Papago Park – West Park Trailhead

Take in the Phoenix skyline at sun set from the hole on the rock at Papago Park. It’s a wonderful place for photos, romantic dates, and picnics. And if you have time, pop into the Phoenix Zoo!

Great trail to follow! Kid and pet friendly. Workout stations periodically placed along west side of trail.

Great mini-​hike today. I’m so amazed by everything that Arizona has to offer. The landscape is so vast and beautiful. The views today were breathtaking. The trails were well marked and the park is well kept. Would definitely visit again when I’m back in town.

I love how convenient this trail is to access. I feel like it’s one of the best kept secrets because the parking lot always has ample spaces, unlike Camelback down the road. Although the trails aren’t as challenging as Camelback, there are some steep hills you can charge a few times to get in extra cardio.

Great spot for an easy hike! I also like to run the stairs on McDowell side. Parking is limited by the stairs

It never fails. As soon as I pull into the parking lot of the Papago Park West Trailhead… I have to pee.
Maybe it’s psychological because there are no bathrooms here. Maybe it’s because I drink too much coffee. Maybe it’s because I’m just getting old. You hear me other old dudes?! Holla!
Either way, I wish there were at least one porta-​let here.
Other than that, this is my favorite spot to come for a quick walk or run in «nature». The terrain gives just enough challenge and scenery to make the activity slightly more enjoyable than just staying indoors and using a treadmill.
I’d say at best you’re looking at a moderate hike… walk…run… thing… whatever legs moving exercise you intend to perform. You can also add some extra resistance by running up and down the stairs of the outdoor amphitheater a la Rocky-​style. So there’s that.
If you’re feeling really worky outtey, there’s also a fitness trail with pull up, sit up, something-​else-​up type exercise contraptions as well. It’s good for this time of year, but as they’re all made of metal, I wouldn’t recommend using them when the sun is really popping.
That’s right, things that you would touch with your hand skin… in the outdoors of Phoenix, are made of metal and there’s no coverage what so ever. Needless to say, this seems like government thinking at it’s finest. Genius of the year award for the one who thought metal was the right material choice for that outdoor exercise equipment in Phoenix.
I mean, I realize that probably no material is safe from the Phoenix sun, but if that’s the case, maybe just scrap the fitness trail idea and use that money somewhere else. Because let’s be honest, working out on a fitness trail is kinda awkward anyway… Am I right?
One last gripe because I like complaining. I love dogs. More than people. Much more than people. I like that people bring their dogs to the park to let them get exercise.
I realize that when you’re running with your dog it sucks to have to stop and pick up your dogs shit because it breaks up your run, but you know what, do it anyway because that’s the considerate thing to do. If you don’t want to do it, then leave your dog home. Just pick up after your dogs people. It sucks, I know. I have dogs. But it’s the right thing to do.
And lastly, leave your dogs home in the summer. It’s too damn hot. Just stop it.
Well, that’s all I’ve got. Overall, this is a great park. Much like alcohol, please enjoy it responsibly.

Follow Mia’s advice on how to get to the park.
Once you get here, if its a weekend, you may find that it’s very busy and hard to get a good photo without lots of strangers in it. But all in all a very easy walk for a toddler and a good choice for a less busy day.
There a lot of shelters with shade if you enjoy picnicking. And my little toddler enjoyed throwing countless rocks.

I love that this park is in the city! If I don’t have time to do a long drive for a more difficult hike in the outskirts of Phoenix, then I’ll come here for a nice nature walk/​easy hike. Also, it’s great for mountain biking! My dog enjoys running around here and I love that it makes me feel like I’m out of the city. Trails are well maintained and the park is clean.

It was a little confusing to find this place on my first visit. Basically, look for the sign that says Phoenix Zoo Picnic Area and go ACROSS the street (Galvin Pkwy) from that. This is a great spot for beginner hikers because it’s more just like walking. The trail we took didn’t have any elevation gains and the views were still beautiful. I came at 9:30 on a Saturday morning and there was plenty of available parking, but it was also freeezing that day so maybe it scared some people off :-P
See you on the trail!

This is a scenic, chill park. Good for young and old. Groomed paths and walks. An easy walk up to the «hole in the rock».
Somebody put a «shrine» up in there. Some toys and stuff. Not sure of the story behind that.

This park would garner a 5-​star rating if it didn’t have any mosquitoes in it but unfortunately it does.
After my wife had sprayed on a whole bunch of bug spray she had only been walking for about five minutes before she was attacked by a monster mosquito that managed to begin the feeding process before my wife was able to remove it from her arm. Is it dead or alive? She is not sure, but the bite is already causing distress.
This park is a wonderful place to come and wander through a desert environment surrounded by some impressive rock formations.
Parking is sometimes an issue unless you park in the zoo lot which nearly always has enough spaces for everyone.
On the west side of the park you can watch golfers speed by in their golf carts as you enjoy the dry rocky walkways with only a fence separating you from the desert oasis.
As you ponder nature, watch out for crazy cyclists and runners as well as lucky dogs out walking their masters.

There are definitely reasons to come here for a little exercise but bearing in mind some precautions:
1. Don’t worry if you aren’t staying on the trails. Well, you might want to because there could be critters off the trails; those critters could also be on the trails. When you cannot figure out where the trail is, blazing your own is fine. I didn’t see any signs prohibiting it. No worries about getting lost, just go to a high point to get your bearings.
2. Wear DEET. I used some Cutter DEET-​free mosquito repellent, but based on the number of bites, the mosquitoes loved my «repellent.» Of course getting here early helps you stay a little cooler. Tough call. Mosquitoes or heatstroke.
3. Pace yourself. Those buff high school cross country kids make running look so easy. Walking is just fine for some of us.
4. Enjoy the spectacular scenery!

