Usery Mountain Regional Park

Great regional park if you visit the Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert/Chandler area. Safe for solo travelers. Trails are well marked. I did the Noso trail, Merle, and Desert Hawk trail on Day 1 (spent a few hours enjoying scenery). Day 2 (AM) - Wind Cave Trail. Give yourself a few hours. Difficult trail, somewhat well marked, use GPS signal or apps. Well worth it! The chipmunks on cave are friendly too.

First time camping here and we loved it. Easy to get to, the camping spaces are nicely spread out and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Easy hiking trails with signage detailing the types of cactus. There is a walkable nature center showcasing some critters of the desert too. Park entrance fee, electric and water hookups, and 2 dump sites included. The bathroom and shower facilities are well kept and plentiful. We will be back!

By far one of our favorite places to camp. Lovely surroundings, spaces are not close together, and lots of activities available- archery, shooting range, hiking, biking. So very close to town, but far enough away to feel away from it all. Great staff and programs, too. Just be careful of the jumping cactus.

The GREATEST place to hike. Brought a dog and hiked the Blevins Trail and Cat's Peak. The views were breathtaking! The desert was so green and surrounding mountains made it magical. And I've hiked a considerable amount. Heard the Wind Tunnel Trail here is good too. Costs $7 per CAR to enter. The trails are shared with mountain bikers and horses, but everyone was respectful. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Lots of parking. Not much shade out there! I hiked the day after Thanksgiving. Don't know if I'd do it in summer. Trails are well marked but I still used the All Trails app. Magical place. Bring water.

This is a really nice campground just minutes away from Mesa, AZ, and close to the lower Salt River Recreation Area. There are some wonderful trails, everything from easy. To moderately difficult, short to long (9+ miles). There is water and 50/30 amp service, but no sewer. Restrooms and showers are well kept and clean. Nice and quiet!