Papago Park

Spend a day at one of Arizona's most popular parks.

Papago Park is a municipal park shared by Phoenix and Tempe. There is so much to do and see in this park, and there is no entry fee. Hiking trails are available daily from 5 AM to 11 PM, but hours vary at the other attractions. The park's hiking trails are generally easy with a smooth, low elevation. Be sure to explore the Hole in the Rock Trail and stop and admire the scenic viewpoints. The Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden are the park's most visited attractions. Papago Park also has an archery range, an orienteering course, a fishing lagoon, museums, a sports complex, and a golf course (home of the Arizona State Sun Devils' golf team).

Park amenities include drinking fountains, covered picnic areas, and restrooms. A unique landmark you can see is the white pyramid on a hill, a tomb that the first governor of Arizona, George W.P. Hunt, built for his wife in 1931. Hunt was also buried there when he passed away in 1934. The Papago Park area was a reservation for indigenous tribes, a fish hatchery during the Great Depression, a POW camp during World War II, and a VA hospital. If you're visiting Phoenix, be sure to visit Papago Park.