14 Favorite Hikes in the East Valley
Our mild weather makes now the perfect time of year to try some of the best hikes in the East Valley. Each is less than an hour from Cadence at Gateway in Mesa, and range from easy to invigorating. Everyone from fitness enthusiasts to families can pack plenty of water, lace up their hiking boots, slather on sunscreen, and hit these 14 great local trails!
Treasure Loop Trail is rated Moderate, with an elevation gain of 498 feet. The trail is 2.4 miles for hiking and trail running. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Peralta to First Water is rated Moderate, with an elevation gain of 2,024 feet. Fabulous views of Weavers’s Needle can be seen during this 11.3-mile hike.
Weaver’s Needle Loop Trail is rated Hard, with an elevation gain of 2,985. The 13.1 mile trail takes you up Weaver’s Needle, one of the most famous landmarks of the Superstition Mountains.
Garden Valley Trail is rated Moderate, with an elevation gain of 672 feet. Garden Valley Trail is a 5.6-mile lightly trafficked loop trail that offers the chance to see wildlife.
San Tan Mountain Regional Park boasts over 10,000 acres of desert with hiking/biking trails and a visitor’s center with wildlife exhibits located at 6533 W Phillips Rd, Queen Creek, about 30 minutes south of Cadence. The park ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet with the vegetation changing from creosote flats to dense saguaro forest. Various types of wildlife may be observed, including reptiles, birds, and mammals.
The park visitor’s center has a nice memorial of the Arizona residents who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and a Desert Tortoise Habitat.
Gold Mine Trail to San Tan Trail is rated Moderate with an elevation gain of 754 feet. The 4.7-mile loop trail features beautiful wild flowers in the lower Sonoran Desert.
Dynamite Trail is a 3.6-mile heavily trafficked trail that is rated Easy and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, horses, and mountain biking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Elevation gain 387 feet.
San Tan Trail to Moonlight Trail is ranked Moderate. The 6.1-mile moderately trafficked loop trail is best used October through April and features beautiful wild flowers in the spring. Elevation gain 429 feet.
San Tan Loop Trail is ranked Moderate and is the longest in the park, at 7.4 miles. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Elevation gain 551 feet.
Lost Gold Mine Trail is