Dreamy Draw Recreation Area

Wonderful place for a walk or hike. Lots of parking available and there are clean restrooms. There is a paved walkway that is great for walking or biking. Be careful of the bikers, we found that half of the ones that came up behind us announced they were passing. Others we just plain rude. If you want a more challenging hike, there are plenty of marked trails to follow. There was no fee to enter the park. Highly recommend the park if you just want to walk/hike.

Stunning and unexpected oasis right in the city’s backyard! Dreamy Draw has a perfect mix of winding trails, dramatic desert landscapes, and sweeping skyline views that make every hike feel rewarding. The paths are well-maintained and range from easy strolls to more challenging climbs, so it’s great for all fitness levels. Loved the serene vibes, especially at sunrise — peaceful, scenic, and perfect for photos. It’s ideal for hiking, trail running, or just escaping the hustle without leaving Phoenix. A local gem we will keep returning to!

They did a huge renovation a few years ago. They put in flat pavement so you can walk, and bike. There's hiking trails in the mountains, i haven't tried that yet but I see people on the trails. Not a lot of shade on these hikes, bring lots of water. Before you start the hike, they have bathrooms, water fountains, and trash cans. I love taking my dogs on walks over here. Its peaceful and quiet. During the weekends, the parking lot gets filled up quickly. Early mornings, theres coyotes, please be careful.

Plenty of parking upon arrival. There are restrooms that are accessible by stairs or by ramp. Trails are fully paved and have beautiful views of the nearby hills. The only downside is that there are two highways near this trial and the sound of the cars is quite loud .

A great place to hike. LOTS of trails. I've actually temporarily gotten lost. But all you have to do is keep going, and you'll find your way. After all you're right in the middle of the city. Freeway to the west and to the north. So you can't really get lost. You may find a few old mine shaft entrances. Lots of cool rock formations. Colorful rocks. Red. Green. And every color in between. The parking area was just recently redone. Very nice.

Nice city park on the mountain with several different trails that go up and around the mountain.

Love coming out here. It has a wide variety of paths and hiking options. You can bring your bike, dog, or horse but dont bring any motorized vehicles. It is prohibited, at least that's what the signs say! If you are looking for a peaceful experience with a bit of a challenge, then this is the place to be!

This was a great place for an early morning walk. The path was paved and the park has restrooms available.

As a new resident of Phoenix, one of the things I was most excited for was having lots of hiking opportunities within close proximity. Dreamy Draw Recreation Area is the closest park to work so I've now taken two hikes there so far. Both were two-hour sunset hikes from 4:45-6:45 p.m. Once you get in the park, you'll find ample parking. I haven't been on a weekend but I can attest that you won't have a problem on a week day. You also have plenty of trails to choose from. Most of the trails are pretty long, and sometimes they interconnect, so I've only done partial trails so far. I would describe both of the hikes I did as easy/moderate hikes. There is rocky terrain and some areas of incline, but overall, not tough hikes. You'll get some nice views at different points. While Dreamy Draw doesn't blow my socks off, it's a solid park. And one that I'm sure I will visit many more times.

Located a Northern Ave and SR 51, Dreamy Draw is a major gateway to exploring the Beautiful North Mountain Preserve. There is plenty of parking, restrooms, Covered Ramada's with picnic tables and charcoal grills. Numerous trails provide egress to many locations from the parks floor via Trail 100 and others that rise in elevation toward peaks in the Preserve. Several trails lead to the top of Squaw Peak. Others lead directly to old mine entrances identified by mine tailings. Weekends the parking lot fills up quickly with hikers, trail runners mountain bikers and occasional horseback riders. I lead the Motorola "Rough Riders" here warming up on trail 100 from the Draw to Tatum Blvd before tackling more technical trails that accented to different locations. What I enjoy most about this entry point to the Preserve is how quickly you disappear and lose sight of the city with beautiful Sonoran scenery. Conversely the higher trails bring you to lookouts with views overlooking Phoenix. The Preserve includes a flood control dam preventing storm waters from flowing south towards SR 51 and Glendale elevations. The area was a former Mecury mining area and abandoned mines can still be seen on the side of numerous sloops. Part of the trail system leads southward along the western side of Squaw Peak to a well traveled culvert that passes under SR51 into the neighborhood that flows into the Point Squaw Peak Resort and the Historic Mining pay station/post office turned into the popular Mexican restaurant Aunt Enchiladas I rated separately. This was in my backyard playground for many years! Looking for adventure be it hiking or riding Dreamy Draw should be on your list.

