Hubby and I had planned an out of state hike on Saturday but due to the traffic we turned around and headed over here to this park. This park consists of 210 acres. It is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Years ago I had worked with a group that volunteered to plant a bunch of trees and I had not been back since. As we pulled up there are two choices, one to turn left and visit the neighborhood park with a play area for the kiddies and a large grassy area or head straight towards the visitor center and trails. We wanted to complete a little work out before we had our picnic. We grabbed a trail map and off we went. There are over three miles of paved accessible pedestrian paths where one can walk, run, or bike. We ended up doing a little over two miles with stops at Vern's Pond & Island, Wash Overlook, Willow Overlook, Weir Bridge, Middle Ponds, and Cottonwood Grove. It was also Junior Explorer day so we walked through the maze too identifying all the mammals. This was entertaining to say the least. The park is quite pretty and the trees I planted long ago have really grown and matured. The only negative I can say is there is a little smell although the water is treated. Kind of smelled a little like a swamp which is truly what this area is but the city has managed to clean it up so it is tolerable. There are plenty of spots to just get lost and have some privacy too. Lots of hidden nooks with benches to stop and hang out and there are a few picnic areas to. We also walked by the amphitheater where they host talks. We didn't investigate the Nature Center too much but I saw that they have classes, public restrooms and a Picnic Cafe.
We ended up driving back to the neighborhood park to enjoy our picnic and finish our visit. We had a beautiful day and the weather was pristine. Nothing like a warm November in the desert to push you outside. This place is definitely worth a visit especially if you have youngsters. They can run all over. Or if you just want to get a good workout and live nearby, good spot to head out to.