# Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation

> Dedicated to protecting, promoting, developing, and maintaining one of the nation's largest county park systems.

## Pages

- [Contact Us](https://mctpf.org/contact/): Get in touch with the Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation. Reach out to our team using the contact form on this page for more information and support.
- [Donate](https://mctpf.org/donate/): Support the Maricopa Trail and Regional Parks. Donations help build, maintain, promote, protect and sustain these trail systems and treasures.
- [Trail Ambassadors Volunteer Training Program](https://mctpf.org/news/1223/trail-ambassadors-volunteer-training-program/): Join Maricopa County’s Trail Ambassador Program for fall training, flexible shifts, ambassador gear, and hands-on trail stewardship opportunities.
- [Maricopa Trail Map](https://mctpf.org/the-trail/): Explore the 315-mile Maricopa Trail connecting 10 regional parks. View detailed color maps and printer-friendly black-and-white trail maps today.
- [Board of Directors](https://mctpf.org/about-us/board-of-directors/): Maricopa Trail & Park Foundation2025 Board of Directors PresidentBrian DerrickEmail: president@mctpf.org Vice PresidentHeather ReadingEmail: vp@mctpf.org Executive DirectorR. J. CardinEmail: executivedirector@mctpf.org SecretaryStacy A. Schneider, CPA, ret.Email: secretary@mctpf.org Member-at-LargeJoe Marvin Meetings The Board of Directors meets regularly on the fourth Friday of each month during the calendar year, and at other times as needed. Meetings may be
- [Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation Day](https://mctpf.org/news/1209/maricopa-trail-park-foundation-day/): Welcome Maricopa Trail + Park Community Partners! Join us at State Farm Stadium this November when the Arizona Cardinals take on the Jacksonville Jaguars to help support and raise awareness for the Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation. Your participation will help raise funds and make a meaningful impact on our trails and parks! Learn More
- [Advisory Council](https://mctpf.org/about-us/advisory-council/): R.J. Cardin Jim Coffman Mare Czinar Jan Hancock Jim Jensen Andy Kunasek Karrin Kunasek Robson Dale Larsen John Rose Jeff Spellman
- [Maricopa Trail Connections to the Sun Corridor Trail](https://mctpf.org/maricopa-trail-connections-webinar/): Maricopa Trail Connections to the Sun Corridor Trail
- [The Prickly Pedal – On The Maricopa Trail](https://mctpf.org/blog/1178/prickly-pedal-maricopa-trail/): The Prickly Pedal race and event on the Maricopa Trail invites you to experience an unforgettable cycling adventure filled with breathtaking views and diverse wildlife.=
- [Arizona Community Foundation Donor Fund Webinar](https://mctpf.org/acf-donor-fund-webinar/): Arizona Community Foundation Donor Fund Webinar
- [Meet the San Tan Shredders Mountain Bike Club](https://mctpf.org/news/1168/meet-the-san-tan-shredders-mountain-bike-club/): Raised as an active Midwestern farm boy, Jim Jensen didn’t let the challenges of a demanding job and a health scare derail his love of the outdoors. “I accepted a job promotion with my company and moved to Arizona in 2006,” says the co-founder of the San Tan Shredders mountain bike club. “As a ‘traveling salesman,’
- [Volunteers Rebuild Part of Maricopa Trail Damaged by Wildfire](https://mctpf.org/news/1167/volunteers-rebuild-part-of-maricopa-trail-damaged-by-wildfire/): Trails don’t fix themselves after wildfires. Rehabilitating trails is often a cooperative effort of many organizations, non-profits, volunteers and professional trail engineers. In October 2020, the Sears Fire scorched 14,476 acres of land a few miles northeast of Cave Creek in the Tonto National Forest. That area contained one of our favorite stretches of the
- [Hike of the Week: Maricopa Trail – Bronco Trailhead to Spur Cross Ranch](https://mctpf.org/news/1166/hike-of-the-week-maricopa-trail-bronco-trailhead-to-spur-cross-ranch/): Start exploring the 315-mile, Valley-circling Maricopa Trail with a trek through its northmost reaches. This 13.6 mile segment runs from the Bronco trailhead in Tonto National Forest to Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek. LENGTH: 13.6 miles one way (Bronco Trailhead to Spur Cross)The entire Maricopa Trail is 315 miles long. RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 2,400- 4,234
- [Hike the Maricopa Trail Spear S Ranch in New River](https://mctpf.org/blog/1165/hike-the-maricopa-trail-spear-s-ranch-in-new-river/): NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Start the year with a goal of hiking the entire 315-mile Maricopa Trail. Begin with an easy trek on the Anthem-Cave Creek-Spur Cross segment. Getting There: Andy Kunasek at Spear S Ranch Trailhead: 41799 N. New River Rd., New River. Go north on Interstate 17 to Carefree Highway (State Route 74) exit. Go
- [Hiking the 315-mile Maricopa Trail: This stretch is a great place to start](https://mctpf.org/news/1154/hiking-the-315-mile-maricopa-trail-this-stretch-is-a-great-place-to-start/): Read the original article here.