I love this mountain. Clean bathrooms, plenty of parking, and easy trails. They also have paved biking path which is nice. Would highly recommend.

Came for an AM hike and loved it!! Plenty of parking and super clean and well maintained restrooms and trails! There is a big paved walkway which is stroller and wheelchair accessible. We saw some bunnies and quail on the trails but no danger noodles on this hike. There are plenty of different trails which range from easy to extremely difficult. We walked the paved trail and then did the Perl Charles memorial trail. The trail was relatively easy with some spots that were steep. There are also plenty of spots to divert if you're ready to call it quits. Will definitely be coming back soon for another AM or sunset hike!

I love coming here for a sunset hike after work! It's an amazing central location and way less busy than spots like piestewa. There's a good size parking lot, shaded picnic tables, restrooms, and water fountains. It has a great trail system with a number of different routes you can hike. The views are incredible for a city hike! I tend to hike 3-4 miles when I come here and there is a bit of elevation gain but nothing crazy. This is also a popular mountain biking spot so always be aware of bikers coming down the trail.

This has become one of our favorite hiking spots in the Phoenix area. We find that Piestewa Peak gets extremely congested and now that they've reopened Dreamy Draw There's a lot more room for everyone. They have great picnic facilities as well as brand new restrooms. We take the Northern exit off the 51 as our dreamy draw hiking entry. There are also paved pads for easier walks or biking. I'm told there is another entrance of 40th St. but have not been to that one yet. We decided to take the trail that goes under the 51 to the west side and explore the hiking trails over there. There were a couple of bikers, everyone was super considerate, and we really only ran into a few other people hiking. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and with so much in bloom right now, highly recommend! There is a short area with significant highway noise, but the view was worth it. Bring lots of water as there is no shade.

Perfect hike for a sunset hike! Easy hike. Went counterclockwise and had no problems. Not many people on the trail. Two mountain bikers, few dogs and owners. Quiet, peaceful and beautiful hike. Can easily be done in an hour.

It has been a while since I hiked at Dreamy Draw and I'm so glad we did today. The weather was nice and we arrived just before sunset, what a treat! We've been having amazing sunsets lately and this is the first one I've been outdoors on a trail able to simply enjoy the whole thing, start to finish. Tonight, 1/15/24, the sky was amazing. And Dreamy Draw was the perfect spot to enjoy it. This trail is awesome, it's clean, well marked, has many different paths to hike, has a super nice (and I assume new) restroom and big parking lot. I knew they had been doing renovations at some point, but not sure when it was completed. This is a great trail and I'll be back this hiking season to explore some other trails. Today we did the Dreamy Draw Outer Loop. In total we hiked about 2 miles. Nothing major but we were rewarded with this gorgeous sky!

Went on an evening hike to catch the sunset. Wasn't crowded only had a couple of mountain bikers and a few other people ending their hike. Easy hike and highly recommend.

Easy, beginning friendly well kept trail system. Easy to get to off the 51, bathrooms and water at the trail head. Great place to start hiking in the area. You can do anything from an easy 1 mile walk to a long hike or run. Love this spot

I almost don't want to yelp this place because it's such a neat little spot to catch sunset . Super clean , well maintained , gates close at 7 if you drive in . Paved trails and dirt trails. I always look forward to sunset hikes and walks here . Even wheelchair accessible!!! Major green flag .

The parking lot generally has availability and love the little picnic area. Bathrooms are always clean. Perfect water refill station. Easy access trail right off of State Route 51!

Good space for bicycling and hiking. With a few picnic tables for an after adventure picnic in the cooler weather.

This is a great spot for walks, hikes, bikes or runs. They have many trails of all skill levels so really a path for everyone. The outdoor recreation areas are remodeled and blend in (looks like repurposed steal) with the mountains and terrain. I believe it was just reopened after some upgrades and it has lots of parking. I saw plenty of people with dogs on leashes just be sure to pick up after your dog. Also there are trash cans available to discard your waste, please don't pollute the trails. Have fun and be careful and be sure to bring water.

