Mountain Escapes
Below: Photo by Alyssa Thomas
Located on Phoenix’s eastern edge, Gilbert is ideally positioned for easy access to adventures in the stunning Sonoran Desert. And it’s not all tame trails (though we’ve got those, too).
Elevate your exploration with hikes in the region’s rugged Superstition Mountains, whose name was inspired by native legends and whose peaks soar up to 5,000 feet above the desert floor. The network of mountain trails in Lost Dutchman State Park offers hikers of all levels a chance to scale past saguaros, into canyons, and up jagged peaks. Up for a challenge? Consider conquering the park’s approximately six-mile Flatiron Trail via Siphon Draw Trail, a steep scramble with stunning mountain overlooks for those in tip-top shape.
Farther south, San Tan Mountain Regional Park boasts 20 miles of multi-use trails winding through steep mountain slopes. Get up close with Sonoran Desert scenery on the milder Moonlight Trail, or tackle the top of the Goldmine Mountains on the five-mile San Tan Trail. Both parks require a vehicle entry fee.