- [If hiking the entire Maricopa Trail sounds like your kind of challenge, here's how to start](https://mctpf.org/news/1152/if-hiking-the-entire-maricopa-trail-sounds-like-your-kind-of-challenge-heres-how-to-start/): The 315-mile Maricopa Trail circles metro Phoenix and links towns, parks and national forests. This stretch might inspire you to hike the whole thing.
- [Want to hike the Maricopa Trail? Here's a good starting point if you're new to the route](https://mctpf.org/news/1151/want-to-hike-the-maricopa-trail-heres-a-good-starting-point-if-youre-new-to-the-route/): Starting your trek in a Maricopa County Park means well-signed, well-groomed trails. Try this access point in the White Tank Mountains.
- [See a hidden waterfall on this off-the-beaten path Arizona hike. Here's how to do it](https://mctpf.org/news/1148/see-a-hidden-waterfall-on-this-off-the-beaten-path-arizona-hike-heres-how-to-do-it/): Desert waterfalls are rare enough, but this one in its tiny grotto fringed by cottonwoods and willows is a gem. The Maricopa Trail takes you to it.
- [Your Maricopa County Hiking Mini Guide](https://mctpf.org/blog/1124/your-maricopa-county-hiking-mini-guide/): Ready to hit the trails in Maricopa County, Arizona? This mini guide to hiking will help you navigate the best spots of the Maricopa Trail and make the most of your outdoor adventure.
- [Home](https://mctpf.org/): The Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, promoting, developing, and maintaining one of the nation's largest county park systems.
- [Volunteer](https://mctpf.org/volunteer/): Are you interested in volunteering to help with the Maricopa Trail. We have several events coming up and you can volunteer by using our Contact Us page providing us your contact information. We also have volunteer opportunities beyond trail work. Hope to hear from you. See Volunteer Opportunities
- [Maricopa Trail Phase 1 Completion Celebration.](https://mctpf.org/blog/468/maricopa-trail-phase-1-completion-celebration/): Maricopa Trail Phase 1 Completion Celebration: Saturday, November 17, 2018. The successful completion of the 315-mile, Valley-circumnavigating Maricopa Trail was celebrated today at Cave Creek Regional Park. Dignitaries, supporters, volunteers and countless movers-and-shakers were on hand to mark the occasion. Here's a look at the day's festivities. PHOTOS:
- [Rebuilding the Maricopa Trail after the 2020 Sears Fire](https://mctpf.org/blog/703/rebuilding-the-maricopa-trail-after-the-2020-sears-fire/): The mythical Phoenix bird is capable of emerging from the ashes, unscathed and reborn anew, but a trail doesn't undergo that kind of transformation naturally after a fire ravages the landscape and destroys salutary vegetation. A trail requires a team of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers to rehabilitate its health and usability. In October 2020, the
- [Importance of Volunteerism](https://mctpf.org/blog/645/importance-of-volunteerism/): Trails just don't happen and they certainly do not maintain themselves. Volunteerism is a critical component in the planning, construction and ongoing care of our public trails. Whether you can provide heavy lifting, organizing, promotion or helping with logistics, there's a way for you to contribute to our Arizona trails. Regardless of which organization(s) you
- [About Us](https://mctpf.org/about-us/): ABC 15 News Coverage Channel 7 Coverage Memberships:
- [Links](https://mctpf.org/the-trail/links/): Maricopa County Regional Parks Buckeye Hills Regional Park Cave Creek Regional Park Estrella Mountain Regional Park Lake Pleasant Regional Park McDowell Mountain Regional Park Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Usery Mountain Regional Park White Tank Mountain Regional Park Friends Groups Friends of the Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant
- [Stewardship](https://mctpf.org/volunteer/stewardship/): Apply to be a volunteer! - Volunteer Application Form The Foundation has developed a Trail Stewardship Program to help accomplish its goals. An overview of the stewardship program can be found in the Introduction to the Trail Stewardship Program brochure. Steward Resources: Manuals Segment Steward Manual Crew Leader Manual Trail Crew Volunteer Manual Forms Trail Assessment Form Work
- [Maricopa Trail: White Tank Mountain Regional Park](https://mctpf.org/blog/629/maricopa-trail-white-tank-mountain-regional-park/): Most succinctly stated, the Maricopa Trail is a microcosm of the Valley of the Sun. Over its 317-mile course, the non-motorized recreational trail connects 10 county parks, wanders through open desert and farmland, tethers to suburbs and urban centers and passes by the canals, dams and lakes that deliver water to the one of the
- [Trail User Voices](https://mctpf.org/blog/624/trail-user-voices-2/): Canine Hiking Club of AZ's 18th anniversary hike in 2017. Hooking up with the Cottonwood Trail section in the Tonto NF just above Cave Creek. Jamie Scott DeBenedetto, Phoenix
- [Maricopa Trail: Usery Mountains-Wild Horse Segment](https://mctpf.org/blog/615/maricopa-trail-usery-mountains-wild-horse-segment/): The Salt River Recreation Area north of Mesa is a well-known destination for kayaking, tubing, fishing and picnicking. Although there are also some hiking trails near the water, riverside commotion, noisy crowds, entry fees and mounds of trash left behind by careless day trippers are buzz kills for trekkers in search of beauty and solitude.