Aside from a bunch of people dying 'cuz of COVID-19, it has brought more people out on the hiking trails which really sucks. People that wouldn't normally be out hiking are now clogging up the trails simply because they aren't living their life socially as they normally would. That's my impression. This was my first outing at the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area. This has been on my to-do list for quite some time mainly due to the cool UFO story. Unfortunately, I did not find any UFO parts scattered across the desert and no little green aliens either. Sadness. I'm an avid fair weather hiker here in Arizona. I normally venture out around this time of the year every year and put up my hiking boots at the end of April as temperatures begin to soar. I found the Loop de Loop trail on the AllTrails app and headed out at the ass crack of dawn. I can't speak on behalf of all the trailheads in the area, but I'm guessing this is the main one. I was at the parking lot by 6 a.m. and there were only a couple of spots left so plan, accordingly. I don't know if this how it normally is or if this is again the cause of COVID-19. The trails are well-maintained. The Loop de Loop trail as specified on the AllTrails app wasn't overly crowded. We did run into a few long strings of dudes that look like they love to Gym,Tan,Laundry. You know the ones I'm talking about. The dudes who have their Bluetooth speaker clipped to their backpack bumpin' that shitty techno music that no one wants to hear when they're out on the trail. LOLOLOL. Aside from the annoying techno music, the only other thing I'd maybe caution about are the number of landmines on the trails because of everyone's dog. For some reason, they're never small piles of poop, like, from a chihuahua or a yorkie. They're always gigantic, steamy piles of dog shit, like, from a wolf / rottweiler / hell hound breed. It really sucks that people can't pick up after their dogs. The other thing I'd caution about the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area are the number of trails in the immediate vicinity. I haven't counted them. Dozens. Hundreds. Possibly thousands. LOLOL. At one point, we came upon couple of intersections where the trail we were on intersected with six other trails. I had to pull out the AllTrails app on my smartphone numerous times during our hike simply due to the sheer number of trails intersecting each other. I suppose it would be second-nature if you lived across the street and hiked here daily, but if you've never been out here before - I'd recommend a Garmin handheld GPS unit or another mapping app on your phone. PROS: - Possibility of seeing aliens hiding in the desert. BONUS! - Possible UFO wreckage in the area. - Super close to the Phoenix suburbs and surrounding area. - Get some quick exercise & fresh air close to home. - Well-maintained trails with the capability of logging lots of miles. CONS: - Bros with a lot of spray tan chemicals upwind from you. - Shitty techno music blaring from shitty speakers. - Lot'sa mounds of steamy piles of fresh dog shit. - People everywhere. - Confusing intersecting trails going in many directions.

We are from the Pacific NW (Washington) where there is a gorgeous hike out any direction of your front door. We were in Arizona during Thanksgiving week and wanted to try a hike. This was certainly did not have the beauty of the PNW but it was awesome all the same! Lots of different trails, and some fun little hill climbs. There is a lot of shale so be prepared to slip and slide a bit on some of the inclines. Great views from the top of the city. You do hear freeway noise for a lot of the hikes, which was new to us, but again. a fun adventure none-the-less. Loved the catcuses and different flora. The bathrooms are horrid (no doors and dirty) and parking can be a challenge. Get there early or wait til midday. Loved how clean everything was on the trails, didn't see any litter at all. Trail maps all over the place. Watch out for bicyclists. Not one out of 6 that zipped past us gave us a warning "on your left, on your right" and they seemed to think they had the right of way. Be listening for them.

This is a great place to take a chill hike. The trails are paved, and it feels pretty safe to walk here. And it's beautiful!

Love this area for hiking and running! There is access to many trails- mostly easy and moderate. Dreamy Draw loop is a great short one. There is also a long paved path that you can bike, walk and run on. Dogs are allowed on leash. (Make sure to pick up after your dog!) In the spring, the wildflowers are beautiful! But, according to signs and Alltrails reviews, you should watch out for rattlesnakes. When on the trails, listen for mountain bikers, as there are many in this area! In the summer you want to go early to beat the heat. The sunset views are also fantastic! Parking can be a problem so I suggest getting there early in the morning. There are restrooms and a covered area with picnic benches at the start of the trails. I would recommend downloading an all trails map if you are heading on the trails as service is spotty in this area.

