Wild Burro Trail

Located just 30 minutes from the outskirts of Phoenix, AZ lies a 10,000 acre desert oasis known as Pleasant Lake Regional Park. This expansive body of water serves as a great opportunity to beat the heat of the central Arizona sun, while taking in the beauty of the vivid blue waters and surrounding desert landscape.Water sports remain the main draw of Pleasant Lake. With a large marina, two boa...

Hike along the shoreline of beautiful Lake Pleasant. This 4.0 mile out-and-back trail is worth its weight in beautiful views. The path is well maintained and perfect for beginner hikers who enjoy leisurely hikes while looking for wild burros. The Wild Burro trail starts with a small descent from across from Desert Tortoise Road. Hike 0.5 miles and you will come upon a small parking lot with res...

Starting at a little below 2,000 feet this hike takes about two hours out and back over a two-mile stretch. There is a parking lot with bathrooms at either end.For those with small members of your hiking party and two vehicles you could easily leave a car at either end of the trail. There are also lots of options to extend the hike and take add a more strenous extension.

Yavapai Point Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near New River, Arizona.

Spanning 9,951 acres of backcountry a few miles northwest of Lake Pleasant and about 25  miles north of Phoenix, Hells Canyon Wilderness area offers a quick way to escape into an untamed swath of desert that’s more paradise than purgatory.I have to say, this entire trail is 36.3 miles (and is technically an OHV road), but if you’re staying at Castle Hot Springs, the first portion of this hike i...

The grounds of this location are absolutely incredible – food is amazing, and the hot springs are magical.  Each hot spring boasts its own naturally occurring hybrid mix of minerals, which vary from place to place depending on the geology of the area. For the storied history of this location and the hot springs, read more here. Note that you do have to make a decent trek on a pretty road, s...