- [Trail User Voices](https://mctpf.org/blog/611/trail-user-voices/): Jim Dolance of Peoria and his four-legged hiking companion Lucy escaped the crowds on the Maricopa Trail in and around Cave Creek Regional Park during the coronavirus pandemic. “Lucy and me on the back side of Go John trail where it connects with the Maricopa Trail. Pretty sure this has been burned up with that
- [Maricopa Trail: Bronco - Spur Cross](https://mctpf.org/blog/562/maricopa-trail-bronco-spur-cross/): RESTORATION OF MARICOPA TRAIL SEGMENT 20 COMPLETE Wildfires can be as confusing and they are devastating. Sometimes they roar through a forest in take-no-hostages fury while in other situations, they hopscotch over the land creating a random patchwork of destruction and untouched swaths. The 2005 Cave Creek Complex Fire that swept through Tonto National Forest
- [Maricopa Trail: Lake Pleasant – Anthem](https://mctpf.org/blog/532/maricopa-trail-lake-pleasant-anthem/): Finding water in the desert is kind of like striking gold. This is especially true for hikers accustomed to desert trail where there’s seldom any water except for than puddles and stock tanks. Not so on the Lake Pleasant-Anthem segment of the Maricopa Trail. The 16-mile stretch of the 317-mile Valley-circling route passes by an
- [Maricopa Trail COVID-19 Guidelines Announcement](https://mctpf.org/news/492/maricopa-trail-covid-19-guidelines-announcement/): The Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation’s many partners including communities, sponsors, agencies, organizations, and volunteers are foremost in our thoughts as we have and will continue to take steps in response to COVID-19 state and national health emergency guidelines. To keep our friends and communities safe, we are following the recommendations of the CDC and
- [New Phoenix Magazine Promotional Partnership](https://mctpf.org/news/490/new-phoenix-magazine-promotional-partnership/): As a champion of all things local, PHOENIX magazine wants to give back to our community. For each $20 Phoenix subscription purchase, we’ll make a $10 donation to the Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation, so you can support local while reading local. phoenixmag.com/givesback
- [My Bookings](https://mctpf.org/events/my-bookings/): CONTENTS
- [Tags](https://mctpf.org/events/tags/): CONTENTS
- [Categories](https://mctpf.org/events/categories/): CONTENTS
- [Locations](https://mctpf.org/events/locations/): CONTENTS
- [Thank You!](https://mctpf.org/thank-you/): Thank you for your generous contribution to the Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation! Your donation helps our nonprofit organization's volunteers with the important work of maintaining the hundreds of miles of the Maricopa Trail and recreational trails in the Maricopa County Parks. We hope you will enjoy using the trails that your contribution helps to
- [History](https://mctpf.org/about-us/history/): The Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation was incorporated on September 17, 2003 and was formed and organized to be operated exclusively for charitable, research, and education activities, solely and exclusively in the interest of the general public.
- [What We Do](https://mctpf.org/about-us/what-we-do/): The Foundation advocates to protect the natural heritage of the region; provides information and education; partners to provide important recreation facilities and amenities; and provides stewardship assistance through volunteer programs. The Foundation is strategically aligned with the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department's Strategic Plan for future development and improvements in the Maricopa Trail and