PHOENIX & CENTRAL ARIZONA Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction FROM PHOENIX TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS BY ROGER NAYLOR QUICK ESCAPES as it feeds a koi pond and gently flowing streams. Stroll amid the lush greenery, sit by the water, feed the brightly-colored koi—then remind yourself that you’re just minutes from downtown Phoenix. Anchoring the far western edge of the Phoenix Valley is White Tank Mountain Regional Park . The 30,000-acre park spreads across desert lowlands and sharp-rising peaks. Beautiful during the day, White Tank proves equally spectac-ular once the sun goes down. This is where stargazers come for celestial exploration. Dark skies far from city lights offer a portal into the cosmos. This dreamy desert nightscape gives everyone a chance to admire the glittering canopy above. Here the heavens drop into your lap. No one appreciates a day spent on the water like a desert dweller. Go Paddle AZ provides the tools for quick and memorable escapes. They rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards at Pleasant Harbor Marina on Lake Pleasant. Tucked away amid rolling hills north of Peoria, Lake Pleasant is a 10,000-acre reservoir with miles of coastline and a vast expanse of open water to explore. Go Paddle AZ also offers sunset and full moon kayak tours. Water in the desert attracts wildlife as well as people. The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch creates a lush oasis in the heart of Gilbert, providing a welcome habitat for mammals, reptiles and nearly 300 species of birds. The appearance of so many winged visitors prompted the National Audubon Society to designate the seven aquifer re-charge basins as an Important Bird Area. Birders, hikers and bikers will enjoy miles of meandering trails. Or stop for a picnic and bask in the serenade of birdsong echoing among the branches. Lost Dutchman State Park laps at the base of the Superstition Mountains, a sudden wall of dark stone rising from the desert floor. Here civilization ends and wilderness begins. Named for a fabled gold mine said to lay hidden deep in the volcanic fortress of the mountains, the park is crisscrossed with hiking trails. Yet despite fierce terrain, springtime brings out a softer side to Lost Dutchman. Following wet winters, the sloping foothills blaze with wildflowers, most prominently poppies and brittlebush. Witness those rugged cliffs floating above a sea of yellow blossoms and you begin to under-stand the witchery of the desert, a land of drama and poetry. Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert When you’re visiting Phoenix, you don’t have to go far to revel in the serenity and beauty of nature. Experience the great outdoors with these quick escapes. The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is where you go to exhale, to relax. Experience a sense of quiet serenity away from traffic and stress in this soothing sanctuary surrounded by city. Curving paths cross the grounds that are adorned with plants and boulders, stone bridges and lanterns. A 12-foot waterfall adds a splashy musical note to the garden 50 VISITARIZONA.COM TOP TO BOTTOM: MARK SKALNY; DISCOVER GILBERT
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2021-22: Page 50