This area of the Phoenix Preserve's most important feature is that it houses a parking lot so you can actually park close to where you are going to hike or bike. I love the Phoenix Mountain Preserve as it has a variety of different adventure areas that vary from easy to stimulatingly refreshing. The Dreamy Draw area is a great starting off point as there is almost always enough room for all the cars. Once you get started you have many choices, most of which end up high above the 51 and in relative peace and quiet. Just watch out for the crazily insane cyclists who manage to cycle up and over almost anything. Unfortunately, much of the area close to the parking lot is closed due to revegetation. However, as you get further from civilization there are more areas that allow you to explore. Don't expect to see much wildlife, except the two-legged kind. If you do see anything with four or more legs, remember that some wildlife does not agree with us. Carry a big stick and be aware of your surroundings. Have a fun time here in the middle of a big city.

Phoenix--the best place to be between November and March when it comes to outdoor hiking! I love this area for the many trails that I can hike. Recently I've been starting at Dreamy Draw and have been lucky enough to get a parking spot. Although the lot is quite large, it fills up on the weekends and so it is all about luck sometimes. Always take water and know from which direction you came. Today, we had to help a young man to know which trail to take to get out for the parking lot. Of course, the first question is always which parking lot did you park in! I like to carry a Garmin so that it tracks where I've been (it is either that or drop bread crumbs, but I think the ranger would frown on that). All trails app is also helpful if your cell phone will pick up service. Hiking with someone else is important (just in case), and it is more fun! Often I find myself on the 1A or the 100 out here. Be careful about areas that are closed (there has to be a reason why)--some are for revegetation purposes (I read the sign). So, parting words--have water, bring a friend, stay on the trails, watch for critters, and don't text and walk off a cliff.

Got the chance to hike a beautiful trail here recently and enjoyed it! There are lots of trails to choose from, ranging in difficulty and elevation. Lots of gorgeous views and desert scenery abound. Parking is a bit tight but if you circle around a bit, you'll be be able to snag an opening. Feeling lucky we have so many great nature spots to enjoy here in beautiful Phoenix!

This was a great park! You have the option to take the trails or walk on the sidewalk. The sidewalk starts right off 51 Freeway and Northern and goes down to the exit of 32nd street and the 51. Dogs can be on the trails as well and they have restrooms and picnic areas too. Happy I got 3 miles in today!

If you want beautiful views with trails for all who different types of fitness levels. There are flat land with pavement or trails with different levels of availability. A map that tells you the level of each trail and the miles. I like to run the pavement while watching others walk or hike or witnessing the bikers move through the trails. Great place to take the family for a picnic before you hit the trails. There are benches, volleyball area and restrooms. Plenty of parking right next to the trail.

