The Whole Family Can Enjoy This Easy Hike To One Of Arizona's Most Unusual Rock Formations

If you love nature, a great thing about Phoenix is that there are some incredible parks to explore within the metropolitan area. Hiking opportunities in these parks range from strenuous treks to the top of Phoenix's Piestewa Peak and Scottsdale's Camelback Mountain (whose summits boast some of the best views of the Phoenix skyline and valley) to the mostly flat strolls in Papago Park, which is sandwiched between the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale in a stunning swathe of rolling desert. The Hole in the Rock hike is an exception to the "mostly flat" rule and will definitely get your heart pumping. This short (less than half a mile) but steep trail ascends a mound of red sandstone, ending at an actual hole in the rock, which formed as a result of erosion. Through this natural "window," you get a stunning panoramic view of the valley below. The views from here are best at sunrise and sunset when the sky is aglow with color. 

Both locals and visitors appreciate the central location of this hike, in a tranquil wilderness only a few miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This trail can also provide a fabulous first-time hiking experience for young children. One Tripadvisor reviewer said, "Visited with my four and five year old granddaughters, such a beautiful place and the hike was easy! The adults and kids had fun climbing to the hole, the views at the top are beautiful! Highly recommend for a first hike!"

After your hike to the Hole in the Rock, stroll through the other family-friendly parts of Papago Park. The park has three lovely ponds that are home to a wide variety of fish species — rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and more — which are stocked by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. This may not be the top-ranked freshwater fishing destination in the U.S., but you won't find a more convenient fishing spot so close to a major city (in the middle of a desert, no less). Besides hiking and fishing, other things to do in the park include mountain biking, trail running, picnicking, and visiting the pyramid-shaped tomb of Arizona's first governor, George W. P. Hunt, who died in 1934. 

Papago Park is also conveniently adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo, another spot that will delight your littlest ones. Next to the zoo is the Desert Botanical Garden, a heavenly oasis of desert plants recommended by locals as a must-do in the Valley of the Sun. One of the best things about these three places — Papago Park, the Phoenix Zoo, and the Desert Botanical Garden — is that they're fabulous to visit all year-round, with festive events for the whole family in every season. For example, there are the Christmas-themed Phoenix ZooLights and Las Noches de Las Luminarias, when the paths of the botanical garden glow with thousands of lights or candles placed in small paper bags.