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Hiking Near Goodyear, AZ
Three mountain ranges, most of them less than 20 minutes from the house.
Goodyear is one of the few places in Greater Phoenix where you can see three mountain ranges from a backyard. The Estrellas rise to the south, the White Tanks to the northwest, and the Sierra Estrella wilderness fades off behind them. All of that is public land, and most of it is less than 20 minutes from our private-pool home. Below are the trails we actually hike, from stroller-friendly to legs-on-fire, plus the two things every out-of-towner forgets: start early and carry more water than feels reasonable. After the hike, the pool is right where you left it.
The Trails
Seven places to hike, from easy to rugged.
Estrella Mountain Regional Park
Nearly 20,000 acres of Sonoran Desert at the base of the Estrella Mountains, with more than 30 miles of trails, picnic ramadas and a big grassy area for kids. Rainbow Valley Trail and Gadsden Trail are the classic loops. A vehicle entry fee applies; check the current price before you go.
Host tip: Start the Rainbow Valley loop at sunrise. You will have the saguaros to yourself and be back at the pool by 9.
Visit website →Skyline Regional Park (Buckeye)
An 8,700-acre preserve in the southern White Tanks with free entry and trails for every level. Chuckwalla Trail is the easy intro; Skyline Crest and Valley Vista reward you with views across the whole West Valley.
Host tip: Free parking, clean restrooms and shaded ramadas make this the best first-day hike for a mixed-ability group.
Visit website →Waterfall Trail, White Tank Mountain Regional Park
A 0.9-mile walk (1.8 round trip) to a canyon that runs with water after rain. The first half mile is paved and barrier-free, with Hohokam petroglyphs along the way. Kids love it. County park entry fee applies.
Host tip: Go the morning after a winter storm for the actual waterfall. Otherwise, go for the petroglyphs and the shade.
Visit website →Goat Camp and Mesquite Canyon Trails
For the strong hikers in your crew. Goat Camp climbs steadily with big payoff views; Mesquite Canyon can be linked into a longer loop. Six to ten miles depending on your route, exposed and rugged.
Host tip: Two liters of water per person minimum, and tell someone your route. There is no shade up there.
Visit website →Base & Meridian Wildlife Area / Tres Rios Wetlands
Flat, easy walking along the Gila and Salt River confluence where cottonwoods, herons and the occasional bald eagle make you forget you are in the desert. Access and hours vary, so check before you go.
Host tip: Bring binoculars. Winter mornings are peak birding.
Visit website →Buckeye Hills Regional Park
Quiet, lightly used desert hills south of Buckeye with simple trails. A good pick when the main parks are busy on a holiday weekend. Check trail access before you go.
Host tip: Sunset here is wide open and uncrowded.
Visit website →Vulture Peak Trail (Wickenburg)
The classic West Valley summit. Four miles round trip with a steep, hands-on scramble to the top and views for a hundred miles. Worth the drive for a half-day adventure.
Host tip: Pair it with lunch in historic downtown Wickenburg.
Visit website →What to Pack
- Water. More than you think. The desert is dry even in January.
- Sun protection. Hat, sunscreen and sleeves, year-round.
- Real shoes. Trails are rocky and the cactus is not kidding.
- A headlamp if you are chasing sunrise or sunset.
- A downloaded trail map. Signal fades in the canyons.