I believe the only knock on this place we could think of was that it is a 30 – 45 minute drive. The trails were not too challenging, but the sights while trekking made it an enjoyable experience. The only thing that might be improved is the distance as nothing is over 3 miles, but for our purpose this day it served our needs. If in the Phoenix/​Tempe area, definitely a place to check out.

I live in an apartment complex on the west end of papago park and will climb my way onto the trails, especially at night. These trails are safe, easy, and provide incredible views. I’ve hiked these trails several dozen times and can always find a great new viewpoint. Just gotta adventurous. Doesn’t get 5 star because there is a lot of dog poop on the trails which just kinda chills there slowly decomposing. Good for the environment I suppose but a definite eye sore.

can someone please clean up? This could be such a great place! the views are great, the trails are easy to walk, and it is very close to downtown.
So please keep this park up! why is the city doing nothing? what is that huge sales tax for anyway? there was broken glass everywhere. cups, bottles, and lots of clothing. Seriously need to set up a night camera to see what goes on here after dark, could be a good documentary.
Start by adding some trashcans along the trails. only saw 2 during our two mile travel. How about assigning someone on a quad to patrol and pick up litter. How about a sweep at night to remove overnight guests?
The one thing you can’t fix is the noise from cars, makes for an odd walk in nature when you hear so many autos.

Otherwise known as Dog crap trail. It’s on the trail, on the side of the trail, in the bushes and on the buttes. Just keep your eyes peeled. Just did the Big Butte trail and that is a 2.3 mile jaunt/​loop around the buttes. You can get a sweat going even without walking up, but the trail is poorly marked and you will be lucky if you make it back to the parking lot on your first try. On Sunday at noon, the lot was 90% full, so that could be an issue. A favorite pastime of mine is to heckle/​woo hoo the golfers teeing off as you hit the trail — hey what is life without some heckling right? Good view of downtown even from down below the top.

I new out here and I absolutely love the red rocks. I wanted a nice easy hike that I could enjoy, and this fits the bill perfectly. There are a lot of little paths that circle the buttes. There’s a little rest area in the middle and sometimes I’ll stop and watch the climbers or the bikers on the trails while I take a water break.
Across the street is a lake and the hole-​in-​the-​rock which is a fairly easy climb. The parking on that side is a little confusing because you are sharing the entrance with the zoo and the botanical garden. Other than that, it’s a neat place to visit.

This scenic and well-​kempt oasis amid the sprawling Phoenix metro is a great venue for an early morning jog or a leisurely hike. I’m not a cyclist, but the bike trails looked like they’d be a lot of fun too. Plus it’s just a short climb to a great panorama of downtown Phoenix.

Great hiking spot and amazing views for beginner hikers!
Keep in mind if you’re meeting a friend here — it is VERY difficult to articulate exactly where you’re parked, etc. I have tried meeting 3 separate friends here within the last several years, and it’s taken 20 – 25 minutes to find each other. Why? Probably bc there’s the zoo parking lot, Desert Botanical lot, trail lot, etc — not a LOT of helpful signage either.
Park is doggie-​friendly also.

We went here for a toddler-​level ‘hike’ this weekend and I can’t believe that in all my life of living in the Valley I haven’t stopped here to enjoy this park. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that! In my defense, I have hiked up to Governor Hunt’s white pyramid tomb that overlooks the Phoenix Zoo, which I *think* is still technically park of Papago Park… no? But this time I was on the side of the park with the buttes and I’ve definitely never been on this side of the park before.
It was very pleasant and the brisk weather was great for outdoor exercise, and ensuring no snakes. That no snakes thing is a BIG plus in my book.
The paved trails all seemed well maintained and stroller friendly. The unpaved trails were even perfect for my large wheeled, jogging stroller, but no bueno for some tiny wheeled, umbrella stroller. The sole picnic ramada area I saw at the base of the buttes was very large and well kept too.
I liked how clean the park was and how you can experience a very basic outdoor hike while still being in the city with a full cell signal. In fact I saw someone rappelling down the side of the one of the buttes and numerous people enjoying the cool weather on the bikes; it’s nice that people can do that right in the center of the Valley. All in all, it made it the perfect place to take my baby daughter for her first little ‘hike’ so she could wander around and pick up rocks and see the view of Phoenix, but if needed we were a mere 20 minutes from home.
The only complaint was that I didn’t see any public restrooms at the entrance to the trail by the parking lot, just a water fountain. By the time we were leaving all that water I drank back there on the trail had gone right though me, and I would have even welcomed a smelly porta-​potty.
Oh, and I saw that some oatmeal brain had carefully bagged their dog’s crap and then left the little bag of dog crap laying on the ground by the trailhead. This was the ONLY litter I saw, by the way. This begs the question of the person that left it, why even bag your dog’s crap if you aren’t then gonna throw it away in the trashcan a staggering 50 feet away? Are you attempting to preserve the poop from disintegrating and decomposing in the natural elements by leaving it in that little baggie for all of posterity? Or perhaps you have a butler that follows you around and picks up the little baggies of poop that you leave everywhere?
THAT must be it. You are a lucky person to have such a clean up service… Idiot.