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 one of the largest and fastest-growing areas in the Southwest.
If you want a walking tour of the Valley’s diverse nature, this is your hike.
The trail represents decades of planning, development and construction in partnership with Maricopa County, the Maricopa Board of Supervisors, the county Parks and Recreation Department and dozens of volunteer organizations and individuals that contribute time and resources to build and maintain the trail.
The Valley-circumnavigating loop was completed in 2018. The next phase will roll out this year with designs for a spur trail that will connect with the planned 70,000-acre Vulture Mountain Regional Park in Wickenburg that’s on track to open in three to five years. The trail is a huge accomplishment.
“I talk with many county park directors across the country, and they are envious of what we have in the Maricopa Trail,” said R.J. Cardin, director of the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department.
The trail is organized into 20 segments, each with multiple trailheads and walk-in access points that tie together existing trails, roads and fresh-built paths.
Every section presents a snapshot of its corner of the county, from the rugged Tonto National Forest backcountry of the far north Valley to easy water-centric strolls at Lake Pleasant and family favorites such as the sandy trails in San Tan Mountain Regional Park. No matter where you live, chances are you’re not too from the Maricopa Trail.
“To me, the Maricopa Trail is a fast and easy way to escape the city and be one with nature,” said Bill Klewer, volunteer coordinator for the parks department. “I really appreciate that the trail can be accessed in so many locations throughout the county.”
With so many options, where do you start? The county parks are a good choice for those just getting to know the trail. Well-signed and impeccably groomed, the trail sections that run through parks are low-risk, amenity-rich gateways.
One West Valley segment to try is one where the trail shares space with the Mule Deer Trail in White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell. The park map shows multiple ways to incorporate the trail into a day hike or long-distance trek.
A pleasant out-and-back suggestion begins at the Mule Deer trailhead. Head south and follow the dirt single track that traces the park’s southeast boundary through rumpled washes and lush stands of ironwoods and paloverde trees that clutter moist drainages.
A brief uphill climb lands hikers on a ridge line with vistas of patchwork grids of cotton fields and subdivisions, agricultural flatlands and distant city high rises. All around, a fringe of mountain ranges circles the Valley.
CLOSER VIEW:The Maricopa and Sun Circle trails
Up close, the White Tank Mountains bolster the trail’s western edge while the Sierra Estrella, Cave Creek and Bradshaw mountains appear as hazy mounds on the distant horizons.
The route drops back down to the desert floor, slipping among picnic sites in an unassuming gnarled path. At the 2.25-mile point, the trail meets a junction where a spur path leads to the nature center, a must-see stop.
For a quick sampler hike, the nature center makes for a good turnaround point, unless this snippet of the larger entity has inspired you to tackle the entire trail.
Fall through spring is the perfect time to explore the Maricopa Trail. And with new kiosk signs designed by the nonprofit Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation and manufactured with a grant from REI being placed at new access points across the Valley in the coming weeks, navigating the course will be easier than ever.
Maricopa Trail: Mule Deer Trails
Length: 4.5 miles out and back as described; 17.2 miles for the entire segment.
Rating: Moderate.
Elevation: 1,506-1,377 feet.
Getting there: White Tank Mountain Regional Park, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell.
Admission: $7 per vehicle.
Facilities: Restrooms, water, picnic areas, horse staging, nature center, camping.
Details: www.maricopacountyparks.net, mctpf.org.