37 Best Stops Between Cottonwood and Greater Palm Springs
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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedMar 31, 2023
How long is the drive from Cottonwood to Greater Palm Springs?
The direct drive from Cottonwood to Greater Palm Springs is 360 mi (579 km), and should have a drive time of 5 hrs 23 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Cottonwood to Greater Palm Springs, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Phoenix, Scottsdale, Palm Desert, Prescott, Joshua Tree National Park, Tempe, and Glendale, as well as top places to visit like Tom's Thumb Trail and Pinnacle Peak Park, or the ever-popular Fort Verde State Historic Park.
Top cities between Cottonwood and Greater Palm Springs
The top cities between Cottonwood and Greater Palm Springs are Phoenix, Scottsdale, Palm Desert, Prescott, Joshua Tree National Park, Tempe, and Glendale. Phoenix is the most popular city on the route. It's 2 hours from Cottonwood and 4 hours from Greater Palm Springs.
Prescott, located in central Arizona, is a city with a rich history and vibrant cultural scene. The downtown area boasts Whiskey Row, famous for its lively bars and music venues, while the Sharlot Hall Museum offers insights into the region's pioneer-era past. Additionally, the Smoki Museum showcases artifacts from indigenous peoples of the Southwest. Nature enthusiasts can explore Watson Lake to the northeast, where numerous bird species reside amidst granite boulders along scenic trails.
15% as popular as Phoenix
31 minutes off the main route, 19% of way to Greater Palm Springs
Glendale, a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, is situated just nine miles northwest of Phoenix. It's famous for being home to the State Farm Stadium where the Arizona Cardinals play and also boasts the Arrowhead Towne Center shopping mall. In recent years, Glendale has seen growth in its brewery scene along with neighboring Peoria. The area now offers a variety of traditional and innovative brews that reflect the pioneering spirit of greater Phoenix.
8% as popular as Phoenix
7 minutes off the main route, 29% of way to Greater Palm Springs
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Phoenix, the capital city of Arizona in the southwestern U.S., is renowned for its sunny and warm climate throughout the year. As a part of the Valley of the Sun, it boasts of luxurious spa resorts, Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses, and lively nightclubs. A must-visit attraction is Desert Botanical Garden that showcases numerous native plants and cacti.
Most popular city on this route
6 minutes off the main route, 30% of way to Greater Palm Springs
Scottsdale, located in Arizona to the east of the state capital Phoenix, is a city renowned for its golf courses and spa resorts. The area is also home to McDowell Sonoran Preserve where visitors can explore trails through a stunning desert landscape filled with rock formations, hills, and cacti. Taliesin West is nearby - this was once Frank Lloyd Wright's former studio and residence.
56% as popular as Phoenix
18 minutes off the main route, 31% of way to Greater Palm Springs
Tempe, a city in Arizona just east of Phoenix, offers a vibrant cultural scene at the Tempe Center for the Arts and outdoor activities at Tempe Town Lake. Visitors can enjoy water sports and festivals at Tempe Beach Park or hike Hayden Butte to see ancient rock art. The city also hosts sporting events and concerts at Wells Fargo Arena. Additionally, craft beer enthusiasts can explore local breweries like Crush Craft Cider Company, The Shop Beer Co., and Fate Brewing Company for unique tasting experiences.
9% as popular as Phoenix
17 minutes off the main route, 31% of way to Greater Palm Springs
I'll never travel to Greater Palm Springs without this trip planner again
Joshua Tree National Park, a renowned desert park, is a popular destination for campers and hikers to discover its geologic wonders alongside its iconic Joshua trees. The park offers well-maintained facilities and stunning views with plenty of opportunities for adventurous hiking and rock climbing. Visitors can make their road trip more interesting by making stops at unique landmarks such as Salvation Mountain while entering from the 10 freeway.
We’ll kept facilities and gorgeous views. Plenty of good hiking and rock climbing if you’re adventurous. Entering from the 10 freeway avoids a long line to get in, though that also puts you farthest from the best parts.
Bill Moseley — Google review
Absolutely beautiful. You could spend a lifetime exploring this park. It is huge with many day use and overnight camping areas. Be prepared to drive, as all the sites are bit far apart. Bring plenty of water and snacks, there are none in the park and it IS a desert. Restrooms are at day use areas. Snakes are common in hotter months so exercise caution when climbing among the rocks. That being said there are lots of rock climbing routes, great for both bouldering and line climbers. The day use areas are the most family-friendly, with lots of non-strenuous hikes. Because of this, these areas are the most populated. If you're looking for less people, you can just pull over anywhere and start exploring. If you camp overnight, I suggest camping off the ground (just my own opinion) because scorpions come out at night. 😬
A word of caution: flash flooding is extremely common and it's best to leave at any sign of weather.
Brittany Wine — Google review
The best I.S. National Park for me, I’m a teen and I love climbing on rock piles! The rocks are so beautifully shaped and positioned in valleys and on hills, I saw giant rabbits with very long pink ears and lots of interesting desert plants. There are so many trails and they all seem different. It’s also very close to the town that has a yummy organic/vegan food place that is pretty crowded when L.A. people are on their weekend trips.
Leon Vincent — Google review
Best place to visit for those who love desert adventure. A huge park with beautiful roads & no shelters, no shades, no greenery. Lots of sand Trails. One can see are rocks of all shapes & sizes, cactus & desert trees only. Totally dry area, absolutely no water. Not a place to visit on a hot day and definitely not in Summer. Lovers of Rocks must & should dash to this place.
PRASAD GUPTA Doolapeta — Google review
Had a great two day visit here. Lots to see. Easy access and great day hikes. If you’re here to climb you have already heard how good it is. Be careful on the dirt roads as there are stupid people driving trucks at out of control speeds.
Glenn Reynolds — Google review
This is a gorgeous National Park. I've visited a couple of times over the years and always have a good time. Beautiful scenery and great to get out in nature. Nice place to stop by if you are visiting the Palm Springs area.
Carina Jahn — Google review
Do not miss out on visiting this incredible Park! The landscape, fauna and flora are just extraordinary. The giant boulders are huge and beautiful - to climb over, under and aside is amazing. To stay at one of the campgrounds will be one of the best experiences.
Drive, walk, cycle, run, but just make sure to spend time here! No cell phone service in the park but it just isn't necessary.
Justine Edwards — Google review
Unique landscapes, easy hikes, weird trees. I would say that most of the things can be seen within one day, but probably more pleasant to stay for a night in a town nearby and then devote two days. Most of the hikes are very clearly marked and don’t need special footwear. Pack layers as it gets cold fast in the winter.
Karina Kisselite — Google review
Joshua tree National park is one of the best parks I’ve been to. I love that you can cover the most of the must see places in a day and at night you can stay at the arch rock to look at the starts. The park has plenty restrooms At multiple locations. It has 4 visitor centers on each direction. Roads are well maintained. Overall great place for getaway.
Foram Mistry — Google review
The resources and hiking opportunities at this Park are fabulous. The visitor center we went to was a little chaotic due to the number of people inside, and the campground was pretty worn down from all the visitation it gets. Stay away from the people-places and this Park is top-notch for desert-lovers!
Rob Campellone — Google review
I am in love with this place!! Great scenery, make sure to plan out any trails you are planning to explore in advance and that is according to your level. Take a lot of water, sunscreen and good shoes if you are planning on walking. And… please for the love of good take a camera with you. This place is worth so much more time to explore. These formations are amazing and if you have the chance to climb any please do so.
Shannen Castaneda — Google review
Very interesting experience! There are exhibits and areas to get out of the car all over the place. Very cool to see the Joshua Trees and nature. 10/10, recommend driving through if you’re in the area!
William Daly — Google review
Great park to ride a motorcycle through, the roads in the surrounding area are also great. Do try to go early as possible to avoid all the cars. You can also camp here and see an amazing view of stars. Joshua tree is a designated dark sky site.
Katie Flohr — Google review
Hands down my favorite national Park to go to although it might be the only national Park I've ever been to. I didn't think I liked the desert until I was able to visit this park and it is beautiful beyond compare. I wondered how all of these little clumps of rocks ended up here. Easy to drive through without getting lost and I hope to return one day to camp just for one night.
Ray Alan — Google review
Highly recommend Joshua tree park. Amazing day or night. Interesting ecology and lots of various sites to check out. Great spot for long exposure nighttime photography! Check out the visitor center in town before heading out there.
Trey McNair — Google review
Absolutely stunning and otherworldly! Be sure to bring plenty of provisions! Extra water and snacks will be very helpful as you travel through the park.
I saw a couple of people collecting vegetation so please be aware that this is strictly prohibited! Please preserve our national parks!
Parina Patel Mosley — Google review
Joshua Tree National Park is a true desert wonderland, offering an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike. The park's unique landscape, characterized by its iconic Joshua trees, massive rock formations, and clear night skies, creates a sense of awe and inspiration. I had the privilege of exploring various trails, each leading to its own breathtaking vistas and hidden treasures. Whether you're into hiking, rock climbing, stargazing, or simply enjoying the tranquility of the desert, Joshua Tree National Park has it all.
One of the highlights of my visit was the opportunity to witness the remarkable sunrise and sunset views. The play of colors across the desert landscape is a sight to behold, and I found myself captivated by the ever-changing beauty of this place.
It's worth noting that while the park offers an incredible experience, it can get quite hot during the day, so it's advisable to plan your outdoor activities accordingly and bring plenty of water. Also, be prepared for fluctuating temperatures, as desert nights can be surprisingly chilly.
Despite the harsh environment, the park is well-maintained, with informative visitor centers and well-marked trails. The rangers are knowledgeable and helpful, ensuring that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.
In summary, Joshua Tree National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates the natural wonders of the desert. It's a place of solitude, adventure, and unparalleled beauty. Whether you're an avid hiker, a rock climber, or a casual observer of the wonders of the natural world, this park has something for everyone. It's a true jewel of the American Southwest and a testament to the remarkable diversity of our national parks.
Clément Muth — Google review
Joshua Tree National Park is a mesmerizing destination that defies expectations and captivates the senses!
As a seasoned traveler, I've explored many landscapes, but none compare to the unique allure of this national park. The endemic Joshua trees stand as sentinels, casting an otherworldly charm over the vast desert landscape. The alien rock formations add to the park's mystique, inviting exploration and contemplation.
However, it's during the magical hours of sunrise and sunset that Joshua Tree truly shines, painting the sky with breathtaking hues and casting long, dramatic shadows across the desert floor. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, photographer, or simply seeking adventure, Joshua Tree National Park promises an unforgettable experience unlike any other in the United States.
Olga Lonska — Google review
One of my actual favorite places to visit! It has so many wonderful things to see, other-worldly rock formations to hike through, vast desert views, the cutest little local shops, and of course Joshua Trees! Always a pleasure.
Lauren York — Google review
Very different national park. It has marvelous rocks which kids enjoy climbing. At night we had star gazing which was so serene. The cactus was huge and shining at night. The trails are muddy but good to walk.
Only thing I found a problem here is very few restrooms and water facilities. Carry lots of water and food as nothing is available inside park.
Sumit S — Google review
I have been visiting Joshua Tree National Park for many years. I am a professional Photographer and this is my favorite place to take pictures.
The natural beauty of this amazing place is breathtaking. I feel so at peace when I am here.
We love to go hiking on the numerous hiking trails. We also just enjoy driving through the park.
Be prepared when you come with extra water and food. Make sure you have plenty of gas before you enter the park. The nearest gas station is about 5 miles from the entrance on the East side of the park. The gas prices there were very expensive, about 50% higher than other gas stations.
There is no cell service inside the park, unless you have a satellite phone.
The best time of the year to visit is February through May. The weather is usually really good during these months.
We will continue to visit Joshua Tree National Park again soon. I love all of the memories we have made together as a family
Jeffrey M Martin — Google review
Beautiful park! There is a little bit for everyone. There are dirt roads for some backroad trips, bouldering, rock climbing, hiking, or just chilling. You can just drive through and enjoy the scenery or spend days there.
Katy Crocker — Google review
I really enjoyed taking my family to Joshua Tree. This place was absolutely awesome. There is a lot to see because this national park is so big. I would highly recommend going to Skull Rock and take time to explore especially with kids. My kids loved running around, climbing rocks, and just taking in the views. Very memorable trip for the whole family.
Zachary Walz — Google review
What’s not to love?!? An incredible experience in a stunning environment. Some of the most enjoyable hiking we’ve experienced anywhere! Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Jamie l Thompson — Google review
Wow, this park is like something from outer space. We enjoyed every minute that we visited. Hiking was gorgeous and not too crowded. It was early March, so not crazy crowded. Would definitely recommend, even for elderly or handicapped as you can see a lot of the main things by driving through if you just want a feel for the park. I’m not sure how summer would be though!
Amy Robertsonsmith — Google review
This park is def worth the hype! Great accessibility with a variation of difficultly in activities and hikes!
It’s close to the town of Joshua tree which has accommodations like lodging, food, gas, activities, visitor center, and must see places!
Navigating the park is easy, park rangers are knowledgeable, and the volunteers that we encountered on the trails and asked questions were also very knowledgeable!
This park is very popular and can get extremely busy to the point that park rangers will turn people away to prevent congestion when there is no parking at a location. Get there early to avoid this and to avoid the unbearable heat and sun.
Chloe Medina — Google review
8% as popular as Phoenix
52 minutes off the main route, 82% of way to Greater Palm Springs
Palm Desert, located in California's Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, is known for its abundance of country clubs, golf courses, and upscale shops. The city center boasts The Shops on El Paseo, offering high-end boutiques, dining options, and art galleries. Nature enthusiasts can explore the diverse wildlife at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a variety of performances at the McCallum Theatre.
15% as popular as Phoenix
7 minutes off the main route, 92% of way to Greater Palm Springs
Best stops along Cottonwood to Greater Palm Springs drive
The top stops along the way from Cottonwood to Greater Palm Springs (with short detours) are Desert Botanical Garden, Musical Instrument Museum, and Phoenix Zoo. Other popular stops include Escobedo Historic District, Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park, and Coachella Valley Preserve.
Scenic 10-acre park featuring restored 19th century buildings, exhibits & occasional re-enactments.
The guides were truly amazing. Very knowledgeable and very kind. Tried to help you at every chance they had but not overpowering. Always had a smile on all their faces. Had an amazing visit. A lot of beautiful history. Laid out well. Nice little short walk to see everything some stairs if you want to go up stairs to see other things in a small house just have to be careful with the stairs. But all the rooms are truly amazing. Look for the little box codes they will give you more information on each room.
scott Jefferson — Google review
The paid portion of the state park is really small but it’s really cool. They have a couple houses you can go in and a really cool “power shovel” (shown in pic). The power shovel is actually out of the paid portion of the park. I recommend for seniors bc it’s rly small but all ages can go here. There are events sometimes held on the field that could be cool too.
Dripthany — Google review
Very interesting place to visit. The visitors center person was very nice and informative. They keep the fort nice and clean. Thank you
Viva Mi Patria Querida — Google review
really neat, great for community events. I was attending the wine festival as a vendor for Yavapai college.
Tim Petarra — Google review
What an awesome historical site that has been well preserved and disabused me of many preconceived ideas of a western desert army fort. Ranger Ben was very knowledgeable and quite funny, catch him before he goes on stage!
Robert Horning — Google review
Beautiful place, rich in history about the Fort. The museum is fantastic and walking around the grounds was really fascinating. You get to go inside the buildings and see how the people lived back then.
Also, Park Ranger Ben was super knowledgeable about the Fort and gave a great talk about the guns used at the time. We got to hold them (replicas of course!) and feel how heavy they were. Really amazing stuff. Worth a visit!
Jordyn DiNatale — Google review
This was a great hidden gem in Camp Verde. They have a great museum that shows Camp Verde back in the early settler days. Buy a $10 admission to the museum and you can walk across the road to officers quarters and the old Camp Verde High School Bell and sign. Once a month they have living history days where history buffs tell everyone how it was back in the day at the fort. Was a very fun experience.
Louise L — Google review
Great experience. 1st visit to a cavalry fort. The rangers in the visitor center were excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, and great at engaging visitors in conversation.
Carey Kelley — Google review
I enjoyed my visit to the Park. The Park Ranger was very informative in describing the Fort's History. The Museum-Visitor Center had many exhibits on display detailing the history. The Officers Row houses were also open and were decorated for the holidays.
Raymond Ellis — Google review
Well worth adding to the list of places to visit during a trip to Sedona. Located in Camp Verde, this place captures history of the area and provides a deep dive into what it was like living in the West over a century ago. Gives insight to the purpose of the Fort and its significance during the time period it was established. Each building gives a glimpse into the past. Everything well maintained. The rangers are very knowledgeable about the history. Be sure to spend time watching the videos and reading the placards all throughout the properties.
Live Free and Play Hard — Google review
You know a state park is enjoyable when both kids said they would love to go back. We all enjoyed the lengthy museum followed by a walk around the grounds which included the officer quarters, jail and many more historic buildings. The rangers here love their job and made sure we had a great time.
Dave Lein — Google review
If you’re into History and this type of stuff it’s pretty good. Nothing fancy like a lot of other museums. No high tech displays, but you can link to videos when walking through the old military houses.
Interesting to learn about the Indian guides and Buffalo Soldiers.
Restrooms are a long walk.
B and C — Google review
Very well maintained and preserved historical site. It's a small state park with lots of historical significance. The buildings are very nice and you can enter to see how these military members lived with their families. Just about all of the pieces used in the buildings appear to be of that era (late 1800's). It was a nice 73° when I visited the location. Sitting on one of the benches at the surgeon's house was a nice way to just enjoy the parade deck view with its ship mast flying the nation's colors. Enjoy your visit to this historic site. Be safe everyone.
Tom's Thumb Trail is a challenging yet scenic hiking trail that is open to leashed dogs year-round. The 2.2 mile out and back trail offers breathtaking views of the desert and only has one or two small boulders along the way. The hike takes approximately two hours to complete and is well-marked with clear signage throughout. While some may find the difficulty level moderate, others might deem it as challenging.
Breathtaking views once you get there. I am 60 and out of shape but made it. I almost quit at the halfway point heading up. With some encouragement from the people with me, I made it. It is 2.05 miles out and the same back. They say the first mile or so is the toughest. I would agree. It did take me 1 hr 20 mins out and 1 hr 05 mins back. We good shoes that don't slip because the path is well maintained but the small pebbles and sand can cause you to lose your footing. I saw people of all ages out there. Lots of beautiful spring flowers and cacti.
Ty Anderson — Google review
Great hike. Decent workout but not overwhelming. The flowers were incredible 4/1/23. Good parking and very well marked. Definitely one of the best hikes near Phoenix.
Cindy Ahonen — Google review
There is a parking gate that closes after sunset, but it automatically opens if you're exiting. Fantastic place to catch the sunset. Hike is 1,200 feet cumulative elevation gain over 2 miles (one-way), so it's fairly steep but nothing crazy. Since it's so short I'd call this a moderate hike. Plenty of rocks to scramble or climb! And there were even ropes left hanging from the thumb when I was there.
The trail is superbly maintained. Kudos to the City of Scottsdale or whoever is responsible. Very well signed. Impressive bathroom facility at the trailhead. Etc.
William Elliott — Google review
Best hike ever... quite the ways to get to but that makes it desolate and I love it. So much nicer than cramped trails like PP.
vanessa b — Google review
One of the best hikes around Scottsdale and North Phoenix area.
yath c (yeti) — Google review
Very good 2.2 mile hike. I would say that it's a moderate difficulty, but to some people it could be on the challenging side. Only one or two small boulders. Took me just over two hours to go out and back. Very good signage.
Michael G — Google review
Great hike, I wouldn’t call it easy though. Took us almost 2 hours to get to the top and back to our car.
Did this trail last September, I am not even a hiker but found it easy to trek. My wife on the other hand, slipped on the gravel while descending, broke her ankle, and had to be lifted out by helicopter, She is an overachiever. I really enjoyed the scenery so much different than Florida, very calming and serene, looking forward to a rematch, minus all the medics and rides to hospital!! For the record wife had surgery to repair damage and now has a plate and 7 screws, and is doing fantastic!!! We also really enjoy coming to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, awesome people, great food, and lots to see and do!!
Raymond Woconish — Google review
4.9
(24)
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5.0
(413)
Scottsdale, AZ 85255, USA
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Pinnacle Peak Park is a beautiful park with an easy hike to the top that offers stunning city and desert views. It's also a great place to rock climb, as there are many boulders to scramble on. The trailhead is located just south of Scottsdale Shea Boulevard and Pinnacle Peak Park can be accessed from both sides of the street.
My all time favorite hike. Seem to always run into friends. Love it! Always help tourist take their photos. A good workout with close to 4 miles if you run all the way to gate. Fun to run, but caution to the several other hikers. Near Four Seasons Resort. Enjoy!
Kathy Harris — Google review
This is a great family friendly fun hike to do with friends. It is easy, safe, and the views are great.🥾⛰️
Gregg Towsley — Google review
Beautiful scenery and an even better hiking trail! Not to challenging if a hike, the elevation changes are always the most challenging part in my opinion.
Glad we went earlier in the morning when it was nice and cool. I’d imagine it gets quite hot.
Beautiful landscape and more Cacti than you can count! So much diverse wildlife! love how they have educational tidbits as you walk!
Aaron McCollum — Google review
Amazing beauty!!!
Come ready to hike 2 mile up, no difficult.
The attendant at the information booth is very helpful 😀
LM — Google review
Beautiful hike! The trail is very walkable. About four miles, but most of it isn’t very steep. The views are stunning and you feel like you’re in the desert. If you don’t want to see other people I’d recommend going early.
Kristen Martinez — Google review
My time at Pinnacle Peak Park was incredible. The hiking trail was well-marked, and the views at the top were breathtaking. It's a great place to connect with nature and get some exercise. Plus, the desert landscape is stunning. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the outdoors!
Brett Harrison — Google review
Perfect hike! Just the right level of difficulty for beginner to slightly more advanced - we saw every level of hikers along the way. The views are outstanding with several amazing outlook/rest stops along the way. The trail is one way out/back. Clean bathrooms and water available at trailhead. Great park guides there as well.
Loren Pincus — Google review
Great hike for beg-?intermediate. Take it slow coming down as I list my balance after gaining speed!
Suzanne Plant — Google review
Nice place for hiking. Beautiful, amazing air, well organized. Everyone in my family enjoyed it and that's pretty rare case.
Marianna Foster — Google review
Good hike, nice views out is an out and back trail. Depending on fitness level it would be a easy/moderate hike. You are in the sun so plan accordingly with water.
Lynn Henderson — Google review
What an amazing hike, especially accessible if you are staying at the Four Seasons Resort. This is a very easy hike accessible to most who are interested in a walk uphill. There is much Beauty to see especially when the cacti are in bloom! Keep a lookout for hidden lizards and other wildlife while hiking through this park.
Ray Hadad — Google review
Gorgeous!
Clean washrooms. Great places to sit at the bottom of the trail and watch people climbing up and down.
My friends really enjoyed their hike to the top and back down: a very busy trail.
For me (I have mobility issues and don't hike) it was easy to do a bit of the bottom of the trail (wide and fairly flat) and view all the saguaro cactus and other desert vegetation.
If you are lucky, you may see some mule deer: I did!
Barbara Carstensen — Google review
Really enjoyed my hike at Pinnacle Peak Trail, Scottsdale, AZ today. The total distance is just under 4 miles out and back. I started mid morning when the temp had already reached 90 degrees... By the time I got back to the car ~ 2,5 hrs later, I was *fn exhausted!
Note: it's a well maintained trail, with a great view of a beautiful desert terrain. Also there are distance signs every quarter mile so that you know how far you've hiked. Highly recommend Pinnacle Peak Trail for an easy/moderate hike.
Stella Mandagi — Google review
Beautiful hiking trail. Close to the city but it feels like you're far out in town. Amazing view of the valley! Fantastic cacti shapes. We hiked in the fall, nice and cool. They close early during this time. It opens at 6:45 AM and closes at 5:30 PM. It takes half an hour from the visitor center to the highest point. Or it depends on your hiking speed. Easy to hike!⛰️🥾🌵🏜️
Old Town Scottsdale is a luxurious area of Phoenix that provides the perfect relaxation spot after an early flight. Visitors can start adjusting to the hot desert weather while exploring the main shopping and dining area, within walking distance from various accommodations such as Motel 6 Scottsdale. For food enthusiasts, the Arizona Food Tour of Downtown Scottsdale offers a unique experience that includes learning about the town's history, savoring perfectly seasoned bites and sipping on sangria.
4.0
(5649)
Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
I'll never travel to Greater Palm Springs without this trip planner again
Arcosanti is an experimental town located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The project includes a molten bronze bell casting business and was designed by architect Paolo Soleri based on the concept of arcology. The town is situated 70 miles north of Phoenix at an elevation of 3,732 feet above sea level.
The Musical Instrument Museum is the world's only global musical instrument museum, displaying more than 15,000 pieces of music-related equipment from around the world. Highlights include a range of displays for iconic musicians such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Carlos Santana. The museum is located just twenty minutes drive north of the city center.
Amazing! If your wondering if you should visit, the answer is yes! What a great museum! Clean, bright, well laid out, easy to follow. You will get a clean pair of headphones that play all the video clips showing on the screens in each display. We spent 4.5 hours here, our kids enjoyed it too. Their favorite was the Experience Room where you can play a variety of instruments. We also were lucky enough that we caught an impromptu concert in the patio by the Navy Southwest Brass Band. The museum was packed, but never felt crowed. Other then a few annoying people shouting conversations out loud, it was a great overall experience. Staff were all super kind and friendly.
Great value!
klmullet — Google review
What a pleasant surprise for me and my family. I visited MIM during Teacher Aappreciation week and enjoyed free admission and a gift catalog which was of very good quality. We were an all-adult group of 4 and we had a blast! The exhibits were organized by region, and we walked around the world learning about music and history. Some exhibits were interactive videos with audio headsets. We did the self-guided tour. A lot of walking, but there were plenty of seats to take a break. The experience room was a unique place where visitors can try playing all kinds of instruments. The museum restaurant, Cafe Allegro, did not disappoint. We all purchased some unique items in the gift shop. Give yourself plenty of time. Our group spent 5 hours there !
