Reputation: 6967
agree - i've spent a fair amount of time in 3 of the 4

if you just want to get a feel for phoenix and don't mind the drive then I would take the drive up to the lookout on south mountain

you'll see cactus, maybe a bit of wildlife, but tremendous views of the city and get a feel for the terrain

it's also free

i live near the white tanks / estrella - both are nice, but do charge to get in

i've seen some wildlife at both (although no roadrunners), but they are designed more for hiking to get a feel - estrella has some nice public areas, but they are grassy with trees, a rodeo arena, etc

the waterfall trail is pretty easy and will give you a couple decent options

another way to get into the white tanks on established trails without paying is to locate the main trailhead in the verrado community

they have a couple pretty easy walks (as well as some more intensive hikes) - the last one I did there with my dogs and we came across jackrabbits and other small wildlife and you get a good variety of plantlife as well
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2009, 12:21 PM
 
29 posts, read 78,531 times
Reputation: 11
I recently discovered there's a petroglyph in White Tanks depicting the supernova of 1006. I'd like to know where it's located exactly so I can visit it? Anyone know? Perhaps along the Waterfall trail? Thanks.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2009, 12:39 PM
 
2,942 posts, read 6,515,497 times
Reputation: 1214
Here are some links that may or may not be of help. The only info I found on the location is that it's somehwere along the Waterfall Trail.

SkyandTelescope.com - News from Sky & Telescope - Did Ancient Americans Record a Supernova?

White Tank Mountain Regional Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/commission/pdf/2006/Director's%20Summary%20July%202006.pdf
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2009, 01:10 PM
 
29 posts, read 78,531 times
Reputation: 11
Thanks for the links, I'll have a look.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-19-2009, 03:47 PM
 
Location: In Phoenix by way of San Antonio
1,692 posts, read 3,125,525 times
Reputation: 1257
Enjoy all of them! Not many places here in America where u can go hiking in the city!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-21-2009, 04:30 PM
 
Location: car guy in Phoenix AZ
116 posts, read 368,351 times
Reputation: 54
+1 for south mountain. enjoy the drive, enjoy the view. I like to go before dusk, and wait til nightfall and cruise back down. Watch for bicyclists!


http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/1438460/south-mountain-night.jpg (broken link)
http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/2038211/saguaro-storm-south-mountain.jpg (broken link)
http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/273528/southmountainoverlook.jpg (broken link)

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/1714018/south-mountain.jpg (broken link)

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/2444395/radio-tower-south-mountain.jpg (broken link)

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/2444389/vista-south-mountain-park.jpg (broken link)
http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/1392145/phoenix-city-scape-from.jpg (broken link)
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-22-2009, 12:26 PM
 
Location: Denver, CO
1,627 posts, read 4,217,084 times
Reputation: 1783
Agree with many of the above. White Tanks is my personal favorite (some great trails), but South Mountain is fantastic, and the Botanical Gardens are excellent (eat some Mesquite pods while you're there!) Wherever you go, go in the morning, take PLENTY of water, and keep an eye out for snakes (especially in the morning.) Unless you're an experienced hiker, don't hike those parks in the evening to try and beat the heat. There are some dangerous places just off the trails that can sneak up on you if you get lost after dark.

You might also get a good glimpse of coyotes in the evening at Phoenix Mountain Preserve or just a great view of the valley from North Mountain Park.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Arizona > Phoenix area

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top