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| - For a nice, relaxing hike not too far from Phoenix, the White Tank Mountains are a great place for it. I've hiked the Waterfall Trail twice -- the first time in early spring when the waterfall was dry and the second time today, early winter, after a week of rain. This time there was a nice amount of water trickling down the rocks. Not a gushing waterfall, but as good as one can get in Phoenix. The rock formations around the waterfall are amazing, and a bit awe inspiring to think about how long it took for the elements to create such magnificent crevices out of the tough granite stone.
There are quite a few trails in the park area, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Waterfall Trail. It is a pretty short trail -- maybe about a mile or so -- well-paved with little "real" hiking involved. There are informational placards along the trail that explain the history of the area and the different fauna and animals inhabiting the area. It is a great opportunity to see tons of Saguaros, Cholla and Barrel Cactus. And, beside the awesome waterfall, there are some fantastic petroglyphs carved on the many rocks along the trail.
For some great scenery and a little history, I'd highly recommend taking a few hours to walk/hike/jog the trail. It's kid and dog friendly and well worth it in the end -- especially, if you get to see a real, live, waterfall in the midst of a desert
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