Shonii DiFrancesco — Google review
Really can’t say enough about this place. I’m not even a Musical person, but I was just blown away by this museum. Way larger than I expected, with absolutely beautiful grounds that can be enjoyed when the weather finally breaks! Not only will you see a vast variety of instruments, But also outfits and costumes worn by stars. So many historical instruments, beautifully arranged by region, as well as by instrument type. If I, as a non-musical person loved it, I cannot imagine how much a musical person will enjoy this place.
KATHRYN A — Google review
Fascinating. Several hours was not enough. Cafeteria has great food. Outside patio eating area was beautiful. Will go again but do in reverse order as so much info in American area alone.
Peter Wildes — Google review
We had fun with our infant. They have headphones and an exploration and play place for little ones. A great time for the whole family. Just wonderful. Worth buying the membership as you will want to come back over and over if you are a resident. And the restaurant is quite good and affordable.
K M — Google review
Very cool visit. First off though…this is a big museum. If you want to see and read and interact with it all..leave yourself at least two days. If you can navigate topically through it, a full single day.
Well presented, good use of technology with their headsets. Hands on space for kids. Good was museum pricing, but really good and good quantities. Will be back for sure just to finish it!
Nick Kottelenberg — Google review
Wow! Had such a fantastic time here. There are instruments from all over the world grouped by country or genre. You get audio devices that let you listen to the music from each section as you pass along. There’s a room of interactive instruments at the end by the cafe. The museum is well curated and organized. Definitely recommend to anyone visiting Phoenix.
Raymond Luong — Google review
This is a wonderful experience for ALL ages!!! The Experience Exhibit is a fantastic room where children and adults can play with many of the instruments seen throughout the museum. Highly recommend stopping if you're looking for an, at your own pace, adventure. Almost all of the exhibits provide attendees the ability to listen to and see the instruments being played in their natural environment. For listening, the museum provides the wireless receiver and wired headset. We spent almost three hours here!!!
jp huff — Google review
This is a wonderful place, not just for musical instruments, but also history and geography and cultures from around the world.
Each country display has a map where the country is located, and instruments (and costume /dress) used in that location. The headphones will link to the videos playing on that display screen, which show a few clips of the music in that region, using the instruments you see on display.
There are also displays of musical instrument manufacturers, and displays of each kind of instrument.
There is a coffee shop and an outdoor area where there was a live performance that day. The outdoor area is gorgeous, with covered tables, shaded trees areas, water features and landscaping.
You are not permitted to carry water or any food or drink through the museum. I had to check my water bottle at the front.
Everyone working was very kind, friendly, and helpful! One lady told me that they have live performances most nights of the week.
It is more affordable to buy the membership if you plan on going more than once - which would be great to see more! There is so much here, I had to miss areas since I was only there for 2.5 hours.
Overall wonderful place with a wonderful atmosphere!
Kathryn Friedlund — Google review
This is one of the best museums that we've visited! Visitors get a headset that pairs with videos at each display. We spent 4 hours on the main floor, and there was still more to see! They have a big room with hands-on instruments for exploration and experimentation as well as a cafe and a restoration viewing area on the main floor. The upstairs features the history of music and instruments from every continent. It was definitely worth the$20 admission.
Lisa Moll — Google review
What a fantastic museum!! Really loved going through each exhibit but I wished we had more time in okie schedule to see everything. There were free tours that happen every other hour, which is great, but they breeze through everything. My husband and I eventually broke away from the group so that we could take our time and look at everything. We’ll be back!!!
Mikhaela Padilla — Google review
Considering that the museum is of musical instruments, it is larger than I expected it to be. Very immaculately curated with instruments from every corner of the world.
The geographic arrangement along with a proximity enabled audio tour is well orchestrated. As soon as you arrive at a display your audio tour connects to the correct audio allowing you to hear the instrument being displayed. Fading as you walk away only to connect to the next display. Very well done!
One could spend a full day easily. We did.
A must see if you are visiting Scottsdale.
Indra Singhal — Google review
There is so much to see here! The audio box with headphones provides a guided tour with a lot of information. There is a room with many instruments that can be played and touched, but the museum overall isn't ideal for young children. Recommended for anyone interested in musical instruments and history. Very large collection from all over the world.
Heidi O — Google review
If you like music, history, cultures around the world this is a great place to visit. I especially enjoyed seeing instruments and hearing music from places my ancestors came from. There is also a section with instruments, costumes, etc. of famous artists. There is a room where you can play instruments as well. Nice cafe with delicious food. ALL the people working there were very pleasant and incredibly helpful and informative. So glad I went!
Nancy Shade — Google review
What a wonderful place! The exhibits are so beautifully arranged. I was nervous about coming with my 6 year old, but especially my 3 year old. The staff was so understanding and patient! We spent most of our time in the experience gallery. There are so many instruments from all around the world for everyone to try playing! It was amazing!
Valerie Ritchie — Google review
Amazing, amazing, amazing. And sensational.
Hundreds of years of history in a single building. Free parking. $20 per person to go and see music history over the past 1000 years and by continent.
Truly inspiring and worth the drive to north Scottsdale. Make sure to spend at least a few hours there to really experience this place. Great food, too!
The special exhibit was not worth it but the cost was very low so no regrets. But I do recommend you avoid the upsell
Jonathan Lee — Google review
Incredible collection of musical instruments from around the world with detailed history. The headphones and audio box provided added immensely to the experience. As you walk through from display to display it automatically plays the sound and music from that display. We ended up spending about three hours here and didn’t fully experience everything. Huge collection of modern day instruments and artifacts like Johnny Cash’s suit and guitar and Taylor Swift clothing. Plus massive areas on the second floor from regions and countries throughout the world with traditional music. Amazing place that we’re already planning our next visit to see more of.
Bill G — Google review
An absolutely incredible museum. They have the largest collection of musical instruments in the WORLD!!! The exhibits are all done beautifully and the headphones that you wear that automatically connect to each exhibit while walking around enables you to hear the most beautiful sounds. Great place to spend a few hours and get lost. I highly recommend!
Scott Gale — Google review
The musical instrument museum was well organized and thoughtfully laid out it included a variety of instruments from every and any country you could think of! We were there 2 hours but you could easily spend 3 hours there. We were directed to start with the Asian and African exhibits progressing to Europe and the United States. I would have liked to spend more time in the European and United States exhibits. Next time I will start there first. Highly recommend going here.
Gina Tasy — Google review
Went after accomplishing a hike which was a nice way to unwind. There were so many fascinating pieces of history to learn and see. I really liked that they automatically give you a headset to listen as you move through the exhibits. Very well laid out and fun to see all the similarities across cultures.
Savannah Baker — Google review
Don't try and listen to every display, work your way through the whole museum and circle back for displays you are especially interested in. Pace yourself it's huge.
Also I would buy the add-on, they are pretty much covered in the main Museum.
Scott Shepherd — Google review
If you have the time and are interested in music, you need to see this place.
The museum is very large and they have a huge collection of musical instruments from around the world.
They cover every continent and country and culture regarding instruments used. They also have snippets of the music from every area. We spent 3 hours here and could have spent more time if permitted.
Highly recommend.
Steven Page — Google review
This is one of my favorite museums ever. It displays a very extensive collection of musical instruments, separated by country and, in a few cases (say, huge countries like China and India), by regions within the country. You get an audio device that automatically tuned in to a given TV set for that country/region. Each TV loops through a few (3 to 5) short videos showcasing the instruments in the display area. Very effective in giving you an idea of how that the musical heritage of that area is all about. Highly recommended when in Phoenix. Make reservations for a specific entry time.
Alex Zepka — Google review
As amazing as a museum can get! The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix was so much fun. I had no idea what to expect upon entering the museum, but my expectations were exceeded. You're given a headset that automatically connects to the sounds within each exhibit - mind blown. It's such a simple thing but it's very effective. The global, what I'll call "world tour", exhibits on the second floor of instruments from all over the world was so cool. Little did I know that these many instruments existed!
This museum isn't just for music lovers though, it's perfect for art lovers as well. The craftsmanship, art, and painting on some of these instruments will literally take your breath away. The ingenuity of people from the past, and hearing the sounds that they once heard was surreal and really touching. My favorite items were the collection of music boxes on the first floor; they were delightful.
I highly recommend visiting this museum! I wish I had more time to explore, so definitely set aside a few hours to take your time and be present with all the sounds and sights.
Side-notes: I did not reserve tickets in advance, and was able to purchase tickets the day that I visited which was on Saturday. There is a parking lot that is quite large.
Jasmine Singh — Google review
Magnificent Museum! Not only do you see these amazing instruments from around the world, but there are videos showing the people who played them. There are ten thousand instruments. It would take something like fourteen hours to listen to all the videos. There is so much to see! The cafe has wonderful food. I can't say enough.Great things about this place.
Melinda Layton — Google review
This was our favorite attraction on our trip to Scottsdale! It’s only a half hour away in Phoenix and a must see for a music lover! They have an extensive collection of instruments from all over the world and from famous music composers and musicians. It’s a guided audio tour so you can listen to the music and sounds of the instruments and various cultures while you watch the monitors. It was such a fun learning experience. They have some instruments downstairs for you to try to play and helpful guides throughout. We were there for 3 hours and felt like we could have stayed longer to finish it all. One guide told us the whole tour is 6 hours. Well worth the price! There’s also regular concerts held in their music hall. We weren’t able to see one the week we were in town but next time we come I’d check their schedule for that experience. They also have exhibits that change like the acoustics feature now. We had such a great time here we would definitely come back again
Allison Johnson — Google review
This is a great musical instrument with music from around the world. It is a bit overwhelming. I would suggest seeing a few places around the globe, taking a break, and jumping back in.
What do they have? Free parking, picnic area, restaurant, gift shop, multiple rooms where you can listen to music, read the posts, and look at the instruments from all over the world and different time periods. From African ancient music to Price and Elvis. There is a room to play a variety of musical instruments and you can even ring a big Gong!
We got a bonus as a worker at the gift shop, who taught us how to use the sounding bell thing (already forgot the name, but they use it in yoga today).
I would 100% recommend buying tickets in advance.
There were many kids' tours going through (not MIM lead), literally, only one adult leading the tour was extremely loud. We avoided him, which made it more enjoyable.
Check it, listen to some music, learn some history, enjoy life.
Rob Wilson — Google review
This place is an absolute treasure. A must see for musicians and music lovers of all ages. Beautiful well curated collection. Grab a set of earphones to listen as you browse for an immersive experience that is top notch! A great venue for events as well, with amazing in house catering. The space is simply beautiful. The location could not be more convenient- just 1 minute from the freeway. The Phoenix valley is lucky to have the MIM.
The Desert Botanical Garden is a lovely place to visit in Phoenix, Arizona that houses over 50,000 different plants from around the world. It has lovely paths to explore and is a great spot for nature lovers of all ages.
Such a wonderful visit! I probably haven't been here in 30 years. I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to go with the family. We had such a lovely time. Perfect weather and sunset. Many great photos. It was great to bring my son, who is the same age I was the last time I came. Everyone really enjoyed the Chihuly exhibit. We came right before sunset so we could enjoy it both in the sunlight and lit up after dark.
Rayna Dennis — Google review
We stopped here on a whim & I'm so glad we did! Being from the east coast it felt a little surreal walking around all the cacti, plants & wildlife but this place is absolutely stunning. There is plenty to see, you could easily spend several hours walking around. It's very clean & the staff is very knowledgeable & down to earth. The gardens are so calming & relaxing, I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. As someone else said pictures are great but it is so much better in person. Truly a wonderful experience!
K J — Google review
The Desert Botanical Garden offers a delightful escape into nature's wonders, even for those who may not have a particular interest in plant life. While the gardens boast a multitude of stunning flora, including a diverse range of cacti and desert plants, there are other attractions to appreciate. For instance, if you're more drawn to wildlife, you'll find yourself surrounded by an ample amount of ground squirrels and lizards that add a touch of liveliness to the environment. Moreover, the garden ensures visitor comfort with plenty of shaded areas to seek respite from the sun, as well as numerous water fountains equipped with water bottle stations. Plus, the convenience of air-conditioned bathrooms throughout the premises enhances the overall experience.
The scenery at the Desert Botanical Garden is nothing short of breathtaking. The juxtaposition of vibrant desert flowers, towering cacti, and the unique desert landscape creates a captivating visual spectacle. Whether you're strolling along the well-maintained paths or sitting in one of the shaded areas, you'll find yourself immersed in the serene beauty of the surroundings. The attention to detail and the preservation of this arid ecosystem are commendable, and it's an ideal place to reconnect with nature and enjoy a peaceful respite from the bustling city.
PsychoSmart — Google review
My wife and I had a pleasant visit here and did it comfortably in about 2 hours, including the gift shop. They truly put a lot of love and care into the multiple trails and plants. There are also plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife such as rabbits, ground squirrels, roadrunners, quail, and so on. Don't worry about not bringing enough water, as there are plenty of free water bottle refill stations with cold and tasty water which was much appreciated. Lastly, if you're a local or have flexibility, check their website to find their freebie day to save a few bucks.
Cody P — Google review
Man, idk what to say other than a beautiful experience that I won't forget. They trails are amazing and informative. They are brimming with life and nature being nature. The ticket wasn't expensive also they had a small art exhibit that was interesting wall through. Overall a easy stop to add into your day or adventure in Phoenix.
Antonio Allen — Google review
What a great way to kick off our trip, by seeing all the different desert plants. I loved seeing the very large ones. We are here in late February. I definitely would not want to be there in the dead of summer without a lot of sun protection.
Note there are water fountains placed throughout the garden,
Lydia Tomanek — Google review
Such a fabulous place. We've been here several times and it's always different and always improving. We went into the butterfly habitat this time and saw some amazing butterflies. Great time of year right now as many of the plants are just starting to flower. Another couple or few weeks and they'll be more. Strongly encourage you to go and enjoy.
Tony Neumeyer — Google review
This place is heaven on earth. I leave a lot of reviews and have rarely wished to lavish such praise. If you don’t leave five stars you maybe should talk to your therapist. This is incredible!!! It is massive and in reality you could easily spend 3 to 4 hours here appreciating the expanse of desert plants and flowers and sculpture. It is beyond beautiful and I would argue one of the finest collections of such natural wonders on the planet. The staff are professional and passionate, the grounds are modern and kept, there are all sorts of possibilities for events as well and whatever you might need as a visitor for hydration or food if you must. I just felt totally calm and at peace and by the way, there are hundreds of birds and I mean of all varieties but most of all we saw so many hummingbirds playing together and they are quite curious, I snagged a photo. This is an instance where the photos are beautiful but the place is better in real life. The natural world is in abundance here and it will, it should connect with your soul. Enjoy!
Nicholas Christopher Hood — Google review
The place is so serene, peaceful, well-designed and maintained that it it helps you remember why we can still love Arizona. Because it’s surely not for its divisive politics. I loved seeing all the fall family/engagement photo shoots take place here as well. Which means they will not discourage if you pay the entrance fee. Every penny was worth it, even if you aren’t doing a photo shoot.
The gorgeous art work juxtapose the desert landscape in a brilliant way. And the butterfly garden is a treat. Fabulous descriptions of the cacti and plants and their significance to the ecosystem. And open late during certain times of the year when lighting comes on at “golden hour” to make the place sparkle.
It’s a desert museum worth seeing whether you live or are visiting Phoenix.
Cindy Cesare — Google review
Went on a Saturday night for their flashlight event! So much fun and the weather was enjoyable at that time. I went at 7:30pm and wish I would've gone at 7pm for some better sunset photos and to see way more as flashlights can only do so much. They have ton of little things all throughout the garden for children to do as well at night. I don't have kids so I can't speak much on that part. They also have a nice little gift shop. Multiple drinking fountains with bottle fill ups throughout the garden. Very well taken care of and would visit, again.
Anndi Warren — Google review
Just the right size for me whose attention span for such things is a couple hours or so. Very nice grounds with meandering sidewalks and beautiful landscapes. Our interactions with the staff and rangers were great. The butterfly exhibit was (for me) surprisingly engaging.
Parking was free and easy.
Folks using wheelchairs I think would find lots of paths that work here.
Lots and lots of pokey plants so watch those young kids!
Paris Rat — Google review
Wonderful display of a cacti garden. However we visited the garden during a Halloween festival for children and some of the trails were closed off so we were not able to view their entire garden. I would have given it five stars if some of those trails weren't closed and we paid full price.
Chris Woods — Google review
The Desert Botanical Gardens are lovely. There's a ton of walking to do and a lot of stunning beauty to see. There are sights and smells and amazing art installations. The gift shop has a wide selection and something for everyone. There are several water filling stations around the property so bring a water bottle and stay hydrated!
Brandy Nelson — Google review
Photographed a wedding there on a cloudy Jan day, and the grounds are simply stunning. I could spend all day at the gardens, there is so much to see. Staff is very friendly and nice. One of my favorite spots in the valley to do photos at. It is the perfect desert backdrop.
Kristy Velesko — Google review
Fantastic! What a wonderful botanical garden. Larger than anticipated with so many different display areas and pathways. Nice exhibitions too. Good cafes and the restaurant on site is very good. A very nice gift shop on site. Plenty of parking, helpful guide and an absolutely beautiful site to visit. This is a must do when in the Phoenix area.
c “cfl” lane — Google review
Beautiful botanical gardens!! MUST visit when in Phoenix. The place has been designed beautifully. The cactii are huge and gorgeous. We also saw a few hummingbirds up close! Went in the evening so had the chance to witness a beautiful sunset.
The place offers defined trails, clear signs, plenty of rest stops, water fountains and clean restrooms.
Very very pleasant experience, could not recommend this place enough!
Tavishi Priyam — Google review
Absolutely Amazing! We had such a great time at the botanical gardens. Since being from Ohio, it felt like we were on an alien planet with all the unique plants and environment. The garden was a great way to see the variety of plants and learn about the ecosystem of the desert. On top of the standard botanical garden delivery, there are Chihuly glass sculptures nestled into the gardens. My crew spent over two hours walking the grounds. Our experience matched the value of the price of admission.
andrew coburn — Google review
It is a wonderful place in Phoenix, Arizona, and I can strongly say that you will definitely enjoy the time you spend here. I was on transit in Arizona, and was thinking about how to spend my long layover. When I checked, I found this place, which is very close to the airport! I called a taxi and visited the place. It was a well-worth visit of at least half a day! This is very useful, especially for botany students and nature lovers. This is incredible!!! You may experience desert plants, flowers, and sculptures, which are beyond beautiful!! The staff are professional and friendly. I felt very peaceful! I should make a special note that there is a canteen where you can enjoy delicious food too. A location that will completely exceed your expectations!! You can enjoy it thoroughly.
Yohi Sivakumaran — Google review
I'd be happy to provide some information about the Desert Botanical Garden in Tempe, Arizona. However, please note that my knowledge is based on information available until May 2023, so there may have been changes since then. The Desert Botanical Garden is a popular attraction in the Phoenix metropolitan area known for its stunning collection of desert plants. It covers 140 acres and showcases a wide variety of plant species, including cacti, succulents, and other desert flora. The garden offers beautiful walking trails that allow visitors to explore the different desert habitats and enjoy the serene beauty of the desert landscape. Additionally, the garden hosts various events, including art exhibits, concerts, and educational programs for visitors of all ages. Visitors often praise the garden for its well-maintained grounds, informative exhibits, and breathtaking scenery. However, I recommend checking the official website or recent reviews for the most up-to-date information about the Desert Botanical Garden and any changes that may have occurred since my last knowledge update in May 2023.
Lifan Yu — Google review
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! Anytime I have some extra money I come here to enjoy the atmosphere. I got a discount for National Cactus Day and took my children, they were so young and loved coming here I was surprised because they don’t even like going to the zoo. However, seeing the butterflies and all the gorgeous plants they absolutely loved it. Even in the summer time it’s fun! The entire enclosure is well kept and very clean, I’m glad my children loved it as much as I did mainly because there’s lots of fun places for them to climb!
Kelly Bare — Google review
What a fantastic place to explore desert plants! My family and I had a few hours before we had to be at the airport, so we decided to explore. It was great to walk around at our own pace and look at everything there. We even saw rabbits and lizards! It was very hot (more than 100°F) but the gift shop has air conditioning and a nice selection of gifts and souvenirs. I will return the next time I'm in town.
Jennikae Reid — Google review
A beautiful botanical garden filled with desert plants, which isn’t like most botanical gardens.
It was hotter than hell the day I went but there are good spots to sit and relax. There are also plenty of water fountains throughout. A beautiful art exhibit as well (thru March ‘24).
The butterfly exhibit is a highlight.
Bring sunscreen!
Jakob W. Plummer — Google review
Love love love this garden! It is a $25 admission charge, I feel that it is expensive for the small size of this place. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so wasn't too worried about the price after. The whole area around the botanical garden, Papago Park and Hole in the Rock are fun to visit so make a day of it! We packed food and water and explored each area, it was one of the highlights of our trip to Phoenix!
alison burns — Google review
My children gifted us tickets to the luminaries event and reservations at Gertrude’s. What an absolute beautiful experience. It was a perfect night with a full moon. We were able to catch the sunset and the moon. The music through out the gardens was amazing. It was just magical with all the candles, lights, Christmas trees and music. Plus a delicious meal. Everyone was festive the employees were helpful and kind.
Madeline Acosta — Google review
Definitely well worth a visit if you are in Phoenix. I would say to fully take advantage of your ticket and the experience you may want to call out about 2 to 3 hours. There are plenty of bathrooms around the gardens as well as a restaurant and a gift shop. The gardens themselves are diverse and have a wide variety of different botanicals. It really sets a good scene for the other Flora and foreigner around the state of Arizona.
Emily McAuley — Google review
Fantastic place!! Especially for those who love cacti and succulents.
There are timed tours available with the purchase of the entrance ticket, we did this and we learned a lot.
Some of the huge cacti are over a hundred years old and some can live until 250. They’re starting to bloom now and they’re so pretty!
There are docents around the garden so if you feel like you’re in a maze and not finding your way around, it’s easy to get help. They also have water fountains around the paths and benches under some shade to allow people to rest and hydrate.
This is a well thought out garden and one that may be enjoyable for everyone, young and the not so young!
Anna M — Google review
We were headed for the restaurant in its beautiful setting. We arrived on a community day and got in free. What a treat! We got to see the beautiful butterfly exhibit and enjoy the huge collection of cacti and other desert plants. Wonderful afternoon! 🙏🏽
Gautam Ganguly — Google review
The staff was super friendly, went on a Saturday morning for dog days. My dog loved to sniff around, lots of new smells for him that he doesn’t get on our normal walks. There were also lots of opportunities for photos. Loved every moment we got to spend together. I would recommend if going with a dog to go as soon as they open because it got crowded around 9am.
Amber Guzman — Google review
One of the nicest botanical gardens I have ever been to. I am from the northeast so naturally the plant and wildlife here is shockingly different from my home state, however, I was in awe at how well manicured the gardens were. Even at night (we stayed from when it was light out until almost complete dark) everything was lit in a thoughtful way, so you could still appreciate the diversity of plant life present. The gardens were spacious and varied greatly as you moved through the different areas, always able to discover something new along the way. There were a lot of fun, more intimate settings scattered throughout the property, great for taking photos. There were two cool exhibits, centered around dwellings typically used by the native peoples of the area, but I wish they had put more emphasis on them or had more information about them, their use, how they were built, etc. Seemed more like an afterthought, which does a disservice to the native peoples. Aside from that, this is a place I would highly recommend going to.
Josh Daigle — Google review
Amazing gardens. An absolute must do in the Phoenix area. My daughter and I spent about 5 hours here. The trails are well designed, and the interactive docent booths are fun and interesting.
We had lunch at the cafe, the food was fine. It was good, but nothing exciting or much to write home about. I do however recommend the prickly pear iced tea, especially mixed with the lemonade.
It was really exciting to see so much wildlife and so many birds.
We look forward to returning next time we're in Phoenix!
Elisse Kenaley — Google review
The Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden was a treat you'd be remiss to miss!
There's plenty of free parking. The price of admission is worth every penny.
The design of the Garden is beautiful. It's exquisitely maintained and thought-out.
I absolutely loved every part of it, especially the Marvelous Mariposa butterfly house.
This was my highlight in Phoenix!
Angela Devin — Google review
Absolutely stunning botanical garden. We moved to the area and went on their free day and were blown away by the beauty and peace of the gardens. We got a family pass and have enjoyed seeing the garden through various seasons. The blooming cactus along with the quail all over are a really unique and beautiful experience. All of their trails are wonderful and unique. My sons love the cactus clubhouse and both the staff and the environment there are top notch. Hands down our favorite place to go since we moved here.
Hiking at the Hole in the Rock is an amazing experience that offers visitors a chance to see some of the most beautiful and fascinating geological formations in Phoenix. The hill is perforated with numerous cavelike holes, created by erosion over millions of years. The hike to the monument is a rewarding experience, and provides visitors with a chance to see some of the most stunning desert scenery in Arizona.
Awesome hike for just about anyone! You cannot miss coming here if you are in the Phoenix area. Hiking was a bit scary as we ascended and descended the Hole as it was steep near the top, but we were careful of how we placed our feet on the rocks and did not slip at all. I noticed that many others were confidently climbing in sandals and thongs. A relatively short climb.
Nice views of the city and valley. You can see Phoenix and also the airport tower with planes approaching the airport to land. Bring your cameras for great photos.
The trail was fairly busy on a Sunday late afternoon. We found parking in the closest lot although every space was full and many people were walking in from other nearby lots. Although the lots are small, we just waited a few minutes for someone to leave as people are always coming and going. Easy in and out, close to the freeways.
