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| - I've been an annual member of the Maricopa County park system for many years, largely because this park is near where I live and I love spending time out here. I have hiked and run all of the trails and have attended many activities at the Nature Center.
If you're new to Arizona, look for the "Scorpion Hunts" in the summer. The programs are informative and going into the desert at night is a lot of fun, especially with a black light so you can see how the scorpions glow.
Wind Cave is an incredibly popular hike with people from out of town -- or for locals who have family come into town. It gets REALLY crowded during the holidays. This is a good trail for kids with a couple of nice spots for stopping along the way and a "cave" at the top with shade and usually some chipmunks running around. I think it is about 3 miles out and back
If you want a really pretty trail, the Blevins Trail is a nice loop trail, and you can add the Cat Peaks trail if you want a little bit of a climb, but not as much as Wind Cave. You can go to the top of Cat Peaks and get a good view of the area. These trails are popular with people on horses and bikes, too. The Blevins loop is about 3 miles, but you add another mile or so if you take the Cat Peaks option.
If you are new to mountain biking, the Blevins Trail plus the Moon Rocks trail is a nice loop for that. If you want more extreme, the Pass Mountain trail is for you. Be sure to wear protective gear. I like to run the Pass Mountain Trail, but you need to be sure you're prepared for about 7 miles of pretty rugged trail.
The signage for the trail system is excellent, and you can take the map and build your own adventure. If you like to run in the sand on the beach, run up one of the washes. I have found the experience to be very similar.
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