I was looking for a quick place to take a hike before heading out to watch the G-Men at Scottsdale Stadium. My sister suggested this place as another one of her favorite easy spots, that would also be good to take my 3-year-old. Dreamy Draw (DD) also happens to be only a few miles from her house as well, so it was conveniently located in the city and not out in the sticks. So, we set off on another Father & Son Hike. Parking- There's a paved lot located at the end of N Dreamy Draw Dr that holds about 60 cars. It was about 40% full on a Wednesday morning, so I can imagine it probably fills up fast on the weekends. Restroom & Amenities- There's a restroom located at the south end of the parking lot that's pretty decent; they have stainless steel facilities which are not preferred, but get the job done. There's also some covered and uncovered picnic tables close by the restrooms--as well as a Volley Ball Court (WTH?). Trails- The dirt trails were pretty rough and rocky, much like Piestewa Peak--but unlike Piestewa Peak, there are some paved trails here which is muy bueno. We hiked mostly dirt trails, so I'm not sure how far the paved ones extend; I do know they start way down by the freeway (Hwy 51) entrance at the beginning of the park. Scenery- The overall scenery is nowhere on the level of the Piestewa Peak trails, but there's still some pretty bitching desert scenery to behold. Unfortunately, these trails don't go very high so you don't get the majestic views, but that's what makes these trails so easy--ye old catch-22. Difficulty- On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate DD's trails as a 2 for adults and a solid 5 for kids, but that's based on the dirt trails. If you do the paved trails I'd imagine those numbers could go down. Of course the 800-lb Gorilla when talking about hiking in AZ is the weather; that could add a +3-5 on any given day. Mystique- I didn't know this until after my hike was over, but my Yelp friend, Mark R, informed me there are rumors that there's a UFO buried underneath the Dreamy Draw Dam. I was a bit skeptical, but after a quick internet search I discovered he wasn't pulling my leg! I need to go back and do some investigation of my own, and I'll report back then--assuming I'm not grabbed by visitors! Until then check out this website: http://www.weirdus.com/states/arizona/unexplained_phenomena/dreamy_draw_dam/index.php I was originally going to give DD a 4-star rating, but after finding out about the buried UFO it just sent the coolness factor through the roof!! I'm so stoked to go back and check out that DD Dam, I almost want to go on a night hike! In all seriousness DD is still a really good place to introduce kids to hiking and is a great way to get in a quick and light workout in Phoenix.

My friend Sage and I took a nature walk at Dreamy Draw last week after the death of our dear friend Nicholas. We decided to hike here and reflect, and this place was the perfect place for it. There's something about nature that is very therapeutic. The passing of our friend was definitely life altering, but it really made us think about our existence. Sometimes, the things that we can't change really end up changing us. Hiking and reflecting here was very healing, during our challenging days and significant loss of our friend, the ever-present power of nature was there for our healing and regeneration. While strolling at one of the trails, it gave me an opportunity to think deeply. We are only here on earth for a very short time, maybe 100 years at the very most. During that time, we must try to do something benevolent, something good and proactive with our lives because life can be cut short at any time. Bye Nick! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbRPM5DqlI4&feature=related

It's so nice to have such awesome hiking trails right in the middle of the city! This is no exception. It's generally clean and quiet and there is parking available. Check it out!

Fantastic trails, well kept and so many varying other to take with diverse difficulty and views. One of my favorite, easy access go to hike trails.

This is such a fun walk to do any day of the week! It is short and easy terrain throughout so you can bring your dog or ride your bike the whole way. There are a few more difficult paths to take if you are looking for more of a challenge. Love this walk and can't wait to do it again!

I must say that this parking lot is a solid spot to hit many different peaks/trails. You can even get to Piestewa fairly easily from here if you really wanted to. Two-bit peak is close as well, so is Baldy Peak. Across the 51 highway, there are a smattering of about 6 more peaks, just a few steps over. I've taken some solid photos from around this area, and I'll make sure to post them as well. The rustic setting makes for such hawt landscape and nature photos as its a contrast from the city. It's like the preserve area comes out of nowhere and it's beautiful! The hiking can be a bit more discouraging in the summer months, but regardless, the trails are numerous and beg for the people to stomp their way thru. Go for a nature walk/hike. Outside is free!

This review is for the entire mountain preserve between the 51 and Tatum and not just this section. There are several trail heads in the area (40th street south of Shea and Tatum south of Double tree) but parking is limited as it is at most other parks. I love the trails here because they range from low and easy (trail 100) to a bit more complex but nothing that a novice hiker can't handle. If you are looking for more thrills you can always make your way farther south to Piestewa Peak. It's also really cool how you are in the middle of the city but you would never know until you checked a map. The major trails are marked but there are so many smaller trails off the major ones that I would suggest using an app like AllTrails to make sure you catch the right one. The preserve does get busy with hikers, mountain bikers, and even horses but everyone is super friendly and considerate. The only non-considerate action I see, like you see with all parks, is people who do not clean up after their dogs. If you are looking for a leisurely hike, or even a more advanced one, North Mountain Preserve is a great place to get your outdoors on.

