Outdoors
National forests, parks, lakes and recreation areas with hiking trails near Mesa, closest first.
Good to know: Carry more water than you think you need, check the managing agency’s page for trail closures and fire restrictions, and start early on hot days.
15 mi north · Bureau of Reclamation
WestWorld is located in north Scottsdale at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert with over 360 acres of pristine landscaping, the covered Equidome Arena, Brett's Barn, and state-of-the-art equine facilities…
28 mi southwest · Bureau of Land Management
The 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness, located just 15 miles southwest of Phoenix, contains one of the most rugged mountain ranges in Arizona.
29 mi southwest · Bureau of Land Management
Quartz Peak Trail, in the 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness , leads visitors from the floor of Rainbow Valley (elevation 1,550 feet) to the summit ridge of the Sierra Estrella at Quartz Peak (elevation 4,052 feet) in just three miles.
Map of 32 places loads as you scroll.
WestWorld is located in north Scottsdale at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert with over 360 acres of pristine landscaping, the covered Equidome Arena, Brett's Barn, and state-of-the-art equine facilities…
The 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness, located just 15 miles southwest of Phoenix, contains one of the most rugged mountain ranges in Arizona.
Quartz Peak Trail, in the 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness , leads visitors from the floor of Rainbow Valley (elevation 1,550 feet) to the summit ridge of the Sierra Estrella at Quartz Peak (elevation 4,052 feet) in just three miles.
The 80-mile Black Canyon Trail provides visitors with a long-range backcountry trail riding, mountain biking, and hiking opportunity.
Burnt Corral Campground and Recreation Area (elevation 1914') is about 5.8 miles south of Roosevelt Dam along the Apache Trail (AZ Hwy 88) along the shoreline of Apache Lake.
Civilian Conservation Corps Campground offers spread out camp sites with large sycamore trees providing shade. Picnic tables and firepits with cooking grates are available for families to enjoy while passing the time away together.
Cave Creek Group Site is located 20 miles north of Cave Creek and Carefree, Arizona. It is a historic campground constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Mesquite Campground provides privacy and shade. Here you can relax under the shaded canopies of mesquite trees while listening to the sounds of water flowing from the Verde River just a short distance from your site.
Cholla Campground at Roosevelt Lake, is one of several campgrounds on the shores of the largest lake/reservoir located entirely in the State of Arizona. It is situated within a lush sonoran desert landscape at an elevation of 2168'.
This newly expanded reservoir has 114 miles of shoreline for family recreation uses. The reservoir boasts a 10-lane boat ramp; parking for 200 vehicles. Recreational facilities concentrated primarily on the reservoir's western shore.
The campground overlooks Roosevelt Lake and is nestled in the saguaro cactus-studded Sonoran Desert.
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant groups that lived in the Tonto Basin.
The Estrella Wayside Recreation Area is in the Sonoran Desert National Monument . The area includes parking, picnic tables, grills, and fire rings just off Maricopa Road. Four primitive campsites are north of Maricopa Road off route 8002B.
The 5,790-acre White Canyon Wilderness in Arizona is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. In 1990, the White Canyon Wilderness became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System established by the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Located on central Arizona's largest lake, Windy Hill offers great water recreation opportunities to the public.
Groups are drawn to Grapevine Campground's unique setting and expansive facilities.
The 9,951-acre Hells Canyon Wilderness Area is a portion of the Hieroglyphic Mountains. The most prominent peaks are Garfias Mountain at 3,381 feet (1,030.5 m) and Hellgate Mountain at 3,339 feet (1,017.7 m).
The Sonoran Desert National Monument contains magnificent examples of untrammeled Sonoran Desert landscape.
Schoolhouse Campground is located in close proximity to the eastern shores of Roosevelt Lake with an elevation of 2,100 feet.
The 34,400-acre Table Top Wilderness lies in the southeastern Sonoran Desert National Monument .
In the Table Top Wilderness within the Sonoran Desert National Monument, the Lava Flow Trail offers a hiking opportunity of light to moderate difficulty in a varied and dramatic Sonoran Desert landscape.
The Arizona National Scenic Trail spans over 800 miles from Mexico to Utah. This multi-use non-motorized, long-distance trail highlights Arizona’s topographic, biologic, historic, and cultural diversity.
Table Top Trail, in the 34,400-acre Table Top Wilderness , takes visitors from the floor of Vekol Valley (elevation 2,299 feet) to the summit of Table Top Mountain (elevation 4,356 feet) in just 3.5 miles.
Plan Your Visit Visitors to Agua Fria National Monument can hike in rugged landscapes, view rock art, and experience wide‑open desert vistas with few built facilities.
Horsethief Cabin is situated in a clearing of Ponderosa pines at an elevation of over 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of the Prescott National Forest.
Sport climbing on limestone cliffs in a remote, scenic high desert backcountry within a two-hour drive from Phoenix and Tucson.
The 11,840-acre Hassayampa River Canyon Wilderness Area is about eight miles northeast of Wickenburg. It is 48 miles northwest of Phoenix, Arizona, in Yavapai County.
Congress added the Woolsey Peak portion of the Gila Bend Mountains to the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1990, citing the rugged topography, colorful scenic vistas, rich variety of wildlife and vegetation, and outstanding…
The 13,350-acre Signal Mountain Wilderness is in southwest Maricopa County, 18 miles northwest of Gila Bend and 35 miles southwest of Phoenix.
The Ironwood Forest National Monument, which takes its name from one of the longest living trees in the Arizona desert, is 189,600 acres, of which 128,400 acres are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the balance of…
The 8,760-acre Needle's Eye Wilderness in Arizona is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Mesa. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by thekeenecrew.
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THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Meredith Johnsen.
Watch on YouTube ↗
WestWorld (Bureau of Reclamation), about 15 miles north of Mesa as the crow flies. Next are Sierra Estrella Wilderness (28 mi) and Quartz Peak Trail (29 mi).
Based on Mesa’s average highs, November–March. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.