An Underrated Arizona Park Near Phoenix Has Superb Camping, Mountain Trails, And Unique Cave Formations

Arizona's stunning landscape gets its well-deserved reputation from a pantheon of out-of-this-world natural wonders, like the "needs no introduction" Grand Canyon and the marvelous red rocks (and possible spiritual vortexes) around Sedona. However, Arizona's natural beauty is so ingrained that you can find exceptional scenery at even smaller and less attention-grabbing destinations. The modest Dankworth Pond State Park is a surprisingly rich wetland ecosystem and top birdwatching spot, to give just one example. Immediately outside of Phoenix, the underrated Usery Mountain Regional Park is a spectacular complex of desert and mountain that wouldn't look out of place in a well-traveled national park.

Located a mere 30-minute drive east of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Usery Mountain Regional Park sits among the eye-catching desert mountain ranges that give the city such a unique cityscape. Despite being "only" a Maricopa County regional park, Usery Mountain offers an unforgettable experience of the famed Arizona landscape, including many of the one-of-a-kind botanical and geological wonders the state is so well-known for. Here, the mind-expanding Sonoran Desert brushes up against prominent brown and red peaks, forging a network of some of the state's most impressive hiking trails. Of course, it wouldn't be an Arizona hike without stops past distinctive rock formations, and Usery Mountain has them in abundance (including some impressive cave systems). Plus, the park offers several top-notch campgrounds where visitors can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime overnight desert adventure.

One advantage of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is how close it is to otherworldly scenery. Usery Mountain Regional Park, for all its epic mountain grandeur, sits in Arizona's Maricopa County — the fourth most populous county in the U.S. Large-scale human settlement has not affected Usery Mountain's epic beauty, however. The park's 3,600 acres protect a rugged landscape where the Sonoran Desert fluctuates between 1,700 and 2,750 feet in elevation, resulting in a complex of striking rocky peaks and ridges towering above Arizona's famed desert flora. Usery Mountain, the park's defining feature, hits an elevation of 2,840 feet above the surrounding desert. While this height doesn't quite match the altitude of Arizona's much higher mountains to the north, it does make Usery Mountain a prime natural observation deck in Maricopa County. 

Though its status is "only" that of a modest regional park, Usery Mountain occupies surprisingly elite real estate in the world of Arizona's epic landscape. The park and its namesake peak sit nestled between the equally underrated Goldfield Mountains and the extraordinary Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Range, in particular, is notable for Arizona wonders like the vibrant hiker's paradise of Lost Dutchman State Park, among many others. Even better, it borders the much larger Tonto National Forest, which encompasses 2.9 million acres of sublime Sonoran Desert majesty. Taken together, these prestigious neighbors provide Usery Mountain with some truly epic views of mountain peaks, canyons, and even the remnants of ancient volcanoes. Below Usery Peak, the park also protects a thriving garden of saguaros, barrel cactus, chollas, and other notable desert plants. The park's animal residents include a plethora of desert birds that would make fine additions to your birding life list.

The combination of outstanding natural features and proximity to major urban areas makes Usery Mountain the perfect stop for memorable Phoenix day trips. The park has around 29 miles of sublime trails that are perfect for hiking, mountain biking, or even horseback riding. Despite the park's seemingly harsh desert terrain, many of these trails are fairly short and easy jaunts that are perfect for novice hikers looking to dip their toes into Arizona's infamous desert conditions. Many trails also provide front row seats to Usery Mountain's most striking features. 

For example, the Wind Cave Trail is a moderately challenging 3.2-mile tour past panoramic mountain views, ultimately taking hikers to the unique cave formation that gives the trail its name. Wind Cave is a cozy rock alcove that makes a perfect spot to get some rest (and shade) after the arduous climb, while providing breathtaking views of the Phoenix skyline and the vast desert beyond. For a less challenging but equally scenic hike, the Blevins Trail is a mostly flat 3-mile trek across picturesque saguaro forests and the mountain views.

Usery Mountain Regional Park also has reservable picnic areas, an educational nature center, and Arizona's only "Five-Star" archery range. Though it's so close to Phoenix, Usery Mountain is a surprisingly great spot for nighttime stargazing (the park even hosts stargazing events throughout the year). If you want to sleep underneath the stars, Usery Mountain Regional Park has 73 campsites that can accommodate both tents and RVs. Each site comes with electrical hookups, potable water, a dump station, a grill, flush toilets, and showers. Usery Mountain is also adjacent to the affordable desert getaway (and Arizona's third-largest city) of Mesa, which has plenty of more modern lodging options.