Looking for the Best Parks in Phoenix Metro?
At All About Play, you can guess what we live for. And the Phoenix, Arizona area is a great place for those who love the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, biking, horseback riding, climbing, or even sailing a giant pirate ship! (More on that later.)
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best parks in the Phoenix area with kid-friendly features, so you can enjoy the great outdoors, see beautiful wildlife, and tire your kids out as a bonus!
Camelback Mountain
4925 East McDonald Drive, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
This mountain, a prominent landmark of the Phoenix metropolitan area, is located in the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area between the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix and the town of Paradise Valley.
Hiking and rock climbing are some of the most popular things to do there. If you can manage the 1,420 ft climb to the summit, you’ll get breathtaking 360-degree views of the city! You can also glimpse exciting flora and fauna on your hike, so bring your camera.
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251
The Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a protected, sustainable desert habitat with many beautiful trails that boast cacti forests and diverse wildlife. The trails can be used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding in some places.
What makes is one of the best parks in Phoenix? You can explore over 225 miles and 30,580 acres of the Sonoran Desert when you come visit this beautiful preserve. In 2020, the preserve boasted three of the top-rated hiking trails in Scottsdale.
Lake at Mansel Carter Oasis Park
19767 E Julius Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
The 48-acre Mansel Carter Oasis Park opened in 2017 in Queen Creek, and this park has something for everyone, including but not limited to: sports fields, a pirate ship-themed splash pad, a skate park, a sand pit, a lake, and exercise equipment. Plus, it’s bikeable from many areas of Queen Creek!
In addition, there is a massive playground with plenty to entertain kids of different ages, and an all-rubber surface ensures safer play for everyone. There is so much to do at this fantastic park, you could bring your kids here every day of the summer, and they would never get bored!
Paseo Vista Recreation Area
3850 S McQueen Rd, Chandler, AZ 85286
This 60-acre area of land used to be a working landfill for 30 years, but the citizens of Chandler turned it into one of the most popular and beautiful parks in the city. This park boasts an archery range where classes are offered, a dog park, picnic shelters, a disc golf course, hiking/biking trails, rock climbing, and a great playground.
And the 360-degree views of the East Valley are absolutely out of this world. This beautiful Chandler, AZ park is a great place to bring little kids, too. The playground features a rock wall, a tractor, and tire swings, among other fun things! Certainly one of the best parks in Phoenix!
Skyline Regional Park
2600 N Watson Rd, Buckeye, AZ 85396
Skyline Regional Park is an 8,700-acre mountain preserve located in the southern White Tank Mountains in the town of Buckeye, AZ.
The park officially opened in January 2016 with only seven miles of trails to speak of, and now there are more than 20 miles of trails for hiking, and you can also rent a campsite or even bring your dog – if they’re on a leash.
This park’s campsite is not only ADA accessible, but there are also no fees for entering or parking.
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
2757 E. Guadalupe Rd, Gilbert, AZ, 85234
The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch combines water resource management, wildlife habitat preservation, education, and outdoor recreation. This desert oasis supports diverse habitats and a variety of wildlife.
The 4.5 miles of trails throughout the park are suitable for hikers, runners, bikers, horseback riders, and bird watchers alike! There are even educational panels along the trails to help you understand the kinds of wildlife that live in the park.
In addition, this Gilbert, AZ preserve is a great place to bring your kids, as there is an urban fishing lake, covered picnic areas, a dinosaur dig site, and the only valley astronomy observatory open to the public. You can glimpse the stars there every Friday and Saturday evening from dusk until 9:30 p.m.
Rose Garden at Mesa Community College
1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ, 85202
The Rose Garden at Mesa Community College was created in 1997 as a joint effort between Mesa Community College and the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society.
The garden was created and is maintained by volunteers both from the community and the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society. There are several hundred varieties of roses to see in this Mesa, Arizona garden, adding up to approximately 4,000 roses and making it the largest public rose garden in the desert southwest.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr., Fountain Hills, AZ, 85268
The McDowell Mountain Regional Park is one of the best parks in Phoenix and boasts over 50 miles of trails for all ability levels. Mountain bikers, horseback riders, and hikers can get amazing views of the Phoenix and Scottsdale skylines, as well as the nearby mountain ranges.
There is also a nature center and fun events in the park all summer long that the whole family can enjoy! This Fountain Hills, AZ regional park will not disappoint as one of the best parks in Phoenix.
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
16501 West Northern Ave, Litchfield Park, AZ, 85340
The Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium in Litchfield Park, AZ is an excellent place for kids to learn all about animals that crawl, swim, fly, and run! From a petting zoo to feeding stingrays, sea lions, and giraffes, this zoo is sure to be a fun day trip for everyone.
There are also thrilling rides that take you across the top of the park with stunning views, right through the heart of the safari area, and even around the classic carousel.
Contact Us at All About Play
At All About Play, fun, and adventure is the name of the game. And once your kids have experienced any of the fantastic parks on this list, won’t they want to have the same adventures in their own backyard?
Call us at 623-986-7529 (PLAY), visit our website, or come on down to 7931 E PECOS RD #113, MESA, AZ, 85212 to learn about our fantastic cedar playgrounds!
