New Maricopa County Park in the works
Usery Park, Pass Mountain Trail
Buckeye, Arizona – We regularly hike the well maintained trails of Maricopa’s regional park system. A yearly pass at a very reasonable rate allows access to all county owned areas, and for the most part these parks are beautiful, nicely taken care of with plenty of parking and adequate staffing.
View of Goldfield Mountains from the backside of Pass Mountain on the Pass Mountain trail, Usery Park.
Usery Mountain Park is probably our favorite. The Wind Cave trail is arguably the most popular hike in the park, it’s short and steep, very intense and very populated. The view from the top goes on forever and makes this trail worth the effort. I’m much more a fan of the quieter Pass Mountain trail that meanders 7 or so miles around the base of… you guessed it, Pass Mountain. The beginning third of this trail rises at a relatively mild grade and kind of feels like a stroll in a cactus preserve, beyond the bend that takes you to the back side of the mountain, you are met by a stunning vista of the Goldfield Mountains. All this is by way of explaining that a morning in one of these parks gives you the impression that you are surrounded by endless wilderness when for the most part, these areas are more suburban than rural and a comfortable drive from anywhere in the Valley.
There are several manned nature centers, extensive hiking trails suitable to all levels of ability as well equine and mountain biking areas, campgrounds, tours and special events like nature walks and nighttime flashlight hikes, even a significant amount of geocacaching.
I was excited to find out recently that a brand new park is being added to the Maricopa County collection.
Skyline Regional Park will abut the White Tanks Regional Park and sits right behind Verado, a massive planned community of new construction and retail developments. Skyline will envelop 8,675-acres in the mountainous region of Buckeye. According to avid hiker Mare Czinar in a recent blog for AZCentral it will debut with 14 miles of trails, developed trailhead, horse staging area and campsites, with additional trails in the works, and connectivity to Maricopa County Parks and Maricopa Trail in the still planning stages.
Skyline Regional Park Masterplan: http://www.buckeyeaz.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1.7.2_Skyline-Regional-Park-Master-Plan-Final_201208141340254260.pdf
