Best place to get away from people in the valley! This is a very under utilized trailhead that has tons to offer if you like variety. It is great for easy hiking, mountain bikers, and great for walking dogs.
This is a great park to "wander" more than stick to a designated trail. There isn't much change in elevation, except for the butte, so there are no issues with getting lost. The most interesting part is Big Butte Loop, which is a circular path that hugs the butte. Here is where you will get the most elevation challenge where you go up and down the washes.
For the more adventurous, you can scurry up the south face of Big Butte...just aim for the cave. This is not for everyone as it's not marked as a trail and will require use of your hands as well as your feet. This allows you to get to the eastern peak and the views are amazing. Your dog's four paws will put you to shame going up and over Big Butte. ((((Again, this is not a marked trail and do not attempt if uneasy with heights))))
Ascend the butte close to sunrise or sunset, if you're lucky, you will hear the Howler Monkeys from the Phoenix Zoo sounding off!
My hike typically takes about an hour, start east from the parking lot, up or around Big Butte, coming back the west side of Little Butte Loop, back to the parking lot.
This is not quite the challenge of Camelback, but only crossing paths with maybe 10 people is priceless!
Oh, and you can also run the stairs of the amphitheater if you're looking for a great place to do leg work.