Karen D — Google review
This attraction was fairly busy and looked daunting from the front. However, there is a trail around either side. There are steps that lead up the path, and some cool photo points. There is also a flat ledge in the hole, so it’s not as steep as it looks. This would be an awesome place to view the sunset but I believe the park closes right around sunset. We stayed about an hour.
Tummypoke — Google review
Amazing place. It was easy to find parking and even easier to follow the main trail to the Hole in the Rock. Trail to the hole itself was an easy hike that took less than 10 minutes. There are stairs like rocks and engraving in rock itself. Advise to be careful at the top, I have seen people falling when coming through the hole or while trying yo take pictures after passing the hole. Overcrowded during sunset, so I recommend getting there before it
Ričards Špundzāns — Google review
I loved it. Awesome place to visit. Great views. A short hike up the mountain to the hole. Then you have stairs that’s very helpful going to the other side. It’s definitely worth a trip. Very relaxing.
Nickie — Google review
Very interesting geology. Well worth a visit. Children who are with responsible adults would love it. There are two paths to get up to the Hole in the Rock. If you go…you pass a few parking lots until you get to the lot closet to the trails. If its full just keep driving a bit further and you will find more parking by restrooms. (I would only use them if you really need to, not very clean)
Steve Moses — Google review
Such a gorgeous place not far at all from the city! We had just gotten off the plane, had breakfast, & wandered here. From the parking lot it appears the trail is more of a steep climb, but after asking folks that we're heading back to their car they informed us is slowly inclines and wraps around the back of the hole. I saw kids, elderly, & everyone in between, and some dogs all walking around with no issues. Just please bring water & stay hydrated!
Once you get to the hole, you do have a little climbing (nothing strenuous) over a ledge and there are stairs to walk down on the other side to sit and enjoy the city & mountain views. The trails go for a bit and all seem to loop back to the lot. Really a beautiful surprise and worth the stop!
Suzie D Kingery — Google review
Love love loved this little hike. The Hole in the Rock is so cool to see! The path we took was very easy to get up to the Hole. A little rocky and steep in certain places but super easy. One hundred percent recommend stopping by here if you can!
Christine L — Google review
This place is more than just a great View, it also has lots of different options for hiking. You can come up here for the sunrise sunset or anytime of day for a great experience!
Eleanor Kimmell — Google review
Drive to Hole in the Rock mere 15 minutes before sunset - should have come earlier if only to take it all in for longer. There are a few (free) parking lots along the road leading up to the "trail" head, and we parked at the closest one (surprisingly there was space so close to sunset). The walk up the path was very easy, I was just wearing regular sneakers. There are stone steps leading from the entrance of the hole down to the center, so easy to enter inside as well. From below it looked like there was a big crowd in there and we thought we wouldn't be able to go inside, but upon getting to the entrance we realized the space was bigger than it seemed and there was plenty of room for the 3 of us to find a spot. The further up into the crevasse you go the more slippery it got so we stayed near the middle which still gave us an amazing view as the sun quickly dipped below the horizon. The colors of the clouds were beautiful and changed from minute to minute. We stayed until dark. There's something lovely about a large group of strangers gathered together in an alcove in a rock to watch the sunset.
Liane Vaz — Google review
I recently visited Hole in the Rock at sunrise and it was an incredible experience. The sun was just starting to rise over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the desert landscape. The hole in the rock was perfectly framed by the rising sun, and it was truly a sight to behold.
There were only a few other people at Hole in the Rock at sunrise, so I had the place to myself. The only other people were doing trail running at 90 degrees before it turned 115 later on in the day. I was able to hike to the top of the rock and take in the amazing views of the surrounding desert. It was a truly peaceful and serene experience.
There a few spots near it but you can also park closer to the Zoo for access.
The hike to the top of Hole in the Rock is short and easy, but it can be a bit steep in some places. The best time to visit Hole in the Rock is at sunrise or sunset. The light at these times of day is simply magical!
If you're looking for a unique and unforgettable way to experience the beauty of the desert, I highly recommend visiting Hole in the Rock at sunrise. It's a truly magical place.
Jean — Google review
The hike to the top is pretty easy, and you can go around either side to get to the top. Very cool formation to see and the views of the surrounding area from the top are great. There are other trails in the park as well which offer easy walking, no real hiking though. I went on the weekend earlier in the day and it was starting to get crowded when I left.
Michael Castaldi — Google review
We loved this location! Easy hike and still great outdoor activity for almost anyone. No need to walk for miles or climb for hours to get a good picture of view. The place wasn’t so crowded either so you just had to wait a little before take a picture with nobody at the background. We recommend to everyone.
Amanda Goncalves — Google review
This is a great park. The hike is moderate only because it's not a lengthy climb. The views are well worth the effort. This is not wheelchair accessible but the view even from the parking and picnic areas is stunning. Saw several families with young kids make the climb just fine. I'm disappointed that some idiots have chosen to desecrate the rock by sticking their gum on it. Shame on you! Respect the beauty of nature so you preserve it for others to enjoy too!
Kristi Rhinehart — Google review
A nice place to hike. Great view from the hill top hole. Hiking to this hill top spot is effortless and can easily hike with family (of all age group).
Decent parking space available. If we can pack food and visit, there are few shades to eat out and relax. Can spend some time around the pond after the hike.
Bharatesh Chakravarthi — Google review
What a cool experience. The rock is easily accessible by car. There’s a parking lot nearby, in fact, parking lot is the view you got once you reached the top. There are stairs going all the way up. It’s probably best seen on sunset, but sunset is also the most crowded time of the day.
Daniel — Google review
It's a different place. It is spectacular to be able to see the sunset from the top of the mountain. I loved getting there. I couldn't see it from the beginning but the ending was spectacular. a beautiful experience that the universe gives us. Don't forget to visit it.
Norma Leon — Google review
Great place for a morning or evening walk for beautiful views. This is always a go-to place to take family when they come to visit as you get to see so much of the valley without the workout.
Please keep your pets at home at this is a limited space and can cause some issues at the top. Parking directly at the trail head is limited but there is plenty of more parking spaces around this side of the park. Bathrooms are at the next parking lot after the hole in the rock.
Not recommended for someone with balance or stair concerns. The trail length one way is less than 5 min and mostly stair type climbing with no hand rails. Same with once you reach the top and enter into the cave. Be careful and watch your step and please always leave no trace
T Daniel (PNW Queer Hippie) — Google review
Hole in the Rock is THE place in town to view the sunset over the mountains. I heard about this location on a podcast about what to see and do in Phoenix. We arrived maybe 30 minutes before sunset and we were lucky to find a parking spot. Parking is free and there are restrooms right outside the lot.
I didn't even realize this was a hiking destination, as it's more of a brief walk and trek up to the hole itself. The hole is at the top of a sandstone rock formation that's been affected by erosion. If you want an elevated view, wear shoes with good grip.
As it's in town, there's a lot of city views. We saw maybe six plans flying in or out during sunset and all the traffic down below. The colors were gorgeous.
Kelsey Schultz — Google review
Great little afternoon walk. Not too much of a 'hike' feel. It did gain some half decent elevation that wore you out a little, but what it really lacked was feeling like it was in nature at all. The trails are basically though parking lots untill your right there, and once you are, the sheer number of people makes it much more like an attraction than anything. Not saying this because anything could be changed, but just because of my experience, and how it may differ from someone looking for what you would call a hike. The rock itself itself is unique, although not very pretty, however, the view of the classic Arizona city view mixing the desert landscape, the city, and luxurious palm trees and water, is awesome! It is definitely small time commitment to see it if you aren't too far away.
Jacob Seipert — Google review
This was such a cool experience. We got to watch the sunset from up there, it shows the skyline really well just as it’s about to completely set. Great place to take some nice photos. It’s not too hard of a climb either, like a 5 minute walk from the parking lot to the top!
Kaia Sims — Google review
Interesting little spot near the Pheonox Zoo. Not more than 10 min walk up the hill to the "hole in the rock"...more of a stop than a hike. Trail is not smooth, rocky and uneven. Worth a stop if in the area...not sure I would drive from far just for this.
Kevin M — Google review
Took my 80 yr old Mom to see the Hole in the rock. She had heart surgery 5 months prior and was totally fine walking up to it. The view was spectacular. Will go again when we are in AZ. Must see. Easy walk. Great views.
Tami Elias — Google review
Great day here! Not too busy, was getting busier when we left about 3 p.m.
Lot to look at, but watch your step! Loose rocks and pebbles to slip on everywhere.
Patients are needed for picture taking at the opening. Everyone wants pictures, so please be courteous to each other.
The steps to the other side are great, just a bit tall for small children or slightly disabled people to navigate.
Great hikes near the Rock as well. Lots of little lizards and groundhog to watch scurry around. We saw a hummingbird zipping around, too. He was down in the wash areas.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed to see so much broken glass in all the areas we walked. That was really the only bad part of this day hike.
There is plenty of parking near rock and over by the zoo. The ranger station with bathrooms was centralized for convenience.
Dogs are welcome on leashes, but not when temperatures are over 90°, that's what the sign read.
Tamara Heath — Google review
We parked right at the lot to the right when the road became a one way. It was a nice, quarter mile walk with a bathroom on the way there and back. Beautiful view and lots of people watching!
Keelo Heikkola — Google review
Pretty short hike up to get a view from inside the hole. Fairly crowded but people move in and out pretty quick. Great views
c “cfl” lane — Google review
Nice climb up. Perfect for families with kids. Even better for a date if you plan to go in order to see sunset, which is what we did. Amazing views. Phoenix city lights were beautiful. Climbing down was super easy. No rock climbing experience needed...at all.
Jerice Williams — Google review
This was a perfect spot outside of downtown Phoenix! During certain months it would be a great spot for a picnic too, at Papago park because there are lots of covered tables to provide shade. The walk up to Hole in the Rock was busy, even on a Monday. It's a great spot to experience the unique geography of AZ. A cute 0.3 mile walk where you could go either u and back, or walk completely around this stand-alone structure. It's really really accessible and good for people of any age. Some of the terrain is uneven, but never overly challenging. Great spot, free of charge.
Angie Regan — Google review
An amazing place to watch the sunrise. The trail is quite easy for most people. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the top from the parking area. The views are spectacular. A must visit place for those who visit Phoenix or Scottsdale.
Karim Poonawala — Google review
I visited this Phoenix area attraction last week.
It is easily accessible from the nearby parking lot but the hill may be too steep for some.
It is located next to the Zoo.
The Phoenix Zoo is an enormous, privately-owned zoo in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. It is home to more than 1400 animals from all over the world, many of which are endangered species. The zoo offers a variety of exhibits and activities for visitors, including a children's area and petting zoo. The zoo's conservation efforts are also notable, as it strives to be a leader when it comes to improving peoples' lives through interaction with nature.
Extremely nice and well maintained zoo. Very big. Exhibits were well taken care of. We loved the little desert walk through. It was very reasonably priced. I think that is probably one of the best zoos I have ever been to. It was easy to navigate. Flamingos are my favorite and they had a really great exhibit with lots of birds!
Hole in the rock was very close almost within walking distance if it wasn't too hot. After the zoo we drove over and climbed up and were in awe over the view. Well worth it and I'm so glad we stopped.
Ashley DiCarlo — Google review
Amazing zoo, very green, no plastic bags for merchandise. Animals look to be treated really well here, enclosures for the bigger animals are huge, making it seem more natural. Definitely would recommend everyone to visit if in the area, purchasing tickets online on their website will save you a couple of bucks and being able to skip the ticket booth lines if any at all.
Atmosphere was very clean, they do an impeccable job with that. If you're not a long walker, I'd recommend the scooterpals, as an adult, you can ride 2 person on it, pretty fun actually and you can unleash the kid inside you. 😁
Kent — Google review
Such a great zoo! There is so much to do every time you come. The animal exhibits are great! You can get up close to most of the animals. The zoo has entertainment for all ages here. You can ride a camel, hit the splash pad, ride the merry-go-round, and the farm area has a playground and petting zoo - so much fun! Definitely recommend coming early in the morning to see the zookeepers feed the animals. Concession stands all over the grounds, and the exhibits are well spaced out. There are tons of different event nights throughout the year, too! It's definitely worth the visit!
T Stoey — Google review
Great zoo in terms of animals! We came on thanksgiving day and it was a beautiful day and not too crowded. Weather was nice and cool and it felt like being in an air conditioned zoo!
I would easily give this 5 stars if they charged a little bit less. I go to a lot of zoos and this was one of the more expensive zoos I’ve been to, it was around $107 for me and my wife and my 4 year old daughter.
On top of this, if you want to do a bus shuttle thing, it’s an extra $6 a person to do it. There were these cool scooter things, and those were $5 plus around $0.35/minute. We also felt weird seeing camel rides at a zoo. Again that costs more money, but seems weird to subject camels to being ridden at a zoo for money.
Staff were nice and facilities were nice! Just seems like they could improve a few things.
Paul M — Google review
The zoo was fun. Pretty packed, lots of families and strollers. It's pretty pricey, but I got a $5 discount for being a student. Any place we went to grab a snack was closed before 4.
They ran out of food to feed the sting rays before 230, so that was a bummer too. Overall, we had a great time
Ann North — Google review
A Perfect Day Out at Phoenix Zoo - A Must-Visit!
We had an absolutely delightful day at Phoenix Zoo, and I cannot recommend it enough! With nearly every animal species imaginable, it's a thrilling experience for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. The zoo is beautifully designed with ample shaded areas, providing a comfortable and cool environment even on hotter days.
What I particularly appreciated was the abundance of restrooms scattered conveniently throughout the zoo, making it easy to freshen up and keep little ones happy. The availability of water fountains also added to our comfort, ensuring we stayed hydrated as we explored.
A highlight for the kids was definitely the fun rides, perfectly suited for children, adding a touch of excitement to their educational adventure. These thoughtful amenities make Phoenix Zoo not just a place to see animals, but a full-day experience where convenience and fun go hand in hand.
Every staff member we encountered was helpful and knowledgeable, enhancing our visit with interesting facts and helpful tips. If you're looking for a family-friendly outing that combines education with entertainment, Phoenix Zoo is the place to go. Five stars all the way!
Utsav Maniyar — Google review
The phoenix zoo was amazing for myself, my wife my 8 year old and my 7 month year old. It was a busy day, but the lines were short, none of the attractions were crowded. They have definitely upgraded the grounds and even have venues for weddings and birthday parties.
The membership option is a great value, pays for itself in just about 2 trips. We are going back next week to see the African wildlife exhibits we missed.
Plenty of restrooms and snack stands. The petting zoo is always a hit with my kids, and I love the river stingrays and alligator exhibits. My wife thought the prairie dogs were adorable, and the carousel was a big hit. I have never been so terrified in my life, of, my baby, having a freak accident and slipping off. My stress was at a 99 out of 10.
My apologies, our pictures are more of the fun my family was having, and not the animals themselves
Charles Hungerford — Google review
I will always and absolutely love this place! Coming to this zoo as a child, and as an adult now makes me so happy! They are creating new exhibits for the animals, and everyone is always trying their best to keep the place clean. The new update in the gift shop is absolutely nice! Of course the food is a bit expensive, but going at the zoo during a nice chilly day is fun!
I came along with my sister's school field trip, so we did have to wait a bit. But that's understandable.
The string ray bay was absolutely worth it! The people there with red hair, and another person were very nice to my family and I! Feeding the stingrays is so nice. And they make sure you know how to feed them.
Always be prepared to pack up snacks, and water! And always please make sure to pick up your trash!
hunie pop — Google review
The zoo is really nice. I like the atmosphere; walking all around watching the beautiful trees, flowers and some lovely animals.
It is amazing and you should spend half of a day, if you wanna visit all the animals.
African animals are most visited and they look so beautiful, water's side/ part is the best part of the zoo.
King lion,Rhino, Camel, greater flamingo are really lovely and giraffes are amazing.
Olly Kally — Google review
To say I love this zoo would be an understatement! I enjoy this zoo more than the San Diego Zoo. The size is just perfect, and without a lot of steep hills. There is a lot of shade at the zoo, which is super important in Phoenix 🌞. Everything is immaculate, and the zoo employees have always been very courteous. The zoo has splash pads for the kids, a really nice merry-go-round and a tram. The animal exhibits are organized with a lot of fun information for kids. There are a lot of bathrooms 🚻, which is always helpful. Another bonus: you can take in a cooler and eat a picnic lunch by the water. We purchased a Family Zoo Membership, which is a great deal if you live nearby. Be sure to check out the Monkey Village if you go. It's very unique. Parking is free, and the walk to the gate is reasonable. The zoo rents scooters and strollers. Another huge benefit to membership: Members get in one hour early. The zoo has the usual animal exhibits that would be typical at most zoos. I am so grateful to have this zoo available to visit as a local.
The Popescus — Google review
Had so much fun here! Came to the zoo on a mother/daughter trip and it did not disappoint! Definitely got my steps in here! They had so many cool animals and displays. Don’t forget to ride the camel! Also they have tons of refreshment options and a great gift shop. I really enjoyed it!
OfcChapstick22 — Google review
My father brought me hers back in 2000 and now I brought my little ones. Loved the atmosphere of this place. The staff were all very professional. Would be nice to have have more workers at the snack bars as ordering took a good 20 minutes. I recommend you buy your tickets in advance.
SilverFoxxx — Google review
The Phoenix Zoo was amazing. I traveled here from Houston, TX to see my daughter. We took my grandson to the Phoenix Zoo. He loved it. We all had a great time. The animal cages were really close up so you could see the various animals up close. The food at the Zoo was actually good. It's very family friendly and a great place.
Steve W — Google review
This was our first visit as a family and we had such a good time. My kids were both so excited, even my teenager. It's always fun to learn about the animals and get to see them. We went when they first opened and it wasn't too busy, but it was definitely getting busier when we left 3 hours later.
Chandra Cushman — Google review
Really enjoyed this zoo not too packed and definitely the petting area was our favorite especially for the kids. The best part was the camel ride which our little one got on twice on how much she enjoyed it. Would highly recommend to buy tickets only because to buy tickets at the place is a very long line. We just went and showed our tickets and we were let through with no problem. Overall very good expiration for your little ones. Will be back again.
Irbin Tapia — Google review
Always clean, staff is always wonderful, and the membership is totally worth it. With the membership you can get in at 8 a.m. instead of the regular opening time of 9 a.m. which makes all the difference on hot weekends. Not to mention you're seeing all the animals first thing without loud crowds. It's truly magical!
Vanessa Bass — Google review
I don't have little kids anymore, but wanted a good place to walk and get outside more, so I bought a membership to the zoo. I love it! I'm not sure I'd recommend buying a one day pass (price!) but the membership has been worth it. There's so much to see, and a variety of add-on activities like dining or rides. I love seeing the updates and new things when I go. Definitely getting my money's worth from my pass!
J. N. — Google review
Neat zoo, lots of trails. Was a rainy day but animals were out. If sunny you will get hot, not a whole lot of shade areas, however there are alot of benches. Worth it, there is a cost to enter and they also do military discounts.
Buckeye Blitz — Google review
Hands down the BEST zoo I've been too! There's sooo much to do! The zoo itself is spacious and you can tell workers take pride of their work.
All the animals were visible during our visit and their enclosure made it easy to access them but still built so they are unbothered.
Highlight was the walking monkey enclosure. The staff was very informative and willing to educate people.
Deejay C — Google review
Fantastic zoo! We especially enjoyed all the cool reptiles, desert animals, camel riding ($6 or $8?) and the petting zoo with lots of cute goats. This zoo is very large and spread out, so be ready to walk a lot! Next time I want to rent the motorized animals you can ride around the park (charged by the minute)!
Ariann Schultz — Google review
This zoo was a lot of fun to go to! We got there right at 9am and was able to finish by noon (that’s without stopping frequently for food and drink and doing activities)
Walking around is not bad here. For the most part, it’s pretty flat and not super hilly. Lots of cool and unique animals to see
Staff was super helpful and informative and looked like they actually enjoy their jobs caring for the animals and teaching
Definitely recommend stopping by when you have the chance
Ciera Grace — Google review
We went to the Zoo Lights show and loved everything about the experience. Because it was dark, we did not see the animals - but would love to go back for that as well. Parking was easy, staff was very helpful and organized. Lights and music were fantastic. We spent a few hours here and enjoyed every second.
Theresa St. John — Google review
Plan at least 4+ hours if you want to see all the animals. It is a huge zoo, both in size and in the variety of animals on exhibit. The Arizona landscape in the savanna area adds a wonderful element of authenticity and ambience that other zoos don't have. There are lakes, little islands for monkeys to call home without netting, and so much to see. This is a wonderland for children as well. Lots to do to keep them entertained all day.
It's definitely worth the $40/person for adult admission. And if you live in the area, the membership is well worth the investment as well.
Highly recommended.
Hung Thai — Google review
I took my daughter here for the first time as we moved out of state and are here visiting. She had a great time. We were there for 2 hours, and I didn't feel like it was enough time!
They have some great play houses for kids, and of course, a merry go round. They also have a small splash pad area, and you can even rent a large stuffed animal to ride on.
My daughter is a year and a half, and she particularly liked playing with the statues by the exhibits as well as looking at the elephant and orangutan.
The zoo is really large, and I did feel lost a few times. However, you can download a map, and they have street signs pointing to exhibits to help you out.
Be prepared on the weekends to park far and walk. The parking is limited as there's no garage, only 1 parking lot. However, there's a nearby fishing area and trail to walk up to a lookout rock that has additional parking, and you can easily walk with a stroller.
Meg Shipley — Google review
This is a great zoo. My kids had an awesome time. They have a lot of exhibits and also places to eat and playgrounds. My kids loved the petting zoo the most. The flamingos and orangutan were also pretty popular. They have a big beautiful lake with islands that different animals hang out on, and it has a beautiful mountain backdrop. We were really glad we got membership passes.
Danielle Randazzo — Google review
This is a wonderful zoo. It great for all ages. They have a very ample variety of animals there. It's separated into sections, so it's easy to see everything without trying to figure out the place. It's a big place, so be ready to walk! It's worth it, though, and they have seating benches all over the place. Note: Going during summer time could be very, very hot!
Ed. A — Google review
SO much fun!! We went on a Friday morning and it was very busy from the parking point of view, but inside it wasn't bad at all. So many fun things to do! We were there all day and didn't even get to see everything. My kiddos LOVED IT!
Megan Oxborrow — Google review
Spent the whole day at the zoo. It was a little warm but they have splash pads. I definitely recommend buying a membership if you plan on going atleast twice. It'll save you a lot of money. You can bring an ice chest and food inside, no alcohol or glass.
Camelback Mountain is a popular hiking and rock climbing destination located in the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area between Arcadia, Phoenix, and the town of Paradise Valley. The mountain boasts diverse wildlife and scenic trails that lead to its summit. Beat the heat early in the morning with a hike up Camelback Mountain before breakfast at Prado.
We went on a weekday (Tuesday) of last week. It was not crowded. Everyone is very helpful and courteous especially when passing narrow pathways. It took us 90 mins to climb, granted we stopped frequently to take pictures as the scenery was spectacular... you can literally see the entire city, 360 degrees view ....and 30mins to get back. Once you summit, most will spend 30mins to enjoy the full views of the city. Highly recommended and well worth it. Please make sure to use hiking boots. Regular sneakers will slip when descending...and all it takes is 1 slip to land in ER as rocks are sharp and dangerous.
Nivi Thadasina — Google review
Great fun climbing / scrambling up the mountain. Trainers are fine but hiking boots ideal. Few tricky bits but worth it for the views.
JB Mills — Google review
Okay so let me start off by saying Camelback Mountain is all that and a bag of chips but you must be prepared tons of water I mean tons I went in November and I drank a gallon from the bottom to the top and back down very strenuous hike starts off Gravel Road turns into Rocky Road turns into Boulder Road then you have steps make a turn and you're at the poles!!! Wow it is tough going up but not so so tough but coming down oh wow oh wow you're not even halfway there great hike highly recommended but not for the beginner please don't bring kids not a place for them I was struggling and I mean struggling and I'm your Avid hiker but this one here is a tough cookie enjoyed every minute of it if you love hiking and your ready for a challenge hit the Camel Back don't go the easy way go the hard way yes there's two enjoy!!!
P.s. LOTS OF WATER 💧
LAND ROVER — Google review
Nice hike with beautiful views of the city. Moderate skill and reasonable footware appropriate for the full hike and reaching the peak. Pretty busy on weekends.
Matt M — Google review
Amazing hike, but not one for the faint of heart! Be prepared for more rock climbing than walking on a clear trail. Beautiful 360 views at the top!
Elizabeth Soyka — Google review
Very rocky climb up. Come prepared with water, hiking shoes, not gym shoes, gloves, food. Stretch and warm up. If you’re slow or new to hikes come prepared to spend 3 hrs round trip. That was my hardest hike ever.
Dean — Google review
The hike was really scenic since the mountain is located in the middle of Phoenix. There is so much to see when you get to the top. You can easily get a view of the downtown Phoenix. This place also offers some of the best sunrise and sunset views. I would say that the hike was worth it. The only problem is that it’s usually very busy and parking can be problematic. That’s why it’s best to go early in the morning.
Landon Verbrugge — Google review
It was one of the toughest and most satisfying hikes I've ever done. I did the echo side, didn't know there was an easier side, but I'm glad I didn't know it because I might have missed out on that feeling of accomplishment after.
Michael McCollum — Google review
This is fantastic climb! The Echo Canyon route is approx. 2 mi. each way. Intermediate first 1/3, advanced final 2/3. Bring good hiking shoes and plenty of water. My first climb took 2 hrs. round-trip. So worth it! Be advised to arrive early as the parking lot is small and fills quickly.
Thomas Overmiller — Google review
We had an awesome experience hiking the trail. Despite the heat it was an enjoyable venture. The trails are well maintained and the foot traffic was tolerable. We will definitely be hiking here when we visit the area again.