I love coming to Dreamy Draw for a quick run right before sunset. This park serves as a retreat from the chaos of the city. The park is full of roadrunners, jackrabbits, desert flora, chuckwallas, and other familiar desert creatures. This park has something to offer for any visitor: covered group areas for families and celebrations, volleyball court for the sport-minded, a paved trail for cyclists or the casual walker, gently rolling desert trails for the mildly adventurous dog wielders, and steep sloping, mountainous trails for the hardcore mountain bikers and trail runners. No matter your appetite for adventure, I'd highly recommend this park, especially if you are trying to escape the city without trekking too far! Pro Tip: Gates close at 7:00pm, but as long as you are in the park before then, you'll be able to get out. Extremely helpful during summer when the sun sets later in the day!

Just did the 220 trail, which was described as easy to moderate. The views are very beautiful, but I'm a beginner and it definitely wasn't easy. If you are also a beginner I would recommend working up to this one a bit. Parking adjacent to the trails was convenient and there is a rest room at the beginning of the trail.

Most people would think it is absolutely insane to go for a hike at 1pm in the middle of August in Phoenix.. me on the other hand, invite this sort of absurdity and embrace doing things out of the norm. Determined to not have a repeat of my Camelback mountain fail, I approached the trails of Dreamy Draw fully hydrated and ready to kick some ass. There are a few different trails you can follow based off the level of difficulty you can manage. To be quite honest, I have no idea which trail I was on because I'm pretty sure I got lost at one point.. and if not lost, severely off track. Thankfully I found my way, but holy shit, I got my ass kicked in a few spots. This area is pretty fascinating, you don't even realize you are situated in the middle of the city because of its serenity.. However when you reach the peaks, there are wonderful 360° views. Horses and dogs are welcome, but apparently a lot of people do not understand the concept of cleaning up shit because there was a good amount of fecal matter scattered about. Not only is Dreamy Draw awesome for hiking, but picnics and bike rides too. There are plenty of tables & charcoal grills.. They also have restrooms, but be advised, the stalls do not have doors. There is plenty of parking, and you can also maintain cell phone reception in all areas.. even if your provider is the suck that is known as AT&T. One thing that was pointed out to me that was super sketch was the amount of shirtless men wandering into the depths of the hills on the other side of the parking lot... not sure if this is true, but apparently it is some hook up spot for homosexuals.. who knows.. who cares.. to each his own. Highly recommend this area to anyone, at any agility level. It was not as strenuous as other locations, but certainly a great workout.

Anytime I can go outside and venture with my love is a great time and this place doesn't disappoint

Oh Dreamy Draw Park, how you kick my ass and I keep coming back for more. I have been frequenting this part of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve for a few weeks now thanks to a suggestion/invitation from Dally. We have since included our friend Drew to join us in attempting to conquer the numerous trails and unforgiving hills. It has quickly become the after work running spot. The easiest way to enter the park is off of the Squaw Peak, err, Piestewa Peak Parkway and the Northern exit. To the east is the winding road to the park. The parking lot can be full depending on the weather and time of day. Most of the time there is still room, even on a busy day. There are numerous trails to choose from and different levels of difficulty. Lots of mountain bikers, dogs, and even some horses. They even have a trough at the parking lot. Drew is threatening to jump in it during the summer. West Nile and all!!! This is just another example of why Phoenix may just be the greatest city in the history of man! There are points on your hike/run/ride where you can not see civilization and you feel like Bear Grylls on Man vs. Wild, looking for shrubs and little insects to eat should you get stranded. Then you hear a plane or helicopter and realize you will be saved. Side note: The bathrooms can be a bit sketchy. There are no doors on the stalls, in the Mens room at least. Not sure about the Womens.

My favorite DD, the best DD, ever (okay I'm a liar, the DDs that make sure I get home safely after a couple of cocktails are epically amazing), but Dreamy Draw is such a sweet treat!!! I love that this is my backyard. I bring my pup here and there are miles and miles of meandering trails. After a few twists and curves I almost forget I'm in the center of the city! There is a lot of wildlife out here, so watch out for snakes - you will see them - or hear them - in warm months. The coyotes are wiley and bold, and if you have a small dog (as I do), this is not the spot to let her run a few paces ahead of you off leash. I never have, and never will, take my girl off leash here. There is also the occasional javelina, and if you spot one of those pesky peccaries, just turn around. Their personalities are about as sweet as they smell. Watch out for mountain bikers! Some of these trails have somewhat blind curves, and if you can get out of the path as the bikers come around, they (and you) will be grateful for your reflexes and skip to the side. I don't give this five stars because this is a park in which the sense of isolation and solitude attracts some interesting activity. I've encountered some drifter types who may be merely homeless, whereas others were clearly using. Either way, as a single woman hiker, it's just not a great idea for me to linger around the back parts of park for too long so I haven't explored as much of the park as I would like.

