I highly recommend Cave Creek Regional Park for its hiking. Immensely peaceful and almost lush by desert standards. Lots of saguaro, cholla (be careful!), ocotillo, and hedgehog cactus. We hit a day when there were beautiful cool breezes running through the valley. I'm 60+ with an injured knee, and I was still able to do the roughly 6-mile Go John Trail with poles. Most people seem to do it clockwise, perhaps to climb the stone steps in the middle rather than descend. See picture for one of the more difficult stretches to get an idea of what to anticipate in spots. Most of the trail, however, is hard dirt with occasional rocks only. Go John is the most difficult trail in the park, so you might hike another trail to get a feel for the area. There is a $6/car day use fee. Totally worth it!