Maricopa Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maricopa Trail |
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|---|---|
| Length | 80 mi (130 km) |
| Location | Maricopa County, Arizona, USA |
| Trailheads | Loop trail (no endpoints) |
| Use | Hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, inline skating (portions) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year-round |
| Sights | Multiple regional and municipal parks |
The Maricopa Trail is a super long trail system in Maricopa County, Arizona. It's about 315 miles (507 km) (that's like 507 kilometers!) and connects many big parks around the Phoenix metropolitan area. Imagine a giant loop that goes around the city, with extra paths that reach out to mountain parks. It's perfect for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Some parts are even good for inline skating!
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Discovering the Maricopa Trail
The Maricopa Trail is a huge trail system in Maricopa County, Arizona. It's designed to connect many different parks and open spaces. This trail is a big loop that goes around the Phoenix metropolitan area. It also has four "spur" trails that branch off to connect even more mountain parks.
How the Trail Was Created
The idea for the Maricopa Trail started way back in 1997. The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department wanted to create a special pathway. Their goal was to link nine of their ten regional parks with South Mountain Park in Phoenix. This would encourage people to get out and enjoy nature.
Serious planning for the trail began in 2000. A special group was formed to develop a big trail system for the whole region. The Maricopa Trail was meant to be the most important part of this system. It was designed to include as many parks and fun areas as possible. It also connects with other trails, like the famous Arizona Trail.
The name "Maricopa Trail" was chosen in 2003. The whole plan was officially approved on August 16, 2004. The trail uses parts of paths that already existed, like the Sun Circle Trail. It also includes trails inside parks like White Tank Mountain Regional Park and Cave Creek Regional Park.
Building new parts of the trail started in 2006. By November 2009, about 80 miles (130 km) of the trail were ready. A lot of money was spent to build the trail and buy land for it. The first big part of the trail was finished in October 2018.
What You'll Find on the Trail
Many parts of the Maricopa Trail follow along existing canals. For example, it goes along the Western Canal in Tempe and Gilbert. It also follows the McMicken flood control channel. Future parts of the trail will follow the Central Arizona Project canal near Mesa.
Natural waterways are also a big part of the trail's path. You'll find sections that run next to the Agua Fria, the Gila, and the Salt River. The trail also crosses many other small streams in the area.
The trail goes through or connects to several mountain areas. These include the White Tank Mountains, South Mountains, Sierra Estrella, and the McDowell Mountains. Some parts of the trail even pass through the beautiful Tonto National Forest.
Parks Connected by the Trail
The Maricopa Trail links up nine county parks and one city park. This means you can explore many different natural areas!
- Buckeye Hills Regional Park (a spur route)
- Cave Creek Regional Park
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park
- Lake Pleasant Regional Park
- McDowell Mountain Regional Park
- San Tan Mountains Regional Park (a spur route)
- South Mountain Park
- Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
- Usery Mountain Regional Park (a spur route)
- White Tank Mountain Regional Park (a spur route)