Texizboy1 — Google review
Whew this hike was awesome! After reading reviews, I decided to start by going up Echo and down Cholla. I personally would rather climb a steep and rocky incline earlier in the morning before it gets hot and finish with the tamer side of Cholla. It took me just under 1 hour to get to the top and 30 minutes to go down Cholla (I scramble down rocks really fast and ran sometimes). I’d recommend having solid shoes since some rocks are a little slippery due to use, there are parts with little loose rocks, and for climbing rocks in general. I had light hiking gloves which were nice where I had hold onto a rock to go up or butt slide down a rock face. some people without gloves had some minor scratches but they were all good so up to your personal preference. Overall having both hands free is nice. There was a nice breeze and slight clouds but if it was a clear day without wind, it would have been way hotter.
Overall, have good shoes, bring water (preferably in a pack so you can keep your hands free), and take breaks!
Stella Lindberg — Google review
Started hiking at 6 AM. Weather was excellent and perfect for hiking today! Thoroughly enjoyed the climb and descend. Views were stunning from the top! Would love to go back again soon!
G J — Google review
We started our day by trying to hike at the Echo Canyon Trailhead but the parking lot was closed because it was too full. We ended up doing Cholla Trailhead and since it was such a busy Saturday we had to park on the side of the street about a half mile away or so. The hike was more on the moderate side, some spots were pretty rocky and could be challenging but nothing too crazy. You can get to Camelback Mountain from either the Echo Canyon Trailhead or the Cholla Trailhead. Overall a very beautiful hike. Round trip from the car was 3.8 miles and 1,335 feet elevation gain.
Josh Wilson — Google review
5 star views and a workout you’ll feel the next day! I’ve done this hike a couple times but never in the spring. Weather was beautiful and we even got to see the fire fighters in training. It was a weekday but there were still quite a few people there. We got there at 830 and there was a few parking places left. I would say this is a top 5 hike in Az.
Michelle R — Google review
Awesome trail. Very hard going up but going down was super easy. 36 trail markers and you see the whole view of the city!
Claudette Hensley — Google review
It's famous for a reason! Tough climb, but you can definitely do it. Bring fluids! Drink plenty. Take your time. You got this!
Nathan Minten — Google review
Perfect for a quick workout. There are two main paths that both can be completed at any pace. There is some light bouldering required but most people shouldn’t have a problem. Make sure to pack water. The view at the top is well worth the expenditure.
Matt Roller — Google review
Great morning hike, I went with my family and I was the only one to trust the reviews so I expected it to be hard (which it was). We took the Cholla trail both ways and it was around a 2.5 hour trip. The trail gets progressively harder especially towards the top but it is all worth it. You can see the entire Phoenix/ Scottsdale area from the top and we saw multiple lizards on our descent.
Ben Hardy — Google review
What an experience! Really nice hike. Personally for me uphill wasn’t too bad however downhill was quite a scary experience due to the steep descent. Wear proper shoes, take your time..stay safe and most importantly enjoy your time!!
I did it at sunrise so wasn’t overly busy and weather was perfect.
Salman S — Google review
It's definitely a hike that's worth it! Make sure you bring the correct shoes cause there are a lot of steep areas.
Aaron Yonda — Google review
Camelback Mountain, located in Phoenix, Arizona, is a prominent natural landmark and a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Here's a review covering various aspects:
**Scenery and Views:**
Camelback Mountain offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Phoenix metropolitan area. The landscape is rugged and provides a unique desert scenery that captures the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The summit provides an excellent vantage point to witness both sunrise and sunset, creating a magical atmosphere.
**Hiking Trails:**
The mountain features two main trails: Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail. Both trails offer challenging hikes with steep ascents, making them suitable for more experienced hikers. The trails are well-maintained, but the difficulty level may be demanding for beginners. The Echo Canyon trailhead tends to be busier, so early arrival is recommended.
**Fitness Level and Accessibility:**
Hiking Camelback Mountain requires a moderate to high level of physical fitness due to steep inclines and rocky terrain. The Cholla Trail is generally considered less strenuous than Echo Canyon but still demands a good level of fitness. While the trails are accessible, individuals with mobility issues may find the terrain challenging.
**Crowds and Parking:**
Camelback Mountain is a popular destination, especially during weekends and peak seasons. Parking can be challenging, particularly at the Echo Canyon trailhead. It's advisable to arrive early to secure a parking spot and avoid the midday heat, as temperatures in the desert can be intense.
**Wildlife and Flora:**
The mountain is home to a variety of desert flora and fauna. Hikers may encounter cacti, lizards, and other desert-dwelling creatures. The biodiversity adds to the overall hiking experience, providing an opportunity to appreciate the resilience of life in the arid environment.
**Safety Precautions:**
Given the challenging nature of the trails, it's crucial for hikers to be well-prepared. Bringing sufficient water, wearing appropriate footwear, and being aware of weather conditions are essential safety precautions. Additionally, it's advisable to adhere to trail guidelines and respect the natural environment.
**Overall Experience:**
Camelback Mountain offers a rewarding and invigorating hiking experience for those seeking a challenge and stunning desert landscapes. The views from the summit are unparalleled, making the effort and difficulty of the hike worthwhile. However, visitors should be prepared for the physical demands and plan accordingly for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
srikanth kavuri — Google review
This was such a beautiful hike! If you are looking to hike but don't want to drive far from phoenix, this is a good 20 min drive away. It's located behind paradise valley which is where all the millionaires live!
The hike is a little tough, with steep rocks to climb, but they have rails to hold.
Make sure you wear some shoes with grip, because some parts of the rocks are smooth so, you may slip. Water is a must on this hike! Great views and opportunity for nice pictures.
Alex Vu — Google review
4.8
(820)
•
4.5
(2561)
Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
12
Arizona Outdoor Fun Adventures & Tours
Tour agency
Tours
ATV dealer
ATV rental service
ATV repair shop
Off roading area
What a great time! They really took the time to train us and put safety first. Alex and Christian were awesome tour guides! I suggest the earlier time since it was way too hot when we were leaving and the second set of participants were arriving. The guided tour of the Centipede Trail was a perfect adventure for a visit to the Scottsdale/Phoenix area!
Christine Hanichak — Google review
If you are looking for something to do while staying in Arizona that doesn’t include day clubs, hiking, eating, or golfing, then head to Arizona Outdoor Fun Tours and hop on a quad and rip it up!
I was there with a party of 7 for a bachelor weekend and it was a blast all around. Ranging from first time on a quad to experienced, we all were able to have some fun.
The parking lot is a little bit of a walk to the actual rental area. The sign-in process was nice and easy as we were able to complete them all on our phones before we got there. The helmet fitting went well along with the quick quad training/familiarity session. The employer simply told us to head back out and hook a left and we were on the trails!
Things to note: if you want gloves, bring them as they don’t provide them. Bring tinted goggles as the ones they provide are clear. Do yourself a favor and wear a long shirt and pants. Please. The sun tan can wait until you’re soaking up the rays at the pool. The directions to get on the trails weren’t the most detailed but it made it more fun trying to figure it out. We made grate memories and we’re thoroughly happy with how we spent our time.
Victor Zimbardi — Google review
Tons of fun! Prepare to get dusty. Riley and Curtis were our guides. The trails are intense but not too difficult. We saw gorgeous scenery and learned a bit about the desert.
Katherine Hooper — Google review
It was awesome. Good amount of driving time. It wasn’t very beginner level which was great. The trail was beautiful. Guide was A+ too (Josh Mayton). They let us have some fun with it and they have a lot of options to pick from (we chose guided ATV). Also possibly the best price you’re going to get for this experience.
Tanvi Raman — Google review
Had a great time tearing up the desert with our tour guide Kurtis he was informative and funny and must have been a photographer in his past life cause he’s great at it. We got to see the mountains and desert like never before. We learned some information about the plants and wildlife in the area that we might otherwise have never known. Overall great experience and would highly recommend
Brandon Brown — Google review
Everything was pretty good other than the fact that I had to remove my turban to enjoy ATV ride. I understand for safety reasons etc but would've appreciated it if I had gotten a clear communication as I was getting mixed massages depending on whom I asked and at the end they suggested me to contact the posted number regarding a refund. I ended up taking the turban off and enjoyed the ride. Overall the experience was pretty good and the staff was nice and friendly
Gurjit Singh Khehra — Google review
Well we booked the ride and shoot and had a blast. Check in was a breeze with,I think her name is Tiffany, super friendly. We started out first shooting with Kennedy, great guy. He helped my wife get set up and shoot. We had the AK-47 and Tommy Gun. I have shot a lot of guns but never full auto or a Tommy Gun. The ammo will go fast so keep that in mind or get extra ammo like we did.
We chose to do the unguided UTV tour and had a great time. The trails are fun to ride and play around on. If you see a path don't be afraid to go down or up it. Book this, you won't be disappointed (except for how fast you run out of ammo).
Miguel Ruiz — Google review
Went here on our honeymoon and loved every minute of the two hours!!! We rented a UTV instead of quads because I forgot my ID, but it ended up being amazing. We went with the unguided tour which was incredible because then you can explore at your own pace and speed. There was hardly anyone else out there and the trails are clearly marked and beautiful. We even saw a pair of wild donkeys. So much fun!
Leah Potjer — Google review
Solid place to have so much fun. We came from NY specifically for this activity. Beautiful views, awesome guides and challenging trails. We did the unguided tour and we had an absolute blast! Everyone was so accommodating. Check in was quick and easy. Training was straight forward and very thorough. Will definitely come back when I’m in Arizona!
Alex Kuruvilla — Google review
An amazing time was had! We did a guided two hour tour and had a blast. The tour guides and staff were very friendly. Lots of water was provided. They gave tidbits about the land. We drove. Or most of that two hours. They give spots where you can switch drivers if needed.
Jacques Hipplewith — Google review
Highly recommend booking an experience with Arizona Outdoor Fun Adventures & Tours!!! We booked the guided UTV tour and our tour guide Rich was awesome! He took his time going over all the safety protocols on how to operate our UTV properly and made sure to answer all our questions throughout our tour. All the staff there were super helpful, professional and fun! They have ample options to book for all your adventure needs and provided all the equipment for your tour. Definitely an awesome and must do experience when you visit Arizona!! 🤗
Katherine Buitrago — Google review
My boyfriend and I booked for a 7am ATV training and an 8am ATV Centipede trail guided tour and we had a blast!
This place is fantastic - very organized and full of passionate employees who love their jobs. We had Sam as our tour guide and he was awesome! He was very knowledgeable, funny, and super engaged, checking in on us often and encouraging us along the way. Sam made time for photos as well at every tour stop. He even gave each of us on the tour a crystal rock from the desert as a little souvenir from him - it was so sweet!
We had an amazing time and felt supported every step of the way which was important since it was our first ever ATV experience.
I would HIGHLY recommend doing the extra training before the tour. Those of us in the tour group that had the training and extended practice time before heading into the desert felt much more confident and comfortable than those that did not!
Galya Oberman — Google review
I was a little nervous on doing this versus a jeep tour as a passenger. But I am so glad we did it! We rented a four person UTV with a 15-year-old 13-year-old and six-year-old, and had a blast on a two hour tour. Trevor was awesome as our guide. The scenery was beautiful and The trails were so much fun. Some of them were steep, but we never felt unsafe. Highly recommend!
Michael Staudt — Google review
We had fun! Our tour was booked for 1pm, but began a little later than that. Not sure if that is normal. Everyone there is super friendly and nice. We picked the guided UTV tour and definitely worth having a tour guide. They will give you instructions at the beginning and then head out. We did make a few stops along the way. Our tour guide Jyron was very fun and knowledgeable. They provided goggles, spray hood (I took my bandana), water at the stops, and lots of cool educational info! Prepare yourself to get really dusty and dirty. But it is def worth a try!
paula natasha — Google review
This is a fantastic place! My son and I visited Arizona a couple weeks ago for the first time and wanted something fun to do. We decided to book the Centipede Tour, and I'm so glad we did! The whole experience was exhilerating!
Riley was our guide. He did an amazing job! Very knowledgeable about the local flora, fauna and history of the area. I learned so much. You can tell he loves what he does. He also provided water for everyone and offered to take our pictures.
Driving through the Sonoran Desert, canyons, and mountains was a blast! And the views were amazing!
Haven't had this much fun in a long time! We were in a side-by-side (2-seater), Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 with selectable 2WD/4WD. The staff provided a great operational/safety orientation and fortunately these UTV's are really easy to drive. When the group stopped for a break, my son and I switched driving duties so both of us could get the full experience.
The entire tour took a couple hours but it was so much fun it didn't even seem that long. And it was TOTALLY worth it! I would highly recommend anyone check this place out, especially if you like outdoor activities and you want a fun way to tour the beautiful terrain that surrounds Phoenix.
Dundee Wilson — Google review
We had an amazing first time adventure for ATV riding, we had one one on one with the guide and then free time to practice on the course. The provide all needed equipment at no additional cost. They also have a shooting range and dune buggys. They offer amazing experiences to all experience levels, we'll be back to experience more
Tricia B — Google review
Had such a blast riding ATV's enjoying the views on the trails as you climb mountains and take in the views. Experienced ATV rider but opted for the guided tour and really enjoyed the knowledge of the area from our guide Jake. He was a blast and he had a great personality. He had us stop a couple of times for water, photos and stories of the history of the land, plants, and animals. Got back to camp and decided to hit the range with Maxx, shooting a Barrett .50 cal and the Desert Eagle pistol! Highly recommend stopping for a visit!!
Levi — Google review
We had an amazing time for our company outing to AZ Outdoor Fun Adventures and Tours. Our tour guide was Bryan. He was incredibly knowledgeable, tons of fun, and was excellent at keeping us all safe. His passion for his job and knowledge of nature shows. I learned a lot and had a great time.
Cathy Buck — Google review
12-2-23
Had an awesome time!!! I would do it again.
Why this place? Friendly staff, busy but they will take of you. Don’t let your fear get into you when trying out ATV. There is a course where you could practice before they let you out on the wild 😜 It seems intimidating but going back you got that ATV going and running!!! It’s a great experience, nice view and definitely learning experience.
I — Google review
11/7/23
Exhilarating experience! The staff were awesome and very helpful. I had never driven an ATV alone, and they were very affirming and motivating. The test track was stressing me out, but they gave me the confidence to do the tour. There were some very scary/life changing moments on the trail, but it was worth it! Our guide (forgot his name, maybe someone can identify him in the photo) was very knowledgeable and patient! Oh, & we even got a rattlesnake lesson at the end.
S A — Google review
The boys from Iowa had a blast cruising up and down the mountains with Jake! Great trails, great equipment, and lots of big smiles from my 3 boys! Jake took great care of our group and we went all over the trains, up/down and left & right! Fantastic views along all of the trails. You will see some of the tallest & biggest cactus’s I’ve ever seen! Great afternoon adventure!
Frank Coryn — Google review
I’ve done some cool stuff in my life, but nothing like this….. this is way up on top of that list! I’m from the NYC area, and there’s nothing at all like this out here in the East. You just can’t beat the scenery either, it’s phenomenal!!! Trevor and Joe were great guides, and getting to shoot a .50 Cal on top of the ATV ride was the icing on the cake! I’ll be back next year!
PacMan88 — Google review
Jesse and Jake were great tour guides! They took care of us and made sure we were okay the entire time. We were a little nervous but they were reassuring us to make us feel comfortable. We had so much fun!!! Super informative and amazing views. Would love to come back when we’re in Arizona!
Jennifer Nguyen — Google review
Loved our adventure today (4.3.24). Easy set up, fun, no hassle, freedom, great trails, mix of options, didn't require us to sign 18 extra things and nickel and diamonds for the extras. The basics were all covered. It was perfect. My son and I had a blast on the ATVs.
Kayle Vick — Google review
Went ATV’ing with AZ Outdoor Fun. Had a great time, our guides Trevor and Mike were awesome. They provide ample practice time and instruction to get comfortable before going on the trail. The trail itself is beautiful and adventurous…going up/down hills and lots of turns. Plenty of time to take pics and water was provided to us. The guides also pointed out points of interest in the terrain.
Erica B — Google review
As a first time I highly recommend the UTV tour, our tour guide Jesse was very beginner friendly, kind, and Patient. My wife and I would definitely come back. The views were amazing!
The Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum is a replica of an Old West pioneer town that takes visitors on a tour of the state's territorial days. Costumed craftspeople recreate life in the 1870s and 1880s, while also holding special events like a lively bluegrass festival throughout the year. Children and adults of all ages are welcome to stop by and enjoy an afternoon of family fun.
I enjoyed looking at the pioneer experience! Explaining to two toddlers what we were looking at! The 4 yr old thought the school is where they made witches as there was a witches hat there! I explained to him what a dunces hat was! And told him he would be wearing it everyday as he sasses adults all the time! He said he was NOT gonna go to that school!
Barbara Kennebeck — Google review
We enjoyed our time at the Pioneer Living History Museum. Entrance cost was $12 a person. There is a lot of walking involved, but mostly a paved path. It's outdoors, so you may want to visit in the cooler months or make a morning visit. They have actual structures from the late 1800's that they relocated as well as reproductions. I was able to get a lot of great photos.
Christina Henderson — Google review
Go go go. This was a highlight of our trip to Scottsdale. I was skeptical at first but quickly won over at the history, buildings, grounds, flowers, live animals, and most of all the people who devote their time to bring alive this historical experience. Women in costume discuss their tatting, the trails are beautifully kept, you can touch and feel the bullet holes in the structures, and the vistas are sublime. We really had fun watching a movie being shot while we visited. Most enjoyable.
Mags — Google review
I love this place my kids always have a good time when we come and very educational
Talicia Jackson — Google review
Very cool place to check out in the valley. Right off the I-17 so it's not a far drive if you live in the valley (Phoenix Metro). Highly recommend, bring the kids in have a good time exploring Arizona's roots.
AZ Adventures Mike Wilson — Google review
A great museum that has preserved many items from the past. Friendly knowledge staff. The telephone museum is awesome and brought back such fun memories. The young lady that showed us around was fabulous. Connie, thanks for your hospitality!
Dian Carpenter — Google review
A nice collection types of homes, businesses, cabins. Volunteers in costume where very informative. Very reasonably pricenfor a family. Today they had trick or treat for kids fro. 10 to 2 pm.
Lisha — Google review
Went on a Sunday and it was a ghost town. Pulling in to the parking lot there were two cars, I thought maybe it was closed.
The only staff I saw was a woman taking payment at the front entrance. Other than that there were two other families roaming around. I have seen reviews mentioning people in costume, I saw none of that.
The attraction insists of old buildings you can walk around and view. Most you can’t go inside, just look inside the doorway which is closed off by a gate, and look at staged pieces from the time period.
It’s a big park, and it will take a while to walk around it. There’s restrooms near the entrance, it beside that portable toilets are spread around. There was no food or drinks to be found when I went, however there were signs that there may be a hotdog cart/snacks at some time.
If you don’t explore, you’ll never find anything new. I’m glad I took the time to discover this place, but it’s not something I’d ever return to.
Jason Loehnert — Google review
Great place for a field trip, with or without kids. I happened to be chaperoning a kindergarten field trip and the kiddos were having a blast. The buildings are great! The favorite parts of my group's day: "the church," "the chickens," "the banker, was he alive?" and "the graves"
Ames T — Google review
My mom told me she chaperoned my 3rd grade field trip here, which was the early 90s. So, to chaperone my childs 4th grade class, it was a really cool experience. The telephone museum was by far my favorite, that alone would be worth another visit without children. Parking was super easy. The staff was super friendly and helpful even with several schools coming at them at once. There's a lot to see here. Lots of walking to get to the different exhibits and houses. It was very breezy and sunny. Recommend comfy shoes and sunscreen.
Jennifer Smith — Google review
We honestly had a wonderful experience. Visiting town from Los Angeles for the Christmas holiday. We went on Wednesday 12/21 and we were literally the only ones there. We arrived at 1:30 and left shortly after 3PM and aside from the employees there was not a single other person on site today which was awesome.
I really enjoyed being able to see vintage historical buildings, as well as the re-creations of other buildings. Some were as old as 1875. It was especially nice just to be able to walk outside and go at your own pace. It’s hard to find anything like this back home, so it was a really unique experience for us. I do wish they would’ve had some more historical information about each building but that would be something easy to fix. Overall a really pleasant experience and I would definitely recommend to any visitor or anyone who is from Arizona as well.
Zan Lee — Google review
This was a fascinating museum! There are over a dozen buildings to view. Some buildings you can go inside and others you look through windows and read plaques concerning the history of the building. Quite a few of the buildings are originals! Others are reconstructed, but still very cool to look at and read about! There is a sidewalk for those with young children needing strollers. Allow at least an hour to enjoy! $12/adult. $10/children ages 5-16. There is a volunteer who is available to teach about telephone technology in the Telephone Museum portion of the Pioneer Living Museum! There is an RV park out there so be sure of which road you take to park at the museum so you don't have to do a turn around in the RV park.
Brandi S. — Google review
Yes yes and more yes! What a lovely treasure from the friendliness of the staff greeting you, the wonderful telephone expert Steve and everything in between. The grounds are just spectacular and all the little stops along the paths are charming. My one suggestion would be to label some of the trees and plants, I found them to be part of the experience and would love to know a little about them as well.
Melania Atzori — Google review
Came here over 20 plus years ago on a son's school field trip. Finally got to come back. Loved looking at all the old building. There's a gun range on the other side of the hill so you can hear bullet shooting which kind of put you back in the old days (lol) but when they weren't shooting it was so peaceful there.
Pauli Beel — Google review
This was a great spot to walk around amd enjoy the property. Went when a film crew was making a movie so there was no one "living" at the museum. Will definitely try again still enjoyed the property.
Melissa Matheson — Google review
Wild West Historical Buffs listen up, here’s a must experience place! Pioneer Living History Institution as encompassing Territorial Arizona from 1863 to 1912, believe it. This enormous open-air museum boasts over 30 historic structures and stuff with antiques, memorabilia, artifacts, live animals and exhibits that will astound any aficionado or historical curiosity seeker. Their reconstructed, original and reproductions, from AZ first Senator’s home to Blacksmith Shops, to a Church, to some Victorian homes, a late eighteen hundreds dress shop, it’s an amazing adventure. This Museum does not get enough recognition! And I believe they don’t charge enough admission. From the moment you walk into the Entrance/Incredible Antique Bar/Snack Bar/Ticket Counter/incredible Telephone Museum, you will be walking at least a mile and one half throughout your stay, they created a very walkable concrete walk but ensure to carry water and best done in the morning or late afternoon, but well worth the walk (exercise)! Expect a couple of hours here. You will marvel at many things here and realize our predecessors opening the west for us, really, really, really had a hard life.
Rick Gonzalez — Google review
I loved all the old timey stuff. The show was pretty cool! I actually learned a lot.
Delia Padilla — Google review
Enjoyed looking at the original structures. Staff were friendly. Saw some wildlife to include a rattlesnake.
The newest water park in Arizona is Hurricane Harbor Phoenix. Offering more than 30 attractions for thrill seekers of all ages, the park features world-first Maximum Velocity Dueling H2O Coasters.
This place was really cool, except for the long lines. I can say with certainty that I spent 75% of my time in line, 20% of my time on actual slides, and 5% of my time traveling between the slides to wait in the next line. I would totally come here again though, because my kid had a great time and never seemed to notice that the lines were too big. If she didn't notice, then who am I to complain? Overall, I had a wonderful experience today.
On a side note, some fences needed to be fixed up or even replaced, because I swear some of them look exactly the way they did when I was a kid. Sometimes a new paint job just isn't enough.
If you haven't been here, then you have to come here just to say you did. What better thing is there to do in Phoenix than hit up a water park in July?
Vin M — Google review
Me and my children had a great time here!!! If you visit please bring sandals or water shoes as a lot of the walking areas might as well be lava. The slides are great, the lines are pretty long for the bigger rides but mostly manageable. The food is meh...for $20 a person at a water park what do you expect really. Overall we had a really good time and I highly recommend 😁
Patrick Russell — Google review
Not worth your money. Filfthy and most rides are closed. 1. Arrived shortly before opening time and no one was operating the parking gate and checking parking passes so everyone who parked in got in for free. Which is frustrating because we paid for parking in advanced so lost money on that one. 2. The wave pool kept getting closed down for “safety” at “10 minute” intervals which were more like 30 minutes each time. 3. The lazy river was shut down due to “not having enough lifeguards”. 4. The big rides that have the giant rafts were only sharing TWO rafts all day long, while 5 more were sitting aside deflated. Causing extremely long lines at extremely long periods of time (over an hour wait) in the extreme 115 degree weather. 5. The entire place was filthy the moment they opened. Obviously no one sweeps up at the end of the day. 6. The kid area was a huge let down. The splash pad wasn’t operating. And the area with the kid pool and kid jungle gym litterally smelt like feces. The water was brown and it was DISGUSTING. (see photos) I refused to let my toddlers play in it. So they had only a couple things that were open that met their height requirements. 7. The little stand alone snack bars were all closed except the Dip n Dots. They had about 8 stands and only 1 was in use. So the line was wrapped around the place. Their excuse for not opening the other ones was “schools tomorrow, so we’re not opening other stands” it was on a Sunday, the last day of Summer Break, and you’re not going to go all out and let kids have fun and make the most of it? 8. The bar was closed. 9. The food was awful and tasted like it was day old food. They also don’t have lids for the drinks so how do you manage to carry food and drinks back to your seat without spilling? 10. They ran out of raft rentals instantly so we never got one. Even though we were one of the firsts in the park.
Such a waste of money. They operate only a quarter of the rides, but you still have to pay full price. Pure greed and highway robbery.
Jessica Freeman — Google review
Got to say that after reading some reviews my wife and I were a little nervous about taking our family here but we're committed since we'd already bought tickets. Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised. The staff were very friendly, the facilities were mostly in good shape, the bathrooms were clean, food was good and the wait times were reasonable.
The only extra we sprang for was one all you can eat meal ticket that my wife was very good at getting food every 90 minutes for us all to share.