I love Dreamy Draw! There's always plenty of parking. Plus they have bathrooms, a ranger station on site, water fountains, lots of covered picnic tables and even grills. Come and have dinner with the family. Or pack up some water and snacks and head out on the trails. There's lots of trails to choose from here in any direction -- paved paths, easy desert nature trails and more rigorous climbing up the peaks. Super convenient right off the Northern exit off the 51. Just follow the signs for "Dreamy Draw." The entrance gate closes at 7pm, so get there before then. You can still exit after that time, so don't worry about getting locked in there. You can have dogs on a leash or even ride your pony up these trails. Some are brave enough to take bikes too. This is the desert -- be prepared! You will need water. And then, you'll also need more water. Beware of rattlers, scorpions, coyotes and jackrabbits (I think those things are terrifying!) Have fun and be courteous of the public park. Pick up after yourself!

I love this area for hiking around with my dog! It's fairly open and there's many different trails to explore. I've been there three times and it's been a different route each time.

Great place for a hike, walk or a bike ride. There is a map that will show you the different trails that you can take through the mountains. Each trail is labeled throughout so you stay on the right path. There is also a nicely paved path you can walk if you want to just stroll and take in the beautiful views. There are some tables if you want to sit and have lunch. There is also plenty of parking and restroom onsite.

I love this place! The park is one of the last ones where parking and day use is free. The parking lot is almost always empty. You can pick the sidewalk trail if you're in the mood or on a different day, you can pick the trails going up to the peak. It's picturesque, bring your camera. There's lots of ramada seating. But on top of that, it also has a mysterious nature. Google Dreamy Draw Park and you'll find a Wikipedia article about its UFOs and ghosts. Apparently, a UFO crashed around the same time as the Roswell UFO. This is the reason the Highway is numbered 51, after Area 51. The dam was an excuse to pour dirt on top of the crash site, giving this a cool factor rating of 5. But wait! Read on and you'll learn that there is a green lady spector seen on the dam at night. Also, there used to be a cinnabar mine there and many hundreds of miners died in the dangerous conditions. The cool factor goes up to 10. Upon learning about this, I had to go close to sundown and try to record an EVP, which I had done at other places, just never found anything. (I've also been to the Eisendrath House, but all was silent there.) Well, here on a peice of audio when I didn't realize my husband had left the camera rolling, we caught a sarcastic? or excited? ethereal voice saying, "Nooo, wait" right before I shut off the camera. The last time I was there, a bee hive was above the water fountain. You couldn't get close to the fountain. Take your own water. Also, be aware that there are no palo verdes in this park. Once you're on the trails, you're exposed to the sun all the time. So if you're looking for the paranormal, rest, excitement or adventure, you'll find it here.

A couple weekends ago some friends from church and I went on an early morning ride through Dreamy Draw to a great breakfast joint in PV, and back again. I didn't know this trail existed! I'm glad I do now. I'm getting into mountain biking, and even more importantly getting used to my new bike clips. This trail was pretty good for me to get some easy time in. We stayed on the paved path through Dreamy Draw. The view was beautiful, and the path is very well cared for. It's wide enough for walkers, joggers, dog-walkers, and cyclists -- and for cyclists to go around! I'll definitely be back to this park with my bike and to hike off the paved path. We came through here around 6:30-7:30 a.m. in July, and between 9-10 a.m. on the way back after breakfast. At that time of the year, I definitely recommend getting up earlier to avoid the heat and humidity. By the time we arrived back at our parking lot at 10 a.m. it was nearly 100 degrees. However, there were kids along and you're not likely to get them up at 4 a.m. (ideal time to get started on a bike ride and to be back home by 7:30 a.m.). Be sure to follow proper walker/hiker/biker etiquette! Stay to the right...hikers yield to horses, and mountain bikers yield to everyone.

