Outdoors
Day-use and picnic areas near Mesa on public land, from quick drives to full-day outings.
Good to know: Group picnic sites can often be reserved; fire rules change with the season, so check before bringing a grill.
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…
34 mi southeast · National Park Service
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins.
38 mi northwest · Bureau of Land Management
The 80-mile Black Canyon Trail provides visitors with a long-range backcountry trail riding, mountain biking, and hiking opportunity.
Map of 15 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…
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins.
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.
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 Frazier Horse Campground is nestled into a Sonoran desert landscape at Roosevelt Lake, one of Arizona's most outstanding water-based recreation areas.
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.
Located on central Arizona's largest lake, Windy Hill offers great water recreation opportunities to the public.
Schoolhouse Campground is located in close proximity to the eastern shores of Roosevelt Lake with an elevation of 2,100 feet.
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.
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.
The Gila River recreation area is located along the Gila River and Arizona State Route (SR) 77 between the Town of Winkelman and Globe in Gila County, Arizona.
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.
Watch on YouTube ↗
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 Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (34 mi) and Black Canyon National Recreation Trail (38 mi).
Based on Mesa’s average highs, November–April. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.