Every week we pick one Eastside outdoor spot worth your Saturday, from easy lakeside loops to mountain viewpoints across Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale. Here is the running list, written like a friend pointing the way.
Park A 110-acre desert wetland in Gilbert with seven ponds, 4.5+ miles of flat trails, and more than 300 recorded bird species, free to visit and at its liveliest in mid-November, when fall migration rolls through the reeds.
Trail A 3.2-mile out-and-back in Mesa's Usery Mountain Regional Park that climbs to a natural cave with sweeping Valley views, moderate enough for a confident family and at its best in November's cool, clear mornings.
Trail A free 4.4-mile loop through more than 30,000 acres of Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, moderate enough for families and dogs, and at its prime in the fall's cool golden mornings.
Park A 113-acre desert wetland in southeast Chandler with lakes, reeds, and miles of easy trails, free to visit and at its liveliest in the fall, when birds migrate through and the fishing lake is freshly stocked.
If there is a trail, lake, or neighborhood park in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, or Scottsdale you love, tell us about it. We would love to feature more of the Eastside's best outdoor spots.
Suggest a Spot