Some things that were closed all day: kids splash park, and most kids slides, lazy river, the bahama blaster slide, and I have to agree that they need to take wave out of the wave pool name.
Other than opening all the attractions I'd love for them to clean the sharp little stones off the walking paths. Nothing like stepping on them with your bare feet! I tossed a dozen off myself...
We were there on Easter weekend so I'm assuming things would not be as busy as summer. Our kids are aged 8-12 and had a blast as did many others we interacted with. Would go back if we were in the area again.
Joel Doerksen — Google review
The staff was very friendly, we went on a weekday and it wasn’t too busy and neither were the lines too long, and with the compact design of the water park we were able to go on all of the rides a few hours before the park closed.
We had even come in a little after they opened.
The rides were a blast as well, I do wish we got to use the pool and lazy river but an incident had occurred that resulted in both being closed for the remainder of that day.
The food was also very delicious and the portions were decently sized.
We don’t live close but it was definitely worth the drive.
Sabrina Mykrantz — Google review
Went for my daughter's 4yr birthday. Bought unlimited meal bundles. The entire park was out of drinks other than alcoholic beverages. Waited an hour to get 3 street tacos and was told they had no drinks. Waited in line for 30 mins at island grill until a young staff member drew an imaginary line in front of me, and said everyone behind the line had to leave. Someone else asked where we could get some food or drink and the young lady rudely said "not here". Went to snack shack but it was closed. The soda refill place: closed. Icee stand: closed. Beach side Grill: closed.
The cafeteria was the only thing open other than taco truck (no drinks), and Indian fry bread (unknown if they had drinks), but the cafeteria didn't have any drinks and the floor was flooded and the trash was piled up around the trash cans inside so much u just had to dump trash in the pile.... So 3 places had food. Each had lines over an hour, none had soda, juice, bottled water... 3 tacos cost me $109.99 and 1.5hrs + some frustration with rude staff.
Lazy river closed for the whole day. Island swim area: closed. kids slide: closed...many more rides closed.. the only place available for my daughter was a big splash pad but the water smelled strong of mildew and gym socks.
Was told they were understaffed and obviously unprepared. Unfortunately they prioritized money over safety by completely filling the park with people when they didn't have the staff to keep us safe.
If only they would have drawn the imaginary line in front of us before we entered. We could have saved lots of time and money on my daughters birthday.
I really wish I could get my time and money back.
I doubt it's like this often, but today was unacceptable
Joey Giersch — Google review
I bought season passes for my family thinking it would be a good investment to beat the heat in Phoenix during the summer. Terrible investment. From the beginning of summer to mid-September we’ve came out 10-12 times. There are never enough life guards to keep attractions open.
I’ve never seen the lazy river open, not once. Splash island is a glorified splash pad with 7 water slides of various lengths for young kids. I’ve never seen more than 3 open at one time. Paradise Island is a big pool area. It’s open about 50% or the time but closes randomly throughout the day, I assume because the life guards go on break/lunch. Snack vendors are a toss up whether you’ll see them open. Hopefully you don’t get hungry or thirsty because food and drinks are some of the most expensive I’ve seen at a park. It’s on Disneyland’s level. To make it worse, the last time I got drinks they were about of everything but a couple of choices. I think all they had was sprite the last time I went. They have water coolers set up at places but they get empty fast and never had ice in them to begin with so the water is hot, if there’s any left when you check.
Overall terrible experience every time I’ve been. Save your money.
Joshua Bailey — Google review
Me and my children love wet and wild. Although the lines are the thing that takes up most of ur time waiting but sole rides the wait is worth it. The unlimited drink option is very disappointing as some drinks run out quickly. The food is overpriced like any other water park. And not good at all. The only thing that's good is the icecream. I love the fact that the water park has 3 different toddler parks to go to. It may be a walk but once u get to where u r going then that's that. The restrooms are not so far from where u are sitting. The employees are nice. And the park itself is a water park. Very wet very hot and mosquitoes r not very friendly...
Danielle VERDUZCO — Google review
BE FOREWARNED- no outside food allowed!! We originally rented a small cabana to eat and rest in, but without having food, it’s not worth it. And the inside food is pricey. Other than that, we had a great day. The water park had a very large playground area for early to mid elementary age children with several age-appropriate, fun waterslides. We spent most of our day here. We also spent time in the lazy river and wave pool. Two other smaller water slides were also good for preschool to early elementary kids. The tubes were $10 and people can snatch them up if you leave them, so be careful.
Jessica Stucki — Google review
Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2 out of 5 stars)
I feel compelled to provide an honest and comprehensive review based on my recent experience at your establishment. Unfortunately, the overall impression left me quite disappointed and disheartened.
To begin with, the pricing seemed disproportionate to the quality of the food offered. I paid over $500 upfront for a birthday party, expecting a memorable experience. However, the lack of a designated area for the event was unexpected and did not meet my expectations.
Moreover, the circumstances during the party only exacerbated the disappointment. On a scorching day with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees, the only available option to purchase water was from the bar. This left me and other parents with limited choices and an added level of concern, particularly for the well-being of the children. It would have been greatly appreciated to have more family-friendly options and facilities, considering the extreme weather conditions.
Additionally, the absence of a lifetime cup or any long-term benefits for loyal patrons, despite the availability of season passes, left me feeling less valued as a customer.
I kindly request that you review the pricing structure and consider offering a discount or complimentary service to compensate for the lack of amenities and the overall disappointing experience that accompanied the high cost.
I understand that no establishment is immune to occasional challenges, but addressing these concerns and taking steps to improve can greatly enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. I hope that my feedback, along with others who may share similar sentiments, will be taken seriously, as it can contribute to the betterment of your business.
Thank you for your attention to these matters, and I hope to see positive changes in the future.
C Dash Lo ?SkinnyLoJones? — Google review
I hate to leave this bad review, I think honestly the place if better taken care has the potential to be full all day not just the morning session.
I would have given them a No ⭐ but it is not an option.
This is why
Pros:
The first time I came was before COVID-19 it was called Wet and Wild and the experience was awesome and my daughter had a blast. Everything was open
There are shades everywhere
Cabañas are ok but pricey. Didn't get one
Cons:
- This second time around not so much fun for the adults.
- Only the main restaurant if you can call it that it was open.
- The rest of the concession stands about 2 or 3 were open.
- The open Concession didn't have drinks or ice to be served or refilled.
- All you can drink cup cost about $35 dollars but what good does it do if there are no place to fill them.
- At he Taco stand food not so much desirable
- The staff need to be better train since they are using a bunch of high school kids to do the work.
Don't get me wrong some of them have awesome customer service skills.
- Some of the rides are broken with caution tape.
The ones that are open some of the wall look green with some kind of algae.
- Wave pool half part of it not working.
THIS IS THE WORST, bathroom were disgusting and smelling like a pool of pee all day long, make sure to use sandals or flip flops when entering. I talk to the staff they told me the usually smell like that. Yikes 😬😬😳😳 🤢🤢🤢😷😷😷
- Not enough staff to keep the place up
Not what I was expecting from a takeover from Six Flags.
I was expecting it to be more and better than the last time I was here 3 years ago.
I guess they are following the motto if is bringing money 💰💰💰 don't fix it.
The girls had a blast, thank God they don't have to go through the stressful day we did.
Since we got the Gold pass for 12 months I hope the Hurricane Harbor in LA is better but not keeping my hopes up
Josue Redondo — Google review
We've been going here for the last four years and buy season passes. The kids enjoyed it the first year, then it closed for COVID. When we started going again, something was always not working (one slide or another, or the wave pool), the food lines were terrible, even with online ordering, and there were never enough tubes. The lines for the slides are terrible and my kids don't enjoy going anymore. We still get season passes but we go to Magic Mountain in California more than we go to Hurricane Harbor here.
Michelle wheatley — Google review
My daughter came for a visit and we took her here on Saturday September 9th. We purchased tickets in advance, which we were able to avoid the lines to walk right in with no wait.
Several of the rides were closed due to shortage of lifeguards, which was disappointing. This made the lines for the other rides quite long. Temperature outside reached 112 degrees, so needless to say it was miserable standing in the long lines. We spent most our time in the wave pool, which only a portion was open due to shortage of lifeguards. The lazy River was another ride that was closed.
I rated my experience at Hurricane Harbor 3 stars, In my opinion this would have been a better experience had all the rides been operational, and temperatures were cooler.
I would definitely suggest going on a day with the temps being below 100, and when all rides are operating.
Julie DePalma — Google review
This is a cool Waterpark but it always has ALOT of closures. The 2 coolest slides have been broken for at least 2 years. The kids area in the center of the park is closed EVERY SINGLE TIME I go. There's a large pool in the back ibe never been able to go to in 2 years, and they never have enough staff to man the lazy river so that's closed. I expect more from six flags to be honest. Oh also one side of the wave pool is broken so the waves are super small and barely make it to the opposite side. If u are just going for 1 day it's way overpriced if u get a season pass it's chill.
Freddie L — Google review
I hate to leave yet another poor review for HHP, but I do want to leave an honest recount of our experience while adding positives as well. There is indeed a LOT of potential for Hurricane Harbor, but changes are needed and I hope they take these reviews to heart.
To start with the pros: HHP has a decent park layout where everything is easy to walk to fairly quickly, awesome adrenaline-inducing water slides (even with the sometimes exceedingly long queue times), ample seating under shade structures, and good food / alcohol options (yes it's overpriced- but what else would you expect at a water/theme park?)
As others have mentioned, however, the wear and tear of this place is evident if you look for it. I felt a little apprehensive climbing up the stairs for the slides and seeing the rust, deterioration underneath.
The furniture we used was filthy and difficult to adjust.
Some of the restrooms were also disgusting: likely a fungi breeding ground.
Hurricane Harbor also needs to better allocate the lifeguards. It definitely ruined the experience waiting half the day for the lazy river, then the huge influx of impatient visitors all at once made it unpleasant. All the visitors at this park were all grouchy and impatient, actually, and you can't blame them.
Lastly, the 'wave' pool needs to be upgraded or relabeled - we didn’t even realize the waves were on until we saw the small breaks on the edges. As they have lifeguards lined up every foot in this pool, I think they could up the machine a bit.
During the time we visited most of the food and drink stalls were opened and well stocked. The queues were long, so I would highly recommend utilizing the app!
Also, I would highly highly recommend water shoes because you’re experience here will be abysmal avoiding or failing to avoid getting your feet burnt!
Nicholas McLaughlin — Google review
We have had terrible experiences at Hurricane Harbor so far this year. We bought season passes for our family to use for March/April and we went every time they were open so far and none of the spaces for young children were open. Our 11 month old son couldn't go anywhere because even the wave pool requires children in a life jacket just to be in the water and he couldn't sit in the water while wearing the life jacket. I asked multiple times to find out when the children's areas would be open and no one had any idea. Sometimes the staff didn't even know these areas were closed. We called and tried to find out before going and also did a live chat to make sure they were open, in addition to checking their website, and even though we were told they were open they never were. We asked if they could reassign the lifeguards that were there to monitor the children's area one of the days we noticed that a lot of families were there without a space for their children to go and they said no. Our older child is 42" but they wouldn't give her a wristband to go on the slides for children 42". We spoke with guest services and member services each time we were there and they said there was nothing they could do. I called their national line multiple times and was told there was no way to refund any tickets. This is not a family friendly place to visit.
Natasha Burgess — Google review
First off, simply based on the reviews we wouldn’t have gone, but there was an event that we had to attend. The wave pool has been down ALL summer. The water started out clear when we got there, but by mid afternoon it was cloudy. There was even some swimming bug in it. Very poorly chlorinated.
For a while, there was ONE of the large 5 person rafts working for both of the giant slides. The line was down 2 levels of steps. Eventually a second, then a third were put into circulation.
They are cashless. So you have to use a machine to convert cash to a card. I imagine you don’t get money back if you don’t spend it all.
The people working in the cafe looked like they hated their job more than anything. We were told they had no pizza. Then the next person in line got pizza. We had to go back and get it (it was the only thing my daughter would eat.).
Just not a good place at all.
Located in Prescott, Watson Lake is a picturesque body of water with dark blue waters and impressive granite rock formations. There are many outdoor activities available for visitors to enjoy, such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, and camping.
This was a very beautiful lake. You cannot swim however due to high levels of mercury in the water. There is a nice hike that you can do around the lake, it can get quite rugged at times, and you will have to climb over a few boulders along the way, but it is a fun and challenging hike! The rock formations around the lake are spectacular, and make the lake quite unique. You can kayak in the lake and enjoy the view. The lake is held up by a dam on the north side of the lake. If you happen to be in the area, I recommend checking this place out. It is a nice place to get views, and a wonderful place for a quick hike. This place is great for everyone! And it only costs around $3 to get in when we went there!
Luke D — Google review
Beautiful lake with a hiking trail. I am lucky to come here in winter so there is reflection of both ice and rock.
T?n Tr? Nguy?n — Google review
Great Lake and Park outside of Prescott, AZ. Great trails that run the perimeter of the lake. Great views on the trail. Peaceful no wake lake. Perfect spot to kayak. The surrounding park has picnic areas, playgrounds and open fields to play. Clean bathrooms. A well maintained park. $3 for day visit.
P C — Google review
Hi y'all, Watson lake park is the best place to go to experience the lake from a kayak or conoes perspective. You can rent kayaks right on the shoreline there Absolutely awesome!
This particular review is regarding the scenic overlook parking area approximately a 1/2 mile north of Prescott lakes parkway on highway 89.
From this area you're able to walk to the kayak rental area and access the Peavine trail without having to pay the 3 dollar entrance fee.
But the main draw for me is the photo opportunities that are possible without ever having to leave your car.
But the conditions have to be just right. The following photos I took were on a rainy day in February.
It seems like the sun bouncing off the clouds on to the Dells lining Watson lake at sunset produces this affect.
If you're into that try to time your trip when it's more likely to be cloudy in the area...of if you want to save a few bucks; well there you go.
Jim (JIMMY MACk) — Google review
We recently visited Watson Lake on our way home and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. The lake was beautiful, the rock formations were brilliant, and we had a great time paddle boarding. We will definitely be visiting again.
As soon as we arrived at Watson Lake, we were struck by its beauty. The lake was crystal clear and surrounded by stunning rock formations. It was the perfect spot for a day of paddle boarding.
We had a great time exploring the lake on our paddle boards. The water was calm and the scenery was breathtaking. The rock formations were particularly impressive, with towering cliffs and unique shapes. We enjoyed paddling around and taking in the views.
But the beauty of the lake and the rock formations wasn't the only highlight of our visit. We also appreciated the convenience of the facilities at Watson Lake. There was plenty of parking and the rental process was easy. The staff were friendly and helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed for a great day on the water.
Overall, I am extremely impressed with Watson Lake and will definitely be returning for more paddling adventures in the future. If you're a fan of paddle boarding or just want to enjoy the beauty of nature, I highly recommend giving Watson Lake a try. It's sure to become one of your new favorites!
Anna Thundergun — Google review
We had 25 of us kayaking and paddle boarding. The lake is a good size. There's a bunch of trees at one end and a couple of big random shade trees. Easy in & out from North or south end and a couple of ramadas around to stop for a break as well.
Tony Brock — Google review
Beautiful place to spend some time relaxing. You can rent a kayak and go kayaking in the lake just no swimming. View from up top was beautiful and the place was not that crowded. Best time to visit the lake is early morning or later in the evening. There is an entry fee for day time entry and for overnight camping. There is a designated area for the camping and recreational activities. Plenty of parking so no issue there. Hike around the lake is easy to moderate (depending on the hikers capacity) but a perfectly tracked way with easy walk.
So, Enjoy !!!
Dinesh — Google review
Absolutely stunning. Cannot swim in water due to high mercury I believe but enjoyed walking around and taking in the view. You can also see a decent amount of different birds.
Barbara d'Estaintot — Google review
A beautiful, short hike close to downtown! The rocks surrounding the lake are breath-taking. I started from the North shore, near the boat ramp and went clockwise. Instead of planning this ahead of time like I normally do, I decided to just wing it and go as far as I had time for and turned around whenever I needed to.
The hike is somewhat technical, there are parts where you have to climb up a little. I highly recommend wearing a good pair of grippy trail/hiking shoes to help you get better hold on the rocks. What's great about the trails here are they are marked with white dots, so as long as you're following the white dots, you won't stray off the trails and get yourself lost (even though you might veer off to a different trail).
In about a mile in or so, you'd come across a man-made little waterfall!
Entrance/parking is $3 for an all-day pass. Check the website for hours because hours vary depending on season.
Alex Sutedja — Google review
Always a favorite in our family. Our kids are ages 4, 8 and 10 and they've been coming here since they were toddlers.
Fee is $3.
Bring mosquito repellent in the summer months.
Kayak and paddle boat rentals are available.
Small playground available.
Jacqueline S. — Google review
Great place for a hike! We weren’t quite sure where to get on the trail but we did find an entry point near the boat/kayak launch.
Tom & Jennifer Roth — Google review
Beautiful man made lake. The rock formations with the surrounding water makes for some beautiful views and photography. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore, some nice fun trails. There’s also some picnic areas and nice clean bathrooms. I also saw they have a frisbee golf course. Only $2 to get into the park, which is a great deal. I’d highly recommend for fishing, hiking, kayaking (they have rentals onsite) picnics, family gatherings, etc. I also saw a kids playground. Great place to check out if you’re in Prescott!
Ashley Fountain — Google review
The water I. The lake is filthy but the natural view of the lake is amazing. Never been to a lake surrounded by rocks. The recreational area is also very nice and comfortable. Such a good place to enjoy hiking in a beautiful day!
Case Hill — Google review
This lake and the surroundings are gorgeous, unique, and offer lots of activities. There are several hiking trails around and among the rocks. Just follow the white dots painted on the rocks along the trails. The view is spectacular. There are kayak rentals available, small sailboats, or you can bring your own. The entrance fee is $3 per car. There is a small playground for kids, benches all around the lake, and a grassy area to bring your blanket and have a picnic on. It's definitely one of my favorite spots in Arizona. Don't miss it if you're in the Prescott area.
Suzy — Google review
Watson lake is a beautiful spot. Easy access, great park. Great hiking. Lots of parking
Micah Buennagel — Google review
A favorite for the beautiful lake views and scenery with diverse hiking trails (that aren't just dirt paths) and even waterfalls!
Hike around the lake down to the other side of the dam took about an hour on the Watson Lake and Flume Trail.
Trail includes areas which require some minor climbing.
Large open green in park area provides perfect opportunity for field games.
There is also a playground and restrooms as well as gazebos and picnic tables scattered about park.
As others mentioned - entry is free on Wednesdays, otherwise $6/ vehicle.
Only negative comment is that the stench coming off the lake, while at water level and down wind, was not pleasant, but odor was no longer detectable once climbing.
Michelle Rutledge — Google review
I love the sceneries in this area.
We went there just before the sunset and it was beautiful 😍
It’s early September here and I love the weather.
- Clean restroom 🚻
-Enough parking 🅿️
-Paddle boats 🛶
-Sanctuary of birds 🦢
-Perfect for photography 📷
- Not so crowded
-Perfect for family picnic
Aziza Nahar — Google review
Beautiful area with great scrambling trails. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky but we got caught in a thunderstorm at the dam. There is nowhere to take shelter so we got soaked but there were cool waterfalls that emerged from everywhere.
Ian McCarthy — Google review
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Prescott, AZ 86301, USA
I'll never travel to Greater Palm Springs without this trip planner again
Westgate Entertainment District is a sprawling shopping complex with national retailers, restaurants, and live music on weekends. The recreation center has nice public restrooms, a splash pad for kiddos, and a bowling alley in one restaurant. There are many good restaurants here to try. The lively atmosphere makes it a great place to spend some time.
This place was really nice. So much to do and see. They have everything here. This is great for an outing for any occasion. Next time I'm in AZ I will definitely be back.
Lucretia Wesley — Google review
Very nice. Looked like they were setting up for live music: I'm sure this place is fun at night! Water fountain goes off every hour if you want to see a show! Nice candy shop and lots of good restaurants. One restaurant had a bowling alley in it, and I would definitely like to check it out next time I'm out there.
Also, public restrooms were nice and there is a splash pad for the kiddos... or whoever wants to splash in it, I suppose.
Kat Bot — Google review
Such a beautiful mall to visit along with all the shops and restaurants. We had a great time! 💖 Will definitely be back too!
Annie Lou — Google review
This restaurant just opened up about a week ago or so. I came here on a Monday to avoid the crowd. The music is good, like from the songs on the radio that you can enjoy. The service was quick and as I watched the staff they kind of helped each other out even if the table wasn't theirs. I asked the person that was waiting on me if he was a manager because his shirt was different from the others and he said yes in a way. His name was Alex C. I believe. He checked on me every so often to make sure I was doing okay and when it came time to pay the bill he helped me too because I didn't know how to work the machine 🤭 I think the food was tasty and I enjoyed the patio area where I asked to sit and enjoyed my meal.
yvette martinez — Google review
We went Thursday at 430pm. There no one else on the course besides our group of 6. My husband and coworkers said it was the best miniature golf ⛳️ they have been to. It was a good experience for me; new and well keep. My only issue was, it being August; 1000°. Thank God for their misters and ice chest full of cool wash clothes. I'd prefer cooler weather. There was 2 bars, and a restaurant also. Full ice cream counter also 🍨. $30 per adult/ $25 military discount.
Great location. Super close to the Statefarm coliseum (Beyonce was performing today), Dave & Busters, Outlet mall and other restaurants. Good area to hang out.
DiA — Google review
Great place for food/ drinks/ entertainment!
After D&Bs went to cold stone, sat outside and listened to a band, during their break there was a DJ, people were dancin, everyone was in their zone and enjoying their night, including us!
This place offers a lot, next time we're in the Phoenix area, we'll explore more 😁
Mahealani C. — Google review
Super cool place! They had everything from Axe throwing to bowling and tons of cool and unique bars. When we visited there was a car show going on, I’m sure they host cool events like this frequently.
Erika Melby — Google review
Love this place - great lively atmosphere with always something going on. Great choice of restaurants - we love Kabuki - great sushi!! But we need to try more places there.
Joyce Butler — Google review
Great spot on the west side of town with lots of places to eat, drink and have fun. There are a variety of restaurants with all kinds of food so you will find something you like. There are plenty of hotels around so you can just walk to anything in a short amount of time. There are a few places that have closed down so it looks a little janky but I’m sure they will replace them with cool spots.
Elliot Hosch — Google review
Really well maintained, clean, and not too busy. Love the restaurant selections and cure decorations
Claire Hamilton — Google review
It won't let me change the place. It should be Jerome Grand Hotel. It was very hard to find a parking spot. Check-in was quick and easy. Staff were very courteous. I wouldn't recommend staying on the first floor. The asylum restaurant is on the first floor. So the kitchen is there. It was pretty noisy. The room was nice and clean. Really liked the old fashion elevator. Kinda bummed that we didn't experience any paranormal activities.
Izzy Sanchez — Google review
It was a car show in the parking lot and was absolutely a blast with so many different types of vehicles.
Dave Lowe — Google review
A great shopping district if you like this type of mall. Personally I prefer the old style mall under one roof and air-conditioned this is an open air mall with a theater in the center and lots of little shops and eateries. It is much less chain-y with more independent stores but a mall is mall is a mall. I'm just glad they have the artisans market every Saturday from September through December. That's where you will find unique ooak items hand crafted and usually a really small carbon footprint! Small businesses make the world go round. Support your local artists!!
Paisleystorm Page — Google review
It was fun to my aunt for the first time I love that they have figure ice skating out Side I I think that should be permanent looks like fun never tried it I also when to hot and jucy
frankiegarcia7777 — Google review
I post a lot because I’ve been in Arizona three years. I bought my 86 year old mom with me we did everything together Second year my moms and I caught COVID-19 together. My mother passed, and I stayed in the hospital a year came out bed ridden for six months. I am just now exploring this beautiful city. Rest in peace mom this place is awesome
Rosie McIntyre — Google review
So many things to do. With your family, by yourself. Grab some food at a bar and grill, get entertained with an escape room, buy some sugary treats or cute souvenirs. Even just walk around at the beautiful holiday sights and festivities decorated year-round!
Brendo — Google review
I love this place they have a great holiday theme there. They had a live band playing and there are so many great things to do here. Great restaurants, Comedy Club, Escape Room, Axe throwing, roller and ice skating, glow in the dark bowling and much more.
Jene’ — Google review
This place is nice and comfortable but the food is very expensive for what you get. Nothing special I’ve had better food in cheaper places. They need to invest in the cooks to get these prices it cool for date night if your not going to eat are drink.
shelly Franklin — Google review
Always fun. I bring pups and walk. And eat, and do stuff.
Gila River Arena is a versatile facility situated in Glendale Sports and Entertainment District, which hosts Phoenix Coyotes matches, along with other sports events and concerts. The arena shares its vicinity with State Farm Stadium and Camelback Ranch. Although it may not be the finest sporting venue in the valley, it serves as an adequate location for events. It can get chilly inside the arena, especially if seated under air vents on the upper level.
Two years ago, we experienced the same things when visiting Gila River Arena for a musical concert! Not bad at all! Back then, and this time, the restrooms were clean, and the food facilities were also clean and filled with awesome folks with excellent customer service skills. Nonetheless, the food was superb! If I had to critique anything, it would be the way some erroneous communication came through, saying that Maryland road would be close because of the concert. It wasn't. That provoked a lot of confusion.
The staff did a great job directing the people and instructing them as to where sits were. All in all, I believe the Arena served as a great place to have concerts or events just like the ones mentioned above. Great job!
Ozeas Da Silva — Google review
Went to the Blake Shelton concert here and it was GREAT!! The seats were great and the food was good (priced as any concert or stadium - pricey). They did have a wide variety from wetzels pretzels to streets of New York pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, nachos etc. We had a wonderful date night and the experience and show was amazing.
