Usery Mountain Regional Park

About 40 minutes southeast of Scottsdale is Usery Mountain Regional Park. There is a wide and flat trail called the Merkel Trail that is perfect for all ages The one mile loop offers plenty of gorgeous expansive views of the mountains and desert and the trail is thriving with succulents, trees and other plants of the Sonoran Desert. For a more challenging hike, the Vista Trail bisects the Merkel Trail and climbs the hill the trail circles. Plenty of interpretive signs on the terrain, animal life and plant life. Modern, clean restrooms and shaded areas for picnics. Lots of critters scurrying about for kids to enjoy and watch out for rattlers when they wake up from their winter sleep. But it's very safe! For those looking for more challenging hikes, the Usery has plenty of trails from easy to difficult. You'll find it all here for $6.00 per car.