Papago Park

Very cute little oasis right in the middle of everything. Nice little escape from the bustle. Bring bread to feed the resident sucks

Papago Park is a free hiking and recreational area covering nearly 1,500 acres across Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona. It is an important piece of Arizona’s history, as it has served as a reservation for Indigenous peoples, a POW camp during the second World War, and more.

Nowadays, it is most popular for housing The Desert Botanical Garden, The Phoenix Zoo, and many hiking trails, including the famous Hole in the Rock Trail.

Hole in the Rock Trail is a very short, easy hike that leads up to a giant hole in a red rock formation where you can see the downtown areas of both Phoenix and Tempe.

Visitors will park in the lot that is accessed via the Phoenix Zoo. You’ll head north to the north side of the butte to access the easy walk up to the hole where you’re greeted with the Hole in the Rock picture frame view.

It is believed that this spot used to be used for early tribes to tell time from the sun, but nowadays it’s the most popular viewpoint in Papago Park. I recommend arriving early for sunrise if you’d prefer to beat the majority of the crowds.

We think a visit here is one of the best things to do in Phoenix, Arizona!

So this was no longer just a natural beautiful oasis. It was somewhat cemented seeming little lakes. Hate to be a downer... but it was more beautiful viewed from the hole in the rock which shares the location.

Beautiful And peaceful place