Good things to know before you go:
1) Don't pay more for parking when buying tickets (from $50 up to $100). You can pay $15 to park in the last lot and walk across the street the day of the event.
2) This is a cashless venue where they only accept cards even for parking.
3) Ladies your purses must be 7 inches by 5 inches no bigger (regardless of is they are clear or not). They will make you walk back to your vehicle otherwise.
4) They search your purse, metal detectors etc. they advise to pack light so they can expedite entry.
Katrina & Oscar — Google review
Had fun taking my son to his 1st hockey game. Its a shame the city is kicking them to the curb. Its not the better of the sporting venues in the valley but I didnt have a problem with it. Definitely break a jacket as it does get a bit cool which is expected but if you are sitting in the upper level under one of those vents blowing on you....food and beer prices not any different than any other event, but no cash allowed at the moment
Dustin Smith — Google review
Spacious Arena. The set up by the band (Muse) was pretty great! Allowing for a great show and prop switching on stage and in Arena while performing. Definitely enjoyed spending time watching one of many bands that performed that night. The sound was great and bounced off nicely too.
Marlene Ortega — Google review
My daughters purchased VIP tickets for the En-Hyphen concert, and first let me just say that the concert was amazing. This review is for the Desert Diamond Arena and their staff and how they treated these girls that spent a lot of money on this experience. They were left outside in 100 degree weather for 7 hours without shade. They were told they could not keep their food and extra water with them. They did not get first chance at merchandise and ended up not getting anything at all because by the time they were able to get there, it was all gone. I have repeatedly reached out to the arena via their customer support email and they have not responded personally even once. The staff were very disrespectful and did not carry out the proper procedures as per the VIP ticket purchase details. It was terribly managed from the start at 9:00 AM when they made them come and line up. Why did they have to be there for 7 hrs before they were let in to the arena for the sound check (which they barely were let in on time for)? The way the merchandise purchasing was handled was unbelievable, they spend all this money to get a VIP experience and they don't even come home with a t-shirt! This was also my younger daughter's first concert and to be treated this way is very disappointing. She was so happy and excited to get to see her group perform, I just wish it could have been more special by her having a t-shirt to remember it. So it goes without saying that we will not recommend this venue for sure.
Jamie Francisco — Google review
Attended the The Old Dominion concert and had a blast!!! State of the Art Arena in every way possible... There's no bad seats in this place.... My seats were in Section 120 and I was satisfied... I bought two Rum and Cokes and it cost me $52!!! But hey it's the same in every Major Arena in the good ol US of A... Overall impressed with Desert Diamond Arena and I can't wait til I attend the next event... Thank you Old Dominion for putting on a wonderful show WITH NO BAD VIBES ALLOWED!!!
Pete Pesina — Google review
The arena was clean and well kept. The in game experience was upbeat and tried to keep the crowd into the game. The usher in our section, 215, wasn’t the most helpful. We had a larger group of people with mobile tickets on one phone. He needed to see our tickets and gave some attitude when the person who had the tickets on her phone wasn’t present. As you can see by the picture, the 5000 in attendance in the 19000 seat arena, I am definitely trying to sneak into my 200 level seat despite 80% vacancies in the 100 level. Everyone else in the arena was very helpful.
Kyle Kwiatkowski — Google review
Parking was a bit costly, but we were able to get very close to the arena by parking in the G lot. Worth the price for the peace of mind. Event facilities were clean and staff was no-nonsense, so lines moved quickly. Painless concert experience!
Bailey Kane — Google review
Amazing Staff. Amazing place.Thank you so much . We enjoyed the Concert last night. Roger Waters
Juan Carlos Amaro S. — Google review
Went here for my first concert EVER which was marc anthony. He was amazing and I even got to hug him after the show , he was sweet and so kind. The venue was nice ( I went int hrough the vip area and didnt go out to the concessions so I dont know how that are is set up ) My only issue is that for customer service there is no one to talk to , over the phone there is a robot that redirects you to their website and I had an import reason for calling.
winter piano — Google review
Had alot of fun when WWE came to town. Quick and easy to leave. No one had a clue where will call was though. They where suppose to let us in 15min easy as well and that didn't happen. But it was fun.
zach C — Google review
Finished an evening at the PBR tonight! Great atmosphere, great entertainment, great music! The venue is nice. I would give 5 stars but the seats are a bit small, anticipate some snuggles with your neighbors. LOL Not the most comfortable seats but still enjoyed the evening! Going to concert there in 2024 and excited. Guess it's time to lose some weight...I'll come back and write another review on the seats at the time. 😁
L Jones — Google review
My wife and I had a blast. Great venue with awesome seats. Toby Mac's Hits Deep tour did not disappoint.
Robert dick — Google review
Purchasing advanced parking is a MUST and made it so much easier to park when we got there. The venue was perfect for The King & Country concert. The perfect amount of vendors selling food and merchandise! And the fans were exceptionally nice, polite, and great to be with that night! Such a GREAT concert! #ChristianityisaliveinAZ
Diana Singleton — Google review
Really enjoyed the quinceanera expo of 2024. Lots of vendors and beautiful dresses to view at the desert diamond arena.
Angel Munoz Jr — Google review
Nice arena! My nephew played in a tournament over the weekend from Chicago. Security seemed pretty uptight at the entrance but later changed my mind. After one of the late games it ended around 11:30pm the ushers had walked everybody out the arena. 30min later I realized i had thrown away something of mine by mistake and security actually let me back in, no escort or anything.
Dante — Google review
Desert diamond Arena provided a great experience for my family and I when WWE came to town recently. The staff and the facility were very knowledgeable and well-maintained.
State Farm Stadium, located in the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District, is a major stadium that can seat over 63,000 people. This venue features a retractable roof and hosts NFL Cardinals games as well as other events such as Mecum Auto auctions. The seating arrangements are comfortable even at cheaper prices, although the rows may be slightly narrow compared to other stadiums.
Good place to enjoy a game and/or concert. Many options around the stadium to enjoy some food. Stadium is well kept and feel like any seat is a good seat although I’d prefer the lower level. The ease of parking and getting in and out of the parking lot was decent. If you don’t have parking pass it’s good to show up early and pay $15 to $20 in the shopping or mall area. If get there early enough you can skip the charge may need to walk farther.
Danny Duarte — Google review
Very nice stadium. Our seats were on the cheap side and they were still comfortable. The rows were a little narrow but not any more than other stadiums.
John Lambert — Google review
Wanted to kill some time while at a baseball tourney and this was a cheap and convenient stop. We loved the stadium. The fact that the field is real grass that lives outside the stadium and is moved into place prior to game time is mind blowing! Our tour guide "uncle Kevin" was quite the character. We highly recommend .
Thomas Pacheco — Google review
I am not a fan of basketball in football stadiums, but this was a tremendous atmosphere, even though my beloved Crimson Tide lost. The venue was clean, the staff were friendly and helpful. It was strange being here for a not football game for a change, but ultra kudos to the hosts. Roll Tide!
James Taylor — Google review
Great stadium! Nice concessions to choose from. Find the craft beer stand! Lucky to have the roof open during my visit. Just perfect!
David A. — Google review
Love it, very clean and organized!! Even with such a big event everything was very well organized and prepared!
Facility was just amazing and staff was awesome. Thank you for maintaining the awesomeness of the place appreciate it.
I would recommend if you're going to any of these big events in the future to arrive a little bit earlier to avoid waiting in line as I had noticed some people who arrived late missed part of the show which is not so much fun!!
Madonna Henen — Google review
Went to the Fiesta Bowl on NYE 2022. Great experience! Parking was easy and quick considering it was a sell out. Entrance wasn't overly difficult or long and the staff did a great job with security checks/tickets. Concessions was quick/easy and many locations. Seats were comfortable. A/V was impressive and easy to view/hear throughout the game. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Overall, I really enjoyed visiting this stadium and felt it was a great facility.
Drew Slate — Google review
Nice place for venues and games. My son’s graduation was held here and we also came out to a Cardinals practice session during pre season. It’s clean, sets of bathrooms located not far in between the next. Concessions are widely available with variety. Prices were cheaper now because the season hasn’t officially started yet. The steps aren’t steep making it easier to ascend from your seat and descend down to your seat. Really enjoyed coming here and will be back
Kawana Wright — Google review
Been there on Metallica concert. A lot of parking lots, quick drive out with no stuck for hours. Stadium is big and air conditioned. Love the experience.
Dynamo Kapitan — Google review
I have been to this stadium a number of times for different events. The most recent being for the Metallica concert. Thank you for being air-conditioned! The weekend weather was recorded as record-breaking. Great way to beat the heat. It is very clean and easy to navigate inside the venue. Plenty of restrooms, which, too, are clean and taken care of. Also, there's plenty of parking available, however, not always available... Depending on the event taking place at the time. 🏢🌃🚗🚙🕐🌛🌞🏈🎤🎶
Robyn Mendel — Google review
Terrible experience. Attended the national championship with a group of 14. We sat in the last two rows of section 123. The usher came up to our group multiple times to explain to us we were not allowed to switch seats with each other or sit in any empty seats. We told her we were all together, she continued to yell at our group to stay in place. As we protested that we were together and it was okay, she continued to remove one of the members of our group. This was extremely disappointing as we traveled 2000 miles to the game and paid approximately $1000 to sit in our seats. She then called security and told us to sit in our seats and not move a muscle. It truly felt like a hostage situation and my heart was pounding with fear. She told our group we would need to be watched by security for the rest of the game. Even though my team lost, the worst part of the night was dealing with this usher as she ruined my night before it began. I cannot explain how frightening this person was and how she made me feel like I was no capable of sitting in my own seat.
Zoe East — Google review
State farm stadium is a very nice venue plenty of room seating seem to be okay I wasn't there for a football game I was there for a Mecum Auto auction that seemed to be very well organized.. it's a good thing I don't drink much beer was about $10.25 for a glass.$4 for a bottle of water seemed a little steep.
cary reese — Google review
Five Star Stadium! Came to watch some football with the community and I was not disappointed. Except by the performance of our Dirty Birds. The Cardinal’s don’t like to win at home for us, sadly. Otherwise the venue is a great success! Overpriced food and beverage never tasted so good as when you are at a major sporting event with tens of thousands of people. I’ve been to a few games here and the house is always packed every time. Be ready for snowbirds. Half of the crowd, or more, will be rooting for the away team?! But not me…GO CARDS!!!
Michael ?Two1stNames? George — Google review
The Stadium is there for the purpose of guest entertainment. Whether it's a game, concert, venue event or family fun. I was there to work the concession stand. I enjoyed the folks and conversations while doing my job. Do I hear folks complaining yes, but it's usually due to an inconvenience at that moment. Parking, bathroom, elevators, not able to pay with cash, long lines, not enough variety of food the list goes on. You just nod, serve with a smile and lean forward showing an interest and they're usually feeling better when they walk away. . It's clean when you walk in, so the clean up crew is doing there job. It was an Eagles kind of day for me. I'm their fan for life!
Vera McBryde — Google review
Beautiful installations! With AC equipment for the entire stadium its just amazing! Sound, TV, field was well maintained. First time in a soccer game and was a good experience.
Nahum Morales — Google review
Great stadium a lot of open space love it!! Great area people was great and friendly beers around 10$ was ok but I don't have any complaints at all
Luis Rodriguez — Google review
I came to the stadium for a football game. PAY for your parking before you come. I paid $20 (with fees) for the black lot via seat geek. Had I not done that it would have been $50. The black lot is about a 10 minute walk to the stadium.
The dome was closed so the air conditioning was on. It was VERY comfortable inside despite it being nearly 100 degrees outside.
The stadium itself was very clean and despite the crowds the bathrooms weren’t too packed.
Food locations were busy, but lines moved fast. Food and drinks seemed priced similar to other stadiums.
Megan Thayer — Google review
State Farm Stadium: Wanted to change it up a bit and decided a stadium tour was just the ticket…scored bigger when it ended up being an impromptu private tour! Guides Mario and Carolina were an absolute pleasure, both wealths of knowledge on the stadium and the team. Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had.
Cameron Lawson — Google review
Super awesome went to the round 6 motocross championship it was really packed and really expensive 15$ for a beer 15$ for a popcorn they had bmx jumps outside with best trick I think we enjoyed that more then the races it's just crazy with the prices
Jonny Gall — Google review
Watched the sea hawks vs Cardinals. Wonderful game but I think that’s the first time I saw home team missed 2 field goals.. but was fun to watch a thriller
Gnani Marupakula — Google review
I had a great experience! Hubby and I went to an NFL game and from parking to our seats, everything was awesome. They seem to have everything really streamlined which made for a great time! We will most definitely be back!
Jen Davis — Google review
Very nice comfortable stadium didn't like only one level sold food n drinks. Went to Ravens game from Baltimore we don't have a closed stadium. Loves how cool n comfortable there statium was. Also likes how there tailgating party's are all on a field not in parking lot. In Baltimore we actually tailgate so not complaining we go HARD
Shree — Google review
Great family fun atmosphere. I recently went to the Arizona Cardinals Training Camp and had a wonderful time. The wait was a bit hot, but that was to be expected as we all know all know how keeping to a strict schedule is important in any business. The seating were comfortable as can be. Thou, I have not been to much event with these type of seating these were comfortable for me. The restroom were very clean and staff were very aware of their surroundings. This made me feel more safe and relaxed to enjoy this event.
Whiskey Row is renowned for its fine arts galleries and shops, but it is also home to some of Prescott's most famous saloons from the Gold Rush era. The street has been in existence since before the American Civil War and is known for its lively atmosphere and colourful history.
Awesome place!
So many good restaurants to eat at!
Top recommendations.... The Angry Sicilian, El Gato Azul, Grammas Bakery!
Matt's saloon to stop for a drink or 2...(cash only)
Fun to just walk around and see what you can see.
Plenty to eat and drink along the way!!
Can't wait to plan our next trip there!
Katrina Sandy-Colon — Google review
We didn’t visit long, this time, but still exposed our kids to Prescott. It's such a cute place.. we will be back for the museums soon.
Karri Gradolph — Google review
Whiskey Row in Prescott is a fun area to explore with lots of historical buildings, museums, shops, bars, and restaurants. I heard that the night life is fun also with many establishments having live music.
John Reynolds — Google review
We love Whiskey Row! Very clean and full of rich history. We learned so much about Prescott, Central Arizona, and the Southwest after taking a trip to the Sharlot Hill Museum. Walking the streets of Whiskey Row with the old shops, hotels, and saloons really immersed us into the late 1800s.
Ezhana Graff — Google review
Whiskey Row is not for amateurs! Jusss' kidding. It's the highlight of the towns nightlife, bringing in good people, great food, musician's and plenty of storefronts to window-shop at! Always entertaining, never a dull moment!!
Ms. Kristen Cleverly -Mills (AAA Taxi) — Google review
Got engaged at whisky row on new years eve and celebrated with a spectacular fireworks show..I recommend whisky row for every new years party.
Angel Romero — Google review
The famous Whiskey Row in Prescott, Arizona offers a variety of saloons, eateries, gallerys and shops. Many of the bars go back to the early 1900's. Checkout 'The Palace' and walk through the old swinging saloon doors that you've seen in movies. They serve great food and the wait staff are dressed from the early 1900s. Please walk around, you'll see a lot of historic items and pictures on display. The saloon bar is very old but well maintained. Go ahead, take a step back into history!
Kaihley Reiner — Google review
Great place, however it’s history is very interesting.
mario barrios — Google review
Unrivaled for its people watching, Whiskey Row is the place to be in Prescott. Which I guess isn’t saying a whole lot, since Prescott isn’t really a happening place.
Get yourself your token Whiskey Row Alley Instagram pic, you know, to prove you were there. And grab a drink at the old Palace long bar and pour one out for the old Wild West homies.
Ryan — Google review
So many interesting shops and bars/pubs/taverns in a four block area. And what a beautiful central Civic square with the county courthouse and so many interesting statues and local history to examine and enjoy. Enjoy some great brews here and get some snacks for the road. Try it!
Joe Wisecaver — Google review
A historical gem remnant of the old days of the Wild West. Good food, fun stroll, and souvenirs galore. In 2 hours time, you can accomplish lots and if you’re a fan of bicycles, all the more reason to turn it into an all day activity by going a bit further out and see more of what is around and not far.
C. Ashton — Google review
Whiskey Row is such a historical place. We stopped for lunch at The Grumpy Sicilian Pizza, and it was amazing pizza. There's lots of bars, saloons and restaurants, along with tons of shops. The Old Courthouse is across the street, where they have several festivals each year. It's a nice place to walk, sit & relax, and people watch, too.
Cat Eyes — Google review
Whiskey row is the nickname of a street in the center of Prescott. AZ… many bars and shops, including the famous Palace bar that’s been around since Wyatt Earp times.
Toya Gabeler — Google review
So many bars, eateries, shops to look through. You see signs for $5 a beer or $4.50 a shot. Take your time to look and shop. So many cute things! Baby clothes, little souvenirs, nice jackets, cool hats, big art pieces, glass, metal, horseshoes, it's all a desert vibe! I like going for a quick slice of pizza at Grumpy Sicilian and a quick ice cream bite of vegan strawberry.
Thalia Lopez — Google review
Greatest place for music and drinks! And occasional midget wrestling.
David Bangston — Google review
Lively place. Good service. Good food. Good LIVE MUSIC!
cassandra jessup — Google review
Very cool spot. Historic downtown is awesome. Lots of fun
Lorraine L — Google review
Very long street with a lot of shops, restaurants, and bars. Parking situation is a bit weird but we didn't have any trouble. There's a lot to see there and we didn't get to see all of it. Many of the shops were closed when we were there. We did notice something strange: generally speaking, the passers-by on the sidewalks and crossing the street weren't very friendly. It just seemed like everyone was in a bad mood for some weird reason. Other than that, it was a nice quiet walk.
The Sharlot Hall Museum is a historic site in Prescott, Arizona that preserves the history and culture of the Central Highlands region. The museum has several buildings on its grounds that visitors can explore, including the Governor's Mansion from which Sharlot Hall originated. The collection also includes items from Fort Misery, the oldest surviving log cabin in Arizona.
One of the coolest museums i've been. This open air museum has the original governors mansion built in that location and was home to the governor of the territory of Arizona. It also has old farmhouses and so many other cool things. The gift shop is stocked with amazing things to help you remember your trip. It is located around several good restaurants. So much to see, I've been 3 times and I am already planning a trip back!
Robert Bolder — Google review
This place is pretty cool! Had fun checking it out with my son. Multiple buildings to check out. Fun way to learn a little history and would recommend this place for sure.
Vincent Rousseau — Google review
The Sharlot Hall Museum was so nice to visit! There was so many historical artifacts to see, ranging from natural history, Native American History, and Western history. We especially enjoyed walking through the Governor's Mansion and Fremont House. It was so fun to see what our everyday products used to look like in the 1800s. The docents were friendly and informative. Highly recommended stop while visiting Prescott!
Vanessa Mills — Google review
As a historian, I visit a lot of museums. This is one of my favorites! It is so fascinating, and the volunteer tour guides are wonderful -- especially Allan Cooper. He is so passionate and knowledgeable about the history of Sharlot Hall and the Prescott area. I would be happy to have him teach me any topic he is interested in! I visited the museum on a whim because I was in Prescott visiting a friend and waiting for her to get done with work -- I live in Michigan, but I will absolutely be going back to the museum the next time I am in town!
Kyle Goedert — Google review
Wonderful museum about the history of Arizona, dating back to prehistoric times. Many informative exhibits. We learned so much about the state we call home! Highly recommend.
Melanie -- — Google review
A truly amazing place to spend a few hours learning the incredible history of Arizona, and the extraordinary woman, Sharlot Hall, responsible for preserving so much of this history! Also has beautiful outdoor gardens! A really worthwhile place to visit, worth your time.
Steve Koehn — Google review
What a great museum. Every stop was great. Loved the layout of the place. Was glad we stopped.
Sue P — Google review
The grounds/gardens are immaculate. Every docent was friendly and knowledgeable.
Children under 12 are Free!
I was very impressed with the indigenous portion of the museum and the short film about the hilltop sites.
This is a MUST SEE when visiting Prescott.
Renae Begay — Google review
We came from Phoenix for a Living History event and it was so worth the trip! Beautiful grounds with a Memorial Rose Garden honoring the towns influential women. Multiple pioneer buildings with Volunteers in character telling you about life during the era. We especially loved hearing a gentlemen explain to us in detail what it would have been like travelling on a horse drawn coach through the southwest. The printing press was super cool and they let my son print a newspaper page. Also the woman explaining medical practices of the day and showing different tools and their uses was very interesting and personable. We got there an hour after it started- so about 11 am, till the Event was over at 3. We should have come earlier because it was not long enough to see everything. Our kids were super interested in everything too. Absolutely will be back sooner than later!
Leila D. — Google review
I really enjoyed this museum. It gives me a good feeling of what it was like in the old west. The docents were friendly and very helpful.
Benjamin Brainstem — Google review
Everyone was very friendly, informative and helpful. A must stop when visiting Prescott! Great pricing as well. It was great for me and the kids really enjoyed seeing the historical buildings, vehicles and items. Nice gift shop as well. Pricing is on their website as well as their open/closed times. It was so great seeing these items in person.
Monique Renee — Google review
I always enjoy coming here to learn about AZ history. The kids enjoy it also. They also host a bluegrass festival every summer.
Amanda Faye — Google review
Awesome museum! Absolutely beautiful! Took the wife and kids there on a Saturday. Cool and old style buildings, they have people in some of the buildings telling their history. The bathrooms are nice and well maintained. Also they have their own parking lot which is nice since they are located off a fairly busy street with parallel parking. Whiskey row is just down the street where you can get drinks and food.
Jindo — Google review
What a great experience for kids and adults alike! If you’re a history buff this is for you! Both indoor and outdoor features with several of the buildings having A LOT to see and read. The staff really goes above and beyond to make this a fun visit for kids with a scavenger hunt, and small features in several buildings to get kids touching and feeling things. The open air and space of it helps it to feel much more aloof than just another standard Museum visit.
E Fed — Google review
Wonderful place! You'll find in-depth exhibits, enthusiastic employees will give you history of the town and answer any questions, and the atmosphere is lively and fun. I easily spent 3 hours pouring over all the displays and buildings. The only thing I don't like is how they updated some of the buildings with constant audio, it's very distracting when you're trying to read the displays.
Expansive collection of land & water animals with special features like giraffe feeding, plus rides.
WOW! Awesome zoo. Spent over 5 hours exploring the zoo grounds. Turns out this is a great place. Enjoyed the day and we seemed to see everything in one day. Very clean grounds and saw so many different species of animals our minds are on overload. We will return for another visit in the fall to see how the change of seasons turns out. Highly recommend a visit if your on the fence.
Rick Spiegel — Google review
A wonderful place for the kids to spend entire days there without getting them bored. A rare combination of Zoo and Aquarium made this place more attractive than Phoenix Zoo. In a typical hot AZ day, the aquarium offers both cool air and cool things to play. The kids can touch a lot of stingray in a small pond. There is a BBQ restaurant behind the big shark tank.
Africa Safari Ride is the best paid activity in term value per dollar both entertaining and educational. So many interactive animal activities for the kids. My kid wanted to feed the goats for the whole day. Animal feeding, seal performance, and many more.
The noise in the air might be a little disrupting during your outdoor fun activities with animals due to the nearby Air Force field aircraft training.
Ben D — Google review
All three of us had a great time and we spent easily 5 hours here as it is 5 mi to walk the whole time perimeter of the zoo. The thing we like about this place is the amount of animals to see in great abundance and in close proximity. A lot of the animals are only inches and the bigger ones a few feet away so you can see them in greater details. I think the feeding of the giraffe was a great idea because it lets people come close to animals. We really liked the rhino exhibit that included three rhinos, the black bear exhibit, exhibit with the giant arrowanna fish. The aquariums were a big plus and the fact that there are aerial trams available for purchase is a good plus and adds to variety.
Kevin — Google review
What an amazing place. I visited recently and I had no idea how big it was. They got a lot to see. I really enjoyed the aquariums. I wish the Phoenix Zoo had them. Definitely plan on spending the day there if you want to see everything. I can’t wait to go back.
DanO (thunderdan602) — Google review
This is a big zoo that is very spaced out. A lot to see. The food and service was very bad and over priced. I was disappointed most attractions were closed. So to pay the same entry fee when things are shut down doesn’t seem right. You can easily spend the day here. This place needs some maintenance. This could be really an amazing place if some TLC is put into it. Not impressed but it has a lot to do. The ride through the middle was fun. Didn’t do the safari because you wait about 35 minutes for the vehicles to come back if there is not room.
chase ward — Google review
Coming from Chicago where we have Brookfield and Lincoln Park, this is one of the best zoos I’ve ever been to! It’s huge with a ton of variety of animals. Most of the times we’ve gone the animals are pretty active and they have baby animals all the time. The sea Lion show is awesome and the keepers and staff are all incredible. They have several good vendors but also allow food to save a few bucks for families. They also have a tram and a few kids rids. A great family day trip!
Rusty Wimberly — Google review
Me and my husband really enjoyed this. We saw the sea lion show and we rode the zip line the roller coaster they have this bird ride that you control the rudder and it was really fun. All the staff treated us really good. The girl at the giraffe feeding station was rude but every single other staff was great. If you want a great day I'd highly recommend this place. When your all done exploring check out the bbq restaurant it was so good.
Jeffrey Nielsen — Google review
Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is not only one of the best experiences you can have in Phoenix, but I would venture to say one of the best zoos in Southwest U.S. (better than the PHX zoo).
This place exceeds so many expectations and it is absolutely massive - you can easily spend a full day here and still not see everything.
There are so many intimate up close encounters you can have with animals here from all over the world, whether it's feeding giraffes or standing a foot away from performing sea lions.
They do an incredible job with the layout here and the exhibits. So much of the park is in cool shade for the hotter days. Whenever your feet start getting sore you can enjoy the comfort of viewing the wildlife from the chairlift of the African safari tram.