Love this hike . Just watch out for the bikers that come flying in back of you with no warning . About half and half are good .

Great spot, with tonnes of trails, and not too crowded. Perfect mix of easy and challenging trails.

Been hiking these hills for about 5 years. My favorite entrance is the main Parking lot, located off Shea & 40th St. (North on 40 till it ends at the lot). So many trail choices, so little time! You can easily hike a few minutes on flat terrain, or difficult peak hikes almost up to elevations of 3000'. I like the fact that, because you can design your own route, it never becomes boring. If you want a 30 mins easy hike, or strenous 3 hour circut, it's all up to you. I generally find that in the early mornings, it's very rare to run into other hikers. (maybe 3-6 in 2 hrs). So, that is a big ~Zen~Factor~ for me. Here is the exact location and hiking trail map: http://www.phoenix.gov/parks/hikphgud.html

Dreamy Draw is one of my very favorite places to hike and explore all of the deserts beauty. There are so many trails that cater to all sorts of abilities .. that said, this is the desert and the terrain is rough, so be prepared , in case, as you may reach parts where your cell phone doesn't work. Bring lots of water , sunblock , a hat , the correct shoes and let someone know where you are going to be. What I love about Dreamy Draw , is the trails are marked and you can download maps before you ever leave home to guide you ... if you're not that hardcore, just wing it, as I have on many an occasion. There is a bike path and many flat surfaces leading to the trails... that said, this place has LOTS of mountain bikers.. be warned. Some are polite and give way, as they should, to the hikers and some.... mmmmm.. not so much. One blind trail and you could catch yourself on the desert ground picking tread from one of 'those' guys! Nature is to be shared tho.. and we are so fortunate here to have such a beautiful recreation area and preserve. This is one of the cleaner trails and it's maintained well.. the restrooms at the base of the trails are a plus too. Parking can be tricky on early fall mornings or evenings.. but know that going in and enjoy this beautiful place! Catch a beautiful sunset up here too.. there's nothing like it!

We were here on a week day so there were tons of parking. It was a super hot day for a hike, but not hot by Phoenix's standards lol. Overall this was a decent area to go for hiking. There are lots of different trails you could get to. We were on the Piestewa Peak trail for a little bit, but I don't think we did the whole trail. Since I wasn't leading this hike, I'm not really sure where we went lol. I just followed everyone else. There were nice views of the cactus though, and the landscape. But not much else. The hike itself wasn't too hard. It was just long.

*****Coyote Alert!!****I love the Draw for hiking, particulary the Voaz loop up above Christianson trail. it is very beautiful up there and it is such a nice place to forget you are in the middle of the city. In fact be prepared to encounter wildlife. I saw a rattlesnake on Thursday and then a coyote approached my dog 3 times on Friday, and by approached I mean ran right up to him. I thought it was a brown dog off-leash at first. (my dog is close to 40 lbs-a Wheaten terrier) I had to stomp my feet and yell for the coyote to scamper away. I even had to toss some rocks in its direction. He definitely was stalking us. The coyote was not afraid of me at all but very interested in my dog. I was very lucky that my dog did not get bitten-close call!! If you have a small/medium dog-definitely take precautions. I found out that it is coyote pup season so they are particularly aggressive. Anyway, the coyote scare aside, Dreamy Draw is a great place to hike the many trails as well as mountain bike.

Pretty neat hiking area. A ton of interconnected trails. Unfortunately not well labeled but they all pretty much connect and you can tell where you are in reference to the parking lot. Lovely mountain desert landscape right in the heart of Phoenix. Really easy to get to too, right off the 51, northern exit

This is a good place to hike! Easy to access off the 51 or Northern Ave, ample parking, and not too many people. The trails are in good shape, but there is often a bit more trash than I'd like to see. You can connect to the PHX Mountains Preserve if you hike back in a bit, which is nice if the 40th St trailhead parking is full. The only two drawbacks here are the bees and shady people hanging out in the parking lot, just lookin to steal and apparently get high.