Wind Cave Trail: Mesa's Big-View Hike Is Perfect Right Now
This week's Trail & Park of the Week is the Wind Cave Trail at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa, the hike I recommend when someone wants a real desert climb without driving to the far edge of the Valley. It is 3.2 miles out and back, moderate, and it ends at a natural cave tucked into the mountainside with the whole East Valley spread out below you. And right now, with November's cool mornings and clear skies, it is about as good as a local hike gets.
Where It Is and What to Expect
Usery Mountain Regional Park sits at 3939 N Usery Pass Road in northeast Mesa, a straight shot up Usery Pass Road from the Loop 202. The Wind Cave Trail starts just steps from the trailhead parking lot, so there is no long approach before the climbing begins. The route is a steady, rocky 3.2 miles out and back with about 1,100 feet of elevation gain, which earns it a moderate rating. Plan on roughly an hour and a half to two and a half hours round trip, depending on how long you linger at the top.
The payoff is the cave itself, a shallow natural alcove near the top of Pass Mountain where you can sit in the shade and look out over Mesa, the Superstition Mountains, and on a clear day much of the East Valley. The trail is well used and easy to follow, and the trailhead has restrooms and water so you can start and finish comfortably.
What's Worth Doing There
Wind Cave is a hike you can shape to your own pace. Here is what makes it a favorite.
- Climb the 3.2-mile out-and-back to the cave for one of the best Valley views in the Eastside park system
- Go early for cooler air and softer light, and to beat the weekend crowd in the trailhead lot
- Bring a layer for the cool morning start, then shed it as the sun climbs and the day warms
- Stop by the Nature Center for trail maps, ranger programs, and a shaded break before or after your hike
- Pair it with a picnic at one of the park's shaded ramadas for an easy half-day outing
Why It's the Right Pick This Time of Year
November is prime hiking season in the East Valley, and Usery is right in the middle of it. Daytime highs settle into the comfortable 70s, mornings are crisp and clear, and the brutal heat that keeps everyone off the trails in summer is long gone. The park also switches to its winter hours on November 1, opening at 6 a.m. and staying open until 8 p.m., which gives you a cool early start or a golden late-afternoon climb.
This is also the season when the whole Valley gets moving again. Maricopa County Parks kicks off its 100 Miles in 100 Days hiking challenge on November 1, and Usery is one of the parks where you can log miles and pick up a trail journal. One honest note: the desert's big wildflower show is a spring event, so do not come expecting carpets of blooms. What you get in November instead is clean, cool air, sharp long views, and a trail that finally feels like a treat rather than a test.
Go early on a weekend morning, pull into the trailhead lot off Usery Pass Road, and top off your water before you start. The 3.2-mile out-and-back is moderate and rocky, so wear real shoes and bring more water than you think you need. Day-use entry is $7 per vehicle, the park is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November through April, and current trail alerts and ranger programs are at maricopacountyparks.net.
This week's pick is part of our Trail & Park of the Week series, where we feature one great Eastside outdoor spot each week. Know a trail or park we should check out next? Send Tricia a note.
Know an Eastside Trail or Park We Should Feature?
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 share it with the whole Eastside.