They also do a nice job providing a variety of food options, especially with the Dillon's BBQ near the entrance. How can you beat eating delicious bbq listening to live music while watching beautiful flamingos nearby?
I sincerely hope, as others have mentioned here, that they can add elephants into this park in the near future, as that is really the only thing missing from this otherwise perfect zoo/aquarium!
Nicholas McLaughlin — Google review
So, it's a pretty nice zoo and we had a good time. Food was actually pretty darn good for the price. I'll give them that, they got other places like them beat in the food category. I just really feel like there needed to be more of a presence with zoo staff. So many people walking around smoking. And it got really old really quick to constantly be in clouds of cigarette smoke. Also, there were an abundance of people screwing with the animals. Leaning forward and putting fingers and hands through the fence, even with the leopards, yes, the leopards. I understand the zoo can only do so much to protect the idiots we've become from themselves but just some actual visible employees out and about and not just where they want to take more money from you. That being said, if you haven't been then check it out, but I think once is good enough.
Brady Reed — Google review
Awesome zoo! Probably one of the best I have ever been too. The animals are just so live and vibrant! Most of the animals were playing and having a good time. The zoo definitely takes the building maintenance and animal enclosures seriously 110% at all times, very great too see.
Aaron Bustillos — Google review
I want to give it 5 stars, but we couldn't do a lot while there due to it being closed. Like the roller coaster, we went on the log water ride and it was super fun. Most were closed though.. We enjoyed feeding and petting the goats. We fed the giraffes and saw SO many very cool animals. Lots of sea life, which was great! We also enjoyed petting the stingrays. We had a lot of fun. Food and ice cream places were closed as well, not all but most. Staff were friendly. Gift shot is pretty cool. Parking was good.
Heather Pectol — Google review
A hidden gem of Phoenix and a better zoom than the popular one closer into the city. This is a rescue zoo and soon the experiences are more unique, varied, and often closer; on the other hand, it's not as polished as it could be (the only reason I'm dinging a star).
Feed giraffes, get up close with kangaroos, water ride through the aquarium, check out the albino alligator, and lunch next to flamingoes, this is a highly recommended review for the Wildlife World Zoo.
Donate if you can. I know they are working to upgrade and improve what is already a pretty amazing place.
Paul O'Brien — Google review
I was born and raised in the Phoenix area and have been to the Phoenix Zoo many times but this was my first time here. This place was great for a number of reasons. The sea life and aquarium were a huge draw. My family really enjoyed the sea lion show. We were there on a warm day so getting splashed was actually very refreshing. If you haven’t been here, it’s definitely worth checking out. My kids are already talking about the next trip!
Jason Adcox — Google review
This is a nice zoo and aquarium with several "rides" available that are good for both kids and adults. You need a lot of time and endurance if you visit all the exhibits and buildings. You also need a lot of money. Adult entry is $48 each, and rides are not included. Each ride is $6 per person, and includes a train, a sky ride (lift chairs), tram, merry-go-rounds (2), log ride, and kids coaster. For $20/hour, you can rent a "Rydable," which is an animal figured power chair type thing, but it is limited in several areas. For $20, you can also rent a wheelchair. Most of the park walkways are graveled, making it dusty and challenging depending on your shoe selection. This also affects accessibility for wheelchairs, the disabled, and strollers, so be warned. Food and drink items are moderately priced, but not all food venues were open. Not all rides and exhibit buildings were open during our visit either. If you're a "zoo person," you'll like this one, but I wouldn't say it was one of my favorites due to the physical size and effort it took to see everything. I could see cost being an issue for families too.
Duane Humlicek — Google review
Loved this zoo! The only thing I didn't like was that they had so many birds! I like to see more animals, not birds, but that's just my opinion. The aquarium was awesome too! My favorites were the giraffes (you can feed them too- only 50 cents!!) And the 2 baby monkeys!! Oh so adorable!! Wish they had more baby animals in the nursery. They also have a few rides to go on, I recommend going on a couple of them (to rest! As there is a lot of walking involved).
Susan Christofferson — Google review
This is a really cool zoo. I really enjoyed the feed the Lori experience and the sea lion experience. Both were included in admission and the animals seemed very well cared for. The only reason I'm taking off one star is because some of the animal habitats were pretty small and sad while others were really great. But we did have a great day.
Samantha Packer — Google review
It's my favorite zoo in AZ. I've been coming to this zoo since I was a kid. Now I'm taking my kids to enjoy this amazing place. The zoo has added more rides and new exhibits. The aquarium is awesome. People get to touch the stingrays and starfish. They have scooters for the people who don't want to walk, wheelchairs and strollers for rent. They have a couple of food courts around the property and Dillon's restaurant. The zoo also has a huge playground for the kids to enjoy.
We bought the yearly membership pass, and we will be visiting more often.
Pony_Girl_5.0 — Google review
So much fun! A couple of us mommies had a girl's day with our daughters. My favorites were the sea lion show where we can feed the sea lions and take photos. My other favorite were the squirrel monkeys.
The lions were very vocal and I personally think their habitat was small, hopefully it led out to a larger area that I could not see.
Didi Allen — Google review
This zoo is awesome for the desert climate. There are a ton of shade trees, and more exhibits than we could take in during one visit. I was lucky enough to win 2 adult tickets on Real Country Radio, so we only had to pay for my boyfriend's son. It's a little pricey, but so is everything these days. It was well worth it! Will enjoy going back to see the rest!
The photo is a snake aquarium, I loved the mirror effect at the top of the water. At first I thought it was some kind of anomaly like a siamese twin snake 🤔🤣🤣
karen swanson — Google review
Highly recommend you purchase your tickets on Groupon! Bought my tickets for $35.99 each adult. They charge $48 at the door, so we saved big with 4 adults! We spent about 6 hours at the park today and had a blast! My mother in law and sister in law have never been to a zoo so this was their first time. They loved it! To start, we went through the amazing bird section they have, oh and monkeys. Jumped on the zip line ride for $10 a person and it’s a two person ride. We went to the Free Sea Lion presentation which was pretty cool to see the relationship the sea lions have with the trainer here. We then jumped on the Sky Ride which was $6 per person and was about a 20 minute ride. Very MUCH WORTH IT!! We went over a bunch of different animals including Giraffes, Kangaroos, Camels, Ducks, Turtles, and Warthogs to name a few. We fed snacks to the Giraffes!! So much to do here and such a great way to spend a day with your loved ones.
Jose Ren — Google review
4.5
(10948)
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4.0
(991)
16501 W Northern Ave, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340, USA
This park seems to be very popular. There is always a long line at the tollbooth in front; note- if you do have an annual pass, sometimes they will let you get in the 2nd lane so you don't have to wait in line (similar to a Fast Pass at Disney).
I always enjoy coming up here. The mountains here are just stunning and breathtaking and the landscape here is very lush. The mountains are covered with desert foliage, and just driving through here can take your breath away. This is one of the most beautiful parks out of all the Maricopa Regional Parks (tied with Lake Pleasant Regional Park).
There are several places to park and all of them are marked with signs so you really can't get lost.
So many fun trails to explore as well and a lot of them are beginner friendly, and most of the trails are also interconnected too so you can make your own customized loop. Mule Trail is a great beginner trail. Also, Wild Life trail is a short but fun trail where you can get up close to the windmill and also see a tranquil pond. The busiest area is the Waterfall Trail which is a mostly concrete sidewalk- always full of people wanting to see the waterfall (which by the way, normally is just a small trickle if anything...)
If you do any of the other trails besides Waterfall, you can enjoy the solitude- not very many other hikers on the other trails.
A Z — Google review
Absolutely beautiful. The trails are well groomed but rocky. Wear good hiking shoes or boots and bring plenty of water. There are a lot of trails to choose from depending on your level. There are shorter more well groomed trails like the waterfall trail or longer 9+ Mile trails with lots of elevation changes. Lots of wildlife to see on the trails and beautiful views. The library at the entrance of the park is also very nice. There is a great souvenir shop in the library as well.
USAF01airman — Google review
The White Tanks have always been a family favorite to hike, have a picnic, and clear your head etc. The trails are varied and can go from easy to very rustic. It doesn't matter whether you go on a sunny day or cloudy day, it's always worth it to get out into nature. Always bring more water than you think you'll need, as it's better to be prepared. Dog friendly, you see many along the trails, with people of all ages. The restrooms are always clean, and the picnic areas ready to be enjoyed as well. Grab a map if you have been here from the entry where you pay, and explore our beautiful state. Wildlife abounds, so be mindful and respectful as you might encounter critters and snakes. No need to be afraid, just be cautious of your surroundings.
Stunning views, will not disappoint!
Denise Childs — Google review
Beautiful, and super quiet if you go at sunrise. This is the waterfall trail( only a waterfall when it rains)
Trail is 80% paved and wheelchair friendly. Lots of benches to rest, would consider this an easy trail.
Petroglyphs are plentiful and beautiful, but the disrespect shown to them in some places is sad.
Kimberlee Kelly — Google review
We made reservations to stay at the family campground Rv park. There a few of these Rv camping spots with different names throughout the park. We stayed in space 12 and it was a pull through. It had 30 or 50 amp and water hook up. They have a dump station as well but no hook ups for sewer at our spot. The spot was very nice and maintained. It had a concrete picnic table and a fire pit. The camp hosts made rounds in a pick up truck delivering fire wood if you wanted it. I believe they sell it at the camp host spot as well. We used a gas fire pit so no need for wood. We walked over to mule deer trail and the windmill and pond from our camp site and it was just over 3 miles round trip. The waterfall trail was a bit further. We drive to that and parked in the parking lot and hiked up to it. The hiking path has a concrete walk way halfway up the trail. There are sitting benches and tons of petroglyphs. We stayed two night and had great views at night of the city lights. Nice quiet state park to stay at. We would come back and stay again.
Brian McQuistion — Google review
Love this park. Lots of great hiking and great views. One of our favorites is the Waterfall trail that ends in an actual waterfall (assuming it has recently rained). It's a short hike and for most of it, wheelchair accessible. Great for kids and dogs too.
Jill Shepherd — Google review
I love that they have so many different trails, there's one for all activity levels. The beauty of the mountains and desert is remarkable, and you get to see art made by indigenous groups made thousands of years ago! A must see area.
Rachel Benning — Google review
Very nice place for a hike. They have trails that are easy to hard for something that suits every level. Just remember to bring more water than you think. Arizona is dry and the heat can take its toll fast.
David Winkler — Google review
White Tanks is my favorite place to go! And the staff are really friendly! 😊 my mom and I love going on the black rock long loop trail and after the hike we go for a drive to see if we see any wildlife😊 so far we’ve seen deer, coyotes, bunnies, lizards, tortoise and javelinas and rattlesnakes
misha Bouquet — Google review
Well worth the admission cost, the park offers beautiful views and a peaceful environment to drive or hike through the mountains. Grounds and trails are well maintained.
Sarah Hartman — Google review
There are many trails to choose from, but the one we chose was the waterfall trail, crossing our fingers that there had been enough rain the couple days prior. The trail is pretty short being .8 mile each way and very easy hiking. There are many rocks with petroglyphs to see along the way and a side trail called "the long loop" you can take out into the valley. We reached the top and were disappointed as there was no waterfall, only a small pond area at the base where waterfall would normally be. It was still very beautiful and we had a great time, but I would definitely recommend to visit when the waterfall is flowing! I also recommend the side long loop trail as it is very neat with beautiful photo ops.
jessika kulick — Google review
We did the Waterfall trail. It’s a great trail. Paved part of the way. There wasn’t any water under the main falls, but we climbed up a ledge and found purple water! It was a fun surprise. I have no idea why it’s purple. We saw quite a few lizards and a really small snake. The petroglyphs are very cool as well.
Daddyboy S — Google review
Today’s hike brought to you by the White Tanks. This regional park is so underrated and that bums me out. So many trails and beautiful views. On any given day you may see wildlife, petroglyphs or even join a luminary hike during the holidays. If it’s rained a good amount you may even hike a trail to a waterfall. There are playgrounds and picnic areas if hiking isn’t your thing and plenty of restrooms in areas all around the park. Entry fee is $7 a car, but there are walk/bike in options as well. Trails of course vary for easy to hard depending on skill level. I’m more your moderate to easy hiking level, but some of the harder trails I’ve done but shortened them drastically. There are biking trails if you love that. You are allowed to camp here as well. It’s a great place to enjoy nature and peace and quiet . I came around 9am and was pleased to practically have an entire area to myself. I only crossed a few people the entire way. Trails are easily marked, but you may ask for a map at entry if you worry you may get lost. If you’d like to see more they also have a beautiful library and nature center at the entrance of the park. So worth checking out as well. If you’re on the fence about visiting the park come check it out.
Janelle — Google review
Great way for you or the whole family to spend the day in the wilderness with awesome views. Best times to come here would be November through April. Lots of different trails with different levels and ratings. We brought our Border Collie and she loved exploring all the trails we took her on. The last trail we got rained on, but it was well worth it!!
D S — Google review
We did the mesquite canyon trail loop. 8 miles round trip. We went on a Saturday morning (60 degrees). Took us four hours but we are old and slow! Perfect weather in January. 100% sunshine, a small portion of the trail was shaded by rocks, and there was a puff of wind every once and a while. Lovely day. Up up up you go, then trail levels out( sort of). Super vies of Phoenix the higher you go. Then you get into the back country hills. Yes it's rocks and cactus 🌵 but it was a beautiful an interesting hike. Lots of friendly hikes on the trail, but not too many at all.
Best part: there were volunteers picking up trash in the picnic area/ parking lot when we got there, thank you!! People there are trash cans, USE THEM.
Not so great: hotdog (or maybe tamales??) vendor in the parking lot was gone when we got back☹️
Alice Feeney — Google review
All of the Camp Hosts have been amazing. It’s a nice quiet park. They hosts do a great job cleaning up camp sites, bathrooms, and collecting the trash. Love seeing them at the gates and their wonderful smiles. They make the experience of the regional parks unique. Wish there was an on site laundry, it’d make life so much easier for regular campers. Kudos for doing it right!
Fly Fisher — Google review
More plant diversity here at White Tank than other nature areas nearby like Verrado Hills. Some of the trails are long, so be careful because you could be doing a 6 hour Ford loop if you are a newbie (but length doesn't deter points). It's Arizona so of course the trails are rocky too.
Animalistic Tin — Google review
One of the most beautiful places on earth. The fees are well worth it. Tons of trails to enjoy nearby too. Hope to see you there! Oh, there are people selling good hot dogs too! Go for a great walk and buy some hot dogs before you leave. Great place!
Neil Mandelin — Google review
Great place for outdoor activities. We did the Waterfall Trail and it's a great family trail! About half of it is paved and the rest is an easily marked trail. There are lots of spots along the trail to pull off and a lot of areas to stop and rest along the way with benches. I have knee issues, so having the spots to rest for just a min was very helpful for me. Several petroglyphs can be spotted as well as some local wildlife if you're lucky. You do only see an actual waterfall after a heavy rain, but even without it flowing the area is still quite a site to behold. My family and I went on a Saturday at around 1pm in January and, while there were a lot of people there, the trail didn't feel crowded in my opinion. There's a restroom as well as a ramada and tables for having some lunch before or after your walk. Just across the road from the trailhead is a nice park for kids as well. We noticed it as we were leaving, so we will have to check it out and review that next time.
Tabitha Campbell — Google review
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20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ 85355, USA
The Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona is a must-visit for those interested in the town's Western heritage. With over 400 works of Western art, including pieces by renowned artists like Frederick Remington and Charles Russell, this museum has been described as a jewel filled with unexpected treasures.
An absolutely pleasant experience. I've been to Wickenburg, Arizona many times. This was the first time I went to the museum. Most of all the volunteers were kind and helpful. They had a wonderful Cowgirl exhibit and art show, but don't forget to check out their downstairs blast from the past.
Zulma Tedesco — Google review
One of the best museums in the Valley! And underrated, I wish I have found out about it sooner. Their exhibits are really cool. They have a town reconstruction in the lower level with a hologram. Their art collection is gorgeous, and their location in Wickenburg is perfect, you can plan for dinner within a block away and some shopping too. A must visit for those interested in the western heritage of Arizona!
D P — Google review
We started off looking at all the local art on the main floor which was amazing. But once you go downstairs you’re transported back in time with very interactive exhibits. The museum is not huge so it won’t take you all day to get through it. I think we spent 90 minutes looking around.
Rob Deutsch — Google review
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. We went Memorial Day weekend and was granted free entry due to veteran status. Lots of history with some old relics, brought back some childhood memories.
Delane Gewirtzman — Google review
BEST place to see western art pieces! I definitely did not expect any of what I saw in the museum. The museum is pretty large with different exhibits. The sculptures are genius and so are the paintings!
The downstairs was also incredibly interesting. The different displays they had give you some insight on the town of Wickenburg and its beginnings and was so insightful.
A.N. — Google review
We saw a new display of western art by all women artists. The art was for sale as well. Just beautiful.
melesa o'shea — Google review
A cool museum dedicated to the history of Wickenburg and the mining and ranching of the area. The top part has art, and exhibitions about Wickenburg, while the bottom is a street-level section of "old" Wickenburg, with a general store, ranch house, and a series of display models about Wickenburg events, the first mines, ranching, the Wickenburg massacre, etc. This is a fantastic little museum that packs a lot of awesome displays into its rooms!
Mr. Paul — Google review
Fantastic gem, just outside metro Phoenix. Leave yourself a min of two hours, and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the exhibit. The cowgirl art exhibit was so fun and inspiring, too. It's only there for a few months per year, so check it out before memorial day.
Susan Gammon — Google review
So well done...Great display of History and the period of time. You are transported back to the late 1800's.
Your Western Museum admission also includes admission to the Cultural Center. Outstanding display of Apache Heritage.
Be sure to take a stroll through old town and admire all the amazing bronze sculptures.
Shelley Wyman — Google review
Great museum - smaller, but still interesting. They have affordable tickets with some common discounts (AAA, military, etc). No wait to get in on a Saturday afternoon, easily bought our tickets at the door.
Downstairs is awesome!
Elijah O — Google review
This is an excellent museum on western life with lots of exhibits for young and old.
Jim Moto Hobo Hebert — Google review
This a great local museum packed with history. Lots of displays along with good dioramas. There was a display of cowgirl artists, which is not permanent, but very nice. If you are in town for a bit I recommend a trip to this museum. You'll come away with a good amount of local history.
Theresa Erickson — Google review
This was a nice historic museum. Great for adults. You could spend a few hours learning about the past and looking at the beautiful art. Most of museum is don't touch, look and read. I had hoped it would be more kid oriented and hands on explanation. Sadly there are very little hands on items. The kids were entertained enough but it is a one time visit sort of place for my family.
Susan Guryanova — Google review
We went here because our 4 yr old wanted to go. It was her first museum experience and I gotta say we were impressed from all the setups down to the patience of the staff. Everyone is very nice and informational. The downstairs area is really cool for kids! Our daughter had a blast!
Michelle Hall — Google review
What a treasure! Art and history collide in this great museum of the old west and native American culture.
Walking old Wickenburg is fun too, but you will have to wait until fall now. Most shops are closed for the summer
Bob Ehlers — Google review
I loved this place because everything was very authentic. The people who run the museum were super nice and informational. Its free for AD military AND their family's which is a perk. There's options to listen to the museum through a cassette and headphones or you can just browse through and read everything yourself. There's a hologram type video downstairs which is pretty cool. And a nice small gift shop. Definitely worth checking out!!
Dorothy Robinson — Google review
This was a fabulous museum! I was blown away by the art. The downstairs area for kids was awesome and my daughter thought the hologram was so cool. One of my favorite museums in all the little Arizona towns I've been to so far. Well worth the price of admission.
Very interesting remote site.. you have to drive on a dirt road but as long as you go slow it's perfectly safe. The Intagilos are shallow impressions in the desert floor.. if you are a rock hound there are many types to check out..
Helen Cavendish — Google review
Not a lot to see from the ground. It was very windy couldn't get any drone shots. The images are fenced in for preservation. A good thing! Satellite photos show were people have driven through them. Still a good stop. Walk out to the locations on a short path to each area.
Melvin C — Google review
The intaglios' are much bigger than you think. Really fun to drive all over and look for them.
bartellj — Google review
What an excellent side trip into ancient history. The intaglio sculpture designs are created by scraping back the dark topsoil in a pattern to show the lighter soil underneath. Amazing designs that are hard to see from ground level and excellent to see by drone. Our visit was a 112 degree day.
Craig Philpott — Google review
A little hard to find and they are a little hard to see from the ground, but you still should visit these. Also drive up the service road, there is a stacked rock "garden" that is just strange, the road to this is not the best, but I drove a Crown Victoria up it no problem. Best if you have a drone to see them better, but I did not have one when I was there... I need to go back next time I am out that way
Scott Ford (Scott Exploring) — Google review
This is truly a unique experience and opportunity. It is a place that connects my wife with her historical culture in that she is from Guadalajara, Mexico, and her family is a mix of Native American, Spanards, and French as most "Mexican" Heritage are. I myself have a very small percentage of Native American as well, but even if you have none, this place is a connection to the people that were here thousands of years ago!
I felt a connection to history and wondered what those who built these fantastic art works were thinking when they did so. Did they think it would still be there? Sadly, some have been damaged by offroad vehicles before fencing could be installed. But even today they are inspiring.
Ron Peters — Google review
This place was so cool I got to drive and walk up the mountain as I walked up the wind grew stronger I felt the spirits we're letting me know they were there powerful moments beautiful view the fact that you get to walk up and see them plz drive there and see for your self great experience
The shadow — Google review
These intaglios were super impressive to see. If you have a drone I highly recommend you use it to get the full sense of scale.
Will Turner — Google review
This was a neat experience and I'm glad I stopped.
In the hot months make sure you wear a hat and bring plenty of water. The shapes are a bit hard to discern from ground level, and the glyphs are best seen from the air. So if you have a drone, bring it it for pictures.
J — Google review
Pretty interesting, not very obvious from the highway, free, not a lot of information. Also super hot in the summer.
I wouldn't go out there just to see them, but if you can work it into a trip (route 95 or even Interstate 10), I would say it's worth it. Even my kids kinda thought it was interesting after crying when I started up the dirt road.
When GPS told us "you have reached your destination" and I turned onto the rocky dirt road, my children were utterly confused, "this is our destination?" It was hot and the dirt road wouldn't be easy in a car, but doable if you took it slow. In my stock SUV it was not a problem. It's probably only 1/2 mile up the trail to the gates (which are just double hitches in the road's guard fence). From those gates it's only a couple hundred feet to the fenced in figures.
We saw three fenced off figures accessed from 2 different gates/parking areas.
No one else was there in the 20-30 minutes we were there at 4 in the afternoon on a weekday in June.
Ted Olson — Google review
Is worth every bit of time and effort to see them…visited the three that are fenced in but there are more further along. The fenced in ones are easily accessed even with a regular two-wheel drive, the furtherest…it would be better with four. Beautiful, haunting, mysterious and… thought provoking.
Jack Morris — Google review
A fun place to spend the day exploring the ancient intaglios's, backroads, trails, mountains. I suggest you park near the hwy unless yoy have tough tires as the rocks are jagged. With an offroad 4x4 you can get to more areas.
Timothy Wilson — Google review
Went out to the Intaglios and it was such a beautiful experience. The kids and I enjoyed the short walk to the 3 Intaglios that are fenced in. If you have a drone you should definitely bring it to get some nice shots. Also take the time to enjoy the scenery found some beautiful rocks. This is an off the beaten path site and the turn off can be a little hard to find. Make sure to bring water during warm months. Highly recommend during this pandemic :)
Cactus-filled area in Joshua Tree National Park that's viewable from a flat loop walking trail.
Definitely worth visiting to see the glowing cholla cactii stretching out for miles around you. It's suggested to visit this garden at sunrise, but the view was just as good at midday when we visited. Be very careful to not get too close - the cactus spines will attach themselves to your clothes at the slightest contact, and will not want to let go - I speak from experience.
Maithri Hegde — Google review
So stunning at sunset. Great view for star gazing as well. 🫶🏻 great place to stop by at Joshua tree park
S J — Google review
My first time to look at the Cholla Cactus! What an exotic and mystic beauty!!
**Never touch or step on the Cholla!**
It is indescribably hurting!!!!! Watch your step while not on the wooden trail.
J. Kim — Google review
One of the most magical places on this planet. You see nature's magnificent work at its best. Hundreds and thousands of cholla cactus standing proudly in the windy air of Joshua Tree National Park.
The best time to visit is during sunset or sunrise when the entire place is cast with the golden light of the desert sun. Now, be careful to keep a safe distance from these 'teddy bear' cacti and don't try to wander off the trail.
Steven P — Google review
If you’re going anywhere in Joshua Tree, make sure you add the Cholla Cactus Garden to your list! We went a little before sunset and it was perfect because you could see the Cholla start to glow more and more as the light dims. Incredible experience and pretty easy to find parking around 5pm.
Logan Porter — Google review
Went at sunrise and it was totally worth it. Amazing views. The golden fiery look is unlike any other. Worth the morning drive!
Brian Ha — Google review
I have mixed feelings about the Cholla Cactus Garden. On one hand, the chollas are absolutely stunning and unlike any other cactus I've seen before. But on the other hand, they're incredibly dangerous. One wrong move and you could end up with a painful and difficult-to-remove cactus spines stuck in your skin. I always try to be extra careful when I'm around them, but I still have nightmares about accidentally falling into a chollas.
SIRLUNA (David) — Google review
Really a pretty place to stop in Joshua Tree National Park! The sun hitting the cacti was so pretty and the colors are lovely. They're serious when they say don't touch them though, the spines will really stick you. We loved visiting.
Michelle Mitton — Google review
A cute small looped trail, perfect for the family. It does feel far from the other trails and attractions at Joshua Tree.
Blazing Faith — Google review
Good trail to wonder in the desert and admire this amazing plants. It may get bit too hot during summer or during afternoon. I would suggest carrying a small water bottle just in case. Also, please do not touch the plants as thorns are sharp and can hurt.
aditya patil — Google review
This place within Joshua Tree NP is an incredible natural phenomenon within a park full of amazing natural phenomenon. I recommend the drive down to this spot.
Cory Gant — Google review
Beautiful forest of interesting cacti. Short loop through the garden. Good secluded stop towards the southern side of the park.
Kent 19 — Google review
It was beautiful. Make sure to be before because of parking and because the glowing starts just before the sun touches the cactus. If the sun touches the cactus directly pictures aren’t going to be so good.
Yemelin Beris Landaverde — Google review
Beautiful specially in the evening around sunset. The unique plants in the nature. They have limited parking. Make sure you don’t go off the trail/wooden path. The thorn are dangerous and can give you a lot of trouble. So avoid touching or stepping on them. They penetrate through shoes and clothes as well.
Chetan Pangam — Google review
This is my FAVORITE spot in Joshua Tree National Park!!
This 0.2 mile flat loop is gorgeous, fascinating, and mesmerizing garden full of Cholla (Choy-ya). I would go at sunrise or sunset because the Cholla look like they are glowing and it’s so magical!
This is a must stop!!
Parking is minimal. We got there at 7:20am and the parking lot was half full.
Chloe Medina — Google review
Cholla Garden is a mesmerizing enclave that transports you to a different planet, offering an unparalleled experience unlike any other place in California. To catch the breathtaking sunrise, an early start is essential, with a recommendation to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
Spending a minimum of an hour in this enchanting landscape allows you to capture the captivating transformation of colors in the surroundings – before, during, and after the sunrise. Each moment presents a unique palette that makes for stunning photographs.
While navigating through the cactuses, it's crucial to walk with caution. The spikes on these plants are akin to a formidable machine, easily attaching themselves to clothing and causing significant discomfort. Despite this prickly challenge, the awe-inspiring beauty of Cholla Garden makes the experience well worth the early wake-up call and careful exploration.
Ksenia Postolnik — Google review
Amazing place to visit. There's so much cholla that you can just keep walking. Just be careful not to get lost as the parking lot does disappear as you walk further in. There are a bunch of cactus balls on the floor that can cling into you. The wind can blow needles onto you as well. If you stay on the trail provided, you will be okay. If you go off it, just make sure you don't get prick. I didn't see any bees when I was there in late March during the day. There were lizards and birds flying around.
Steven Bui — Google review
This place is amazing. One of the best spots on the Joshua Tree National Park. It’s the first place we went to. It’s a beautiful garden of cactuses. You can walk around and take pictures. Be careful with little kids as there are a lot of fallen cactuses on the ground and you could easily get hurt.
Raghavendra Aditya M — Google review
Gorgeous little cactus garden! Take the quarter mile loop and enjoy seeing sweeping views of the valley. Parking might be tight during busy times of year, but also not very busy closer to sunset (when we went) it’s worth it!
Torsten Keil-Long — Google review
Well worth stopping here to walk the path and see (and take photos, esp during sunset or sunrise). Pronounced "choy-ya" (NOT cho-la). Could spend 15 - 60 mins here depending on how much time you want to take photos
Brian L — Google review
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California, USA
I'll never travel to Greater Palm Springs without this trip planner again
Well-trafficked 1.8-mi. loop past Wonderland of Rocks, desert scrub & reservoir dam built in 1900.
Sadly, there will be very little water at the dam, but the hike is wonderful. Lots of Joshua trees, boulders to climb and rock cliffs to admire. Be sure to go to the end to see the Native American pictographs. For a few minutes you'll be transported in time. After the initial light climb, the trail is gentle and good for all ages.
Mini Rag — Google review
We went here for the bouldering they had and also did a short loop trail. The bouldering area was a bit hard to find but there was plenty of people guiding us the correct way. There’s also a little tiny sign showing you which way to go!
Helen Trang — Google review
This trail has a variety of things to enjoy. There are petroglyphs, wildlife, the dam, cool rock formations, cacti and Joshua Trees. For those who love to climb rocks there's plenty of opportunities for that. The most challenging part of this trail is at Barker Dam; you'll need to traverse some stone steps and such. We saw a snake in some bushes by the trail.
thyblacksmith — Google review
No water as of Nov 2023. The hike is 1.1 mile long loop
Anu Chitrangana — Google review
Great place to visit, lots of rocks, trees and nature. I always love coming to this place gives me peace and tranquility. I would highly recommend you visit this place.
David Marin — Google review
Very impressive rock formations and a fun trail. It’s short tho only like 1 mile but worth it. It’s one of the prettiest spots unfortunately no water when I went but still impressive and beautiful with the exposed areas. A bit crowded since it’s one of the most popular hikes.
Carlos Archuleta — Google review
Dam is completely dry. I could only see water marks on the rock. Trail was great though. Unique rock formations and plants all around. Trail direction can be slightly confusing so wouldn't go when it's dark.
Plenty of parking space!
Young Eun Kim — Google review
Great hike, amazing views of the desert and rock formations.
susanalasus — Google review
Don’t trust beautiful pictures😁
We were there in October and it was drought. Easy trail, also you can move forward and see petroglyphs, but then need to hike longer to the parking lot.
Shery Lady — Google review
We visited here around 11 AM. It was quite hot. Dam was completely dried but trail was very good. Attached lots of pictures of the trail. Need 45 minutes to complete the trail and come back. Should visit here if visiting Joshua Park. Joshua Park is quite big and entry is 30$ per vehicle (if you don't have annual pass for US national park which is 80$). I prefer to buy annual pass since there are so many beautiful national parks in US.
Scenic 1-mi. hiking loop with huge rock formations to climb & views of Joshua trees & desert areas.
Make this the last spot of the day. As the sun sets, the rock cliffs burn orange fire! With shadows on the other parts, it makes for an amazing experience - not to mention some beautiful pictures. The trail is easy, about a mile. You'll see lots of rock climbers tackling different surfaces, it is fun to live through them. 😉
Mini Rag — Google review
We’ve been to 4 or 5 hikes in Joshua tree now and happy valley is one of our family favorites. It’s an easy 1 mile loop, although our hike turned into about 1.5 miles due to the amount of climbing we did. This is such a fun hike with so much variety in what you see and can do. There’s limitless possibilities in bouldering.
Our two kids, ages 10 and 12, loved climbing and exploring. We saw families with toddlers who were running and climbing off steam.
Try and get there early as the parking lot tends to fill up by 10. We got there at 10:30 and we’re lucky someone was leaving. The rangers were redirecting people to another lot when we left at 12:30.
There are pit toilets and many picnic tables for lunch at the parking lot. Easy drive in and out as well. Take sunscreen and water and enjoy the peace and calm of Joshua Tree!
J Mac — Google review
All Trails: 1.34miles, 118ft elevation gain, 56 mins.
This is awesome trail! Not too difficult and saw two park volunteers hiking as well and they were very knowledgeable. Lots of prickly pear cacti which I loved! Tons of places to do some boulder climbing or watching the real rock climbers 😅
There is no shade! Bring sunscreen, more water than you think you need (1L/hour/person), and layers.
A bunch of variety of cacti and we found the “throne” of hidden valley 😂
Have lunch at the picnic area after your hike!
This is a very busy attraction! We arrived at 9:50am and got what seemed to be the last parking spot. Left around 12:30pm and there was a ranger at the entrance not allowing people to enter.
Chloe Medina — Google review
I loved this "trail." It really isn't a trail, more of a gentle walk through nature. It is short, well-marked, and doesn't have much in the way of elevation gains/declines. So if you're looking for a true hike, look elsewhere.
That said, this little walk packs a ton of beautiful sights in a really small area. You're sort of in a bowl here, with rocks surrounding you on all sides. Inside the bowl there are really interesting rock formations all around you, and the flora here is very different than you see in most other areas of the park. Apparently this area is a bit of a microclimate due to it's geological features, and there are tons of signs throughout the park explaining the reasons for this. It is an amazing combination of easy walking, beautiful scenery, and signs containing really good information about what you're seeing. The one downside is this was the most crowded area I saw in the park with the exception of Skull Rock, so you will be sharing the trail with hundreds of people. But unlike Skull Rock and some of the other crowded areas of the park, the crowds here didn't really bother me.
This was the highlight of the park for me, without a doubt. Although there are other hiking trails I'd recommend over this one, there is no other attraction in the park I'd recommend more highly.
Gunnar Caya — Google review
Easy hike (1 mile loop trail). We went there early ~ before 9am and easily found the parking lot. Would recommend to arrive early to avoid the traffic… saw long line cars waiting to enter the gate on the way back.
This hike is suitable for families, mostly flat, rocks for kids to climb (not dangerous). Be aware of the cold. It was end of Dec when we were here and we wish we would have worn beanie and gloves.
Th?c An Tr??ng — Google review
Easy loop with some really great views of the rocks and Joshua Trees. Make sure you wear lots of sunscreen when you're here! One of the first stops on the trip and one of the better ones as well!
Josh Wilson — Google review
$30 to enter Joshua Tree National Park with a car, valid for 7 days. There are bathrooms and porta potties right when you enter the park.
This is an easy trail if you stay on the flat path. My friend, and I ended up climbing over some rocks, and it was fun but quite difficult and not for children (8 out of 10 difficulty at times).
Heidi Liou — Google review
Plenty of toilet paper!!!
We got here early after turning away due to crowds the day before. Nice quick early morning hike with great light and fun views of rock climbers. As with every spot in the park, this gets filled up and parking becomes very difficult. We took the opposite direction on the loop and it was nice having folks pass us in the opposite direction rather than following or being followed.
Keith Tharp — Google review
Hidden Valley trail was recommended to me by a ranger at the Visitors centre. I arrived later in the afternoon and wanted to 'see it all in a short time before the sun went down'. This trail delivered.
The trail is a loop that starts at the carpark and makes it around a relatively easy area within the park. You get the see the best of Joshua Tree national park.
The Joshua trees are very unique and unlike any other trees that I have seen elsewhere. The fact that there are SO many of them and ONLY them is a really cool sight to see.
This track will take you around some very interesting rock structures that are unique to the park. Depending on the time of day, you may see amateur and professional rock climbers taking up the challenge.
The park can get HOT in summer so be sure to take more water than what you think you will need and stick to the track.
Trey Saunders — Google review
One of the easiest trails to do. Lots of Joshua trees to see and good scenic points to take pictures. The trail is big so we went half way through and came back. NOTE: PLEASE CARRY A LOT OF WATER.
akash rawat — Google review
I love this area of JT so much parking space, picnic tables, restrooms and a lot to explore around hidden valley. You will even catch a glimpse of some rock climbers in this area.
I Captured Jaime & Yesenia engagements here at the hidden valley trail.
Alcabreraphoto — Google review
Easy hike with a clear path. Some rock trails but they are well-defined. Lots of nature to see but very little shade. Keep an eye out of lizards, birds, kangaroo rats and ground squirrels. Kinda cool being surrounded in the valley.
Edward Co — Google review
You'll be immersed in the tranquility of the hidden valley, shielded from the outside world by towering rock walls.
The unique geological features and the untouched beauty of Hidden Valley make it a captivating experience. Whether you're seeking a peaceful stroll or a place to connect with nature, this trail offers it all. Don't forget your camera, as there are plenty of opportunities to capture memorable moments amidst the breathtaking scenery.
Thompson Chen — Google review
Nice place to hike for 1-2 hours. Thieves used to hide their stolen cows in this valley and got this name. We saw two groups of rock climbers on two sides of the valley. We saw a few big birds and quite a few smaller birds.
John Fwu — Google review
Great hike, my wife and i were out there at sun up....as the sun came up the shadows and lite wer neat to see. It was cold when we first got there, but once we got moving we warmed up quite a bit.
Joshua tree is an amazing place and we are already planning on going back
M Mag — Google review
A beautiful trail. We did this 7am in early November. It could not have been more pleasant and wonderful. We took time to walk around. We are not professional hikers by any means. It was the perfect length with one mile loop that is easy to follow.
Ichiko Kido — Google review
This trail has a mix of flat terrain to walk and rock steps to traverse, with minor changes in elevation. You can expect to see some wildlife. Mostly birds, lizards, and desert rodents. The blooming cacti were really pretty.
thyblacksmith — Google review
This is definitely one of the best bang for your buck trails at Joshua Tree. I haven't been to them all, but so far If I only had time to do one, this would be it.
Blazing Faith — Google review
A super short and easy 1 mile loop trail. It took me less than an hour to complete with several stops. There aren’t too many Joshua trees on this one but the rock formations and various cacti are cool. A bit chilly in October in the shade. The wind was also blowing hard. A great first introduction trail to Joshua Tree NP.
Aliza Brown — Google review
As you drive up and see a few dozen cars, you think "yeah... Hidden... Riiiggghhhtt" (sarcasm). But then you get it and start going down the paths that break off everywhere, seeing hikers, people rappelling,and kids playing on rocks on to of rocks. Then you climb the rocks and see the amazing view, truly a Hidden Valley. 🤩😍
Joseph Ross — Google review
4.8
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4.5
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74485 National Park Dr, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277, USA
Keys View, located in Joshua Tree National Park, is a popular vantage point offering stunning panoramic views of mesas, mountains and the Coachella Valley. A scenic 20-minute drive up from Park Blvd takes you to this spot which stands at an elevation of 5185ft above sea level.
Good god saw the most spectacular sunset here
It was super crowded though so be wary and mask up. The parking started far off just because everyone wants to come here to watch the sunset. Now we get why the advice is to get here 30-40minutes before sunset so you can bag a good parking spot
There’s some benches at the top where you can picnic too but definitely hit this place up for beautiful views at sunset time
Also got a tiny toilet here too but there’s just one so there was a long line waiting for it!
Neerja Bakshi-Sharma — Google review
Breathtaking. We came up on mopeds from Cap Rock- about 5 miles. The view happened to be clear and expansive this day. From one side, we could see all the way to the Salton Sea.
Evelyn Javelosa — Google review
Phenomenal scenic view, excellent for photos. Be aware of aggressive bees.
George Chalhoub — Google review
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Joshua National Park, make sure you make time and save a bit of your energy to watch the sunset 🏜 at Key's view, you will feel as if you are in heaven.
You can see the Coachella valley, Palm Springs, and even the San Andreas fault in front of you.
One of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life.Joshua National Park
Dionnel Martinez — Google review
You definitely want to check out the spot on a clear day. You can see for miles and miles and miles and you are on top of the world, it is very windy. Definitely want to have a hat or ear covering of some sort. Best sunset spot you'll find
NICOLE HEALEY — Google review
This is an amazing view. You have to drive a bit to get to the spot. It's definitely worth the drive. On a good day you can see Salton sea and may be Mexico. Very peaceful and serene. Tranquility at it's best.
Sandip Hodkhasa — Google review
There's a spectacular viewpoint of the Coachella Valley from here. There's a medium-sized parking lot here with a toilet. We were unable to use the toliet because it was infested with bees. This viewpoint is handicap accessible.
John Hannan — Google review
This is a good place to see the desert valleys and the surrounding mountains. We captured the strong sand storm in the valley around Palm Springs.
Shumin Guo — Google review
This is a wonderful view point. We can see Palm Springs from this point with binoculars. We can also see the San Andreas Fault in front of us. Even clouds blocked most of the west view, but the sunlight shone colorful rays and painted the sky colorful, it felt like we were in heaven!
John Fwu — Google review
Oh My! What a phenomenal view of Joshua Tree National Park.
A short 10 minute drive off the main route and you go from the valley filled with amazing Joshua Trees to the top of a mountain with a spectacular view of the entire region.
In the winter time you can see several snow capped mountains as well as the Salton Sea.
This is a very popular place! So parking can can difficult. Be warned if you are planning to view the sunset... get there about 45 minutes EARLY! Or you may not find a place to park.
Michael Hillman — Google review
Great views of the valley, we were there mid morning and there were several people visiting. Still some parking but I can see this spot getting busy!! I loved the overview maps explaining the view, well worth the drive!!
Amber Steeves — Google review
BEAUTIFUL outlook - but also extremely windy and cold in October. The wind was so bad during my visit that you could barely walk up to the outlook. Walking into the wind felt like I was about to gain some lift. The desert dust added a unique hazy look to the mountains though. A wonderful view of the San Jacinto mountain. Definitely recommend driving up here if you’re visiting Joshua Tree NP and only have a few hours to spare.
Aliza Brown — Google review
Easy access to a 5,100ft overlook. Road to Keys View is nice but parking limited. I felt lucky getting a spot as it was about 90% full. I noticed people would get there, get a photo & leave pretty quickly so if the parking was full a spot should open up quickly.
James Scott S — Google review
Mind blowing views from this place. The haze between the mountain is everything. The little walk to the top is paved and walkable. 100% recommended to not miss if you’re coming to Joshua Tree National park.
Mudit Jindal — Google review
Photos can’t do anything like this justice. This is one of those places you have to experience with your own eyes. Sunsets here are proposal-worthy. Worth it, no question.
Joel Meirovitz — Google review
It's a different side of Joshua Tree National Park. You will have a view of Coachella Valley. It was my 2nd time and still amazing and still cold 🥶 😄. There was a cold breeze from the top viewing area. It is beautiful views up there though.
Jan C — Google review
This is the best place in Joshua Tree to see the sunset. The view is absolutely gorgeous. At this time of year there is snow on the mountains and this is a beautiful contrast to the desert landscape.
The trail to the viewpoint is paved and very short but it is very steep and could be an issue to people with mobility. However, there is still a beautiful viewpoint that can be seen from the parking lot.
If you do go to the top be careful of very high winds. I've visited this place a few times and it can get extremely windy.
Parking can also get full quickly especially during the sunset. I would recommend getting there a bit early to get a spot.
Alexandra Walton — Google review
You could spend an entire day at the Hall of Horrors and Keys View. Our family, including 4 young children, spent the day exploring the Hall and had a great time. The ones who weren't tired and ready to head home, went to Keys for some of the most beautiful views I've ever seen.
John Coffey — Google review
Visited in April 2015. Hitting the spot early morning at 6 am was truly worth it. The amazing sunrise painted the stunning vista at Keys View. From this vantage point, you can take in sweeping vistas of the Coachella Valley, including the shimmering Salton Sea, the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains, and the towering San Jacinto Peak.
Jan Rosenberg — Google review
Keys View is the best place to watch the sunset in Joshua Tree National Park. You can also see the stunning panoramic mountain view. There is an easy 0.2-mile loop paved trail. We reached there just before sunset. We sat on a rock and enjoyed the peaceful sunset. The single Joshua Tree from the parking lot gives the absolutely beautiful scenery that will be in your mind for a long time.
The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum is a unique open-air exhibit featuring an unconventional collection of folk-art assemblages. The sculptures and installations, referred to as 'Junk Dada', are created by famed African American artist Noah Purifoy and have been showcased in some of the world's top museums. However, visitors can view some of his best works for free at his former outdoor desert studio located north of Joshua Tree.
What a great , unique place to explore
. It’s the gift that keeps on giving as the talented artist continues to add to the exhibit. Parking is plenty, right in front of the museum. Please make sure that the weather is not too hot or too
Cold. There isn’t much shade, or places to sit and relax.
Please take money to donate. Also, if u take things with you, make sure you take it back and don’t trash the place.
Totally recommended. Enjoy
Miguel June — Google review
It' like out-of-this-world adventure at the Noah Purifoy desert museum with 10 acres of large-scale sculptures created from junk materials and be amazed by this unique art historical wonder. With over 100 sculptures to discover, you'll have a blast wandering through the otherworldly environment that took decades of dedication to create.
Gala Gala — Google review
Wow - our favorite stop for our Joshua Tree weekend trip. If you love art and want to see some truly unique sculptures, this is a must see. Joshua Tree is known for many “found art” pieces and this outdoor desert exhibit sums up the beauty of the genre and of the desert. You’re left wondering how such pieces were even made and conceptualized.
You don’t need to pay but they do take donations and I recommend grabbing the walking tour brochure when you arrive to better contextualize the work you’re seeing. Parking was very easy, and we arrived around 4pm on a Saturday with barely anyone around.
Laurie P — Google review
I think it goes without saying that the Noah Purfoy outdoor museum is a must see for anyone interested in the history of the watchtower‘s recycled, assemblage art, junk art if you will, but the average person will probably not have it on their radar. If you’re visiting Joshua tree, I have some time to kill for need a quirky destinations spot for a first date, this place in my mind would be a great option, or if you’re are trying to rack up points, did you identify as desert as fuck😛
Phaedra Nicomede — Google review
Cool desert museum made up of things found then reimagined into freestyle art pieces! It's a cool quirky little side trip that you will like if you are the adventurous type! My guess is this gave Noah Purifoy an outlet to express himself as well as a way to pour himself into his passion for others to enjoy! Cool little desert museum!
DavidCookLosAngeles (DCLA) — Google review
Very interesting to wander around and see how the articles have fared after 20-25 years in the desert.
It is probably worth looking at the website before you go to get a bit further of context on his life and work.
An interesting and original place to visit!
Victoria Pearson — Google review
This was a highlight of my Joshua tree trip! You can go through this vast collection of sculptures if you walk quickly in about 20 minutes, but I could have spent an hour leisurely walking and snapping photos of everything. I went around 9:30 am on a Sunday, and there were only 4 other people I ran into.
Jess Lin — Google review
🗿🗽🏜Donate if you enjoy this place please 🙏 Pretty interesting "outdoor art museum of assemblage sculpture" and really interesting back story and connections to the 1965 Watts rebellion. My favorite piece was No Contest and be sure to walk all the way back to San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. Enjoy my art friends.
Josh Scotia — Google review
Must see if visiting Joshua Tree. So much time and attention put into this immersive exhibit. I would definitely encourage everyone to donate because the artist definitely put so much time, effort, creativity, and heart into this! I had a great time! So much to see, really you could spend hours here if you really wanted to examine every exhibit in detail. I would definitely recommend allowing 45min to an hour checking this place out!
Afton Victoria — Google review
I give a 3 because, sadly, the art itself is falling apart. Some of the pieces are destroyed, but it is still worth a visit if you are in the desert. It is an interesting and even a little creepy look at a mans viewpoint of the world and the ideas at the time. You can see history and a glimpse back into the past in the pieces.
jennifer Sheldrake — Google review
Beautiful!! Sculptures that would be highlights at MOMA, just there out in the elements, no pretentiousness. It’s really something. One of the main highlights for me. Just be careful of the cholla cactus there! They were shedding and the wind flew a bit onto my toddler’s leg. That was fun. 🙄 Otherwise was a great experience!
Ava Farber — Google review
It was a great experience its hard to describe but if you are into unusual types of art you will defenatly enjoy this place.
Litzy — Google review
Great place to spend some time if you're in the area. Free but donations requested. Some really interesting sculptures and makes for some great pictures! Plenty of parking. Last 1/4 mile is sand/dirt road and very bumpy but doable in a regular vehicle.
Matthew Braverman — Google review
A free and enjoyable reclaimed material art display in the middle of the desert. To some it may look like junk, but there is definitely an element of real art to many of the pieces. It’s worth seeing considering the fact of how unique it is and definitely something that represents the quirky Joshua Tree and surrounding crowd. It can get very warm so I would advise against bringing dogs however, they are allowed. They should have paw covers at very least but again it can get very warm out there so something to be aware of. There is plenty of parking right out front and the road there is paved a majority of the distance. I would recommend that everyone see it at least once.
Zan Lee — Google review
This is a free outside art display. They do ask for a donation if you are so inclined. The art is starting to show wear and tear. It is interesting, but slab city is a better venue for recycled art projects. You can see the whole project in 30 to 45 minutes.
J Lewis — Google review
Noah definitely had a passion for the unusual. Making things out of what others discarded or had no use for and because of the effort and time it took Noah to create his visions, I feel it's worth a visit.
Unfortunately, his visions were hard for me to conceptualize and are in various states of neglect. This reminded me of Slab City, near the Salton Sea. Seems like it's being milked for as long as the pieces are still standing, but this could be due to costs to maintain??
Now, in the defense of those overseeing his art, the donation box is hard to find and not marketed correctly, it should be, in my opinion, next to the Welcome art piece; with the entrance clearly marked there. Guiding people to this spot. If the funds would actually be used to upkeep Noah's art pieces, then there should be signage explaining why donations are needed. I didn't see one of the many visitors drop money into the donation box next to the sign in box. We had to search/figure out where the money drop box was in order to make our donation.
Most of the drive is paved until your last right turn on to Blair Lane. You park perpendicular to the road, on the sides of the road. There is parking signage.
The owner of the spaceship home, I think it's a vacation rental, probably won't be happy with my pointing out its existence a ways behind Noah's Desert Museum. It's cool. Check it out from a distance so as not to ruin it for the people who are there.
Respect the residents of the area by not littering, drive slowly, stay off their property, and be respectful.
Michelle Blair — Google review
Super interesting place with unique outdoor sculpture by the late artist Noah Purifoy. There were plenty of things to see and observe. It's free to enter but you can make a donation via the QR code. They don't take cash donations anymore because the donation box was vandalized too many times.
nsc — Google review
Very cool art here! There's even a guest book to sign near the entrance. It's cool to see how far people have come to see this place. Unfortunately for me I didn't make it there till almost sundown. So I kind of had to do a quick walk-through. Eventually I will go back and see this place again because I am sure there are things that I missed.
Jenilee Lemieux — Google review
So happy I found this little adventure spot! It’s so random but awesome! A must see time spent here was about 1-2 hours. I took a lot of photos but just posted a few, you’ll have to go check the rest out yourself! Note the sky we went around 4pm and the sun was setting after a while! Just beautiful sky’s.
Crystal Rowland — Google review
Wondrous setting for stark, creative use of discarded man made items and materials left in the desert. Free, intriguing, eye opening and mind expanding. Highly recommend if you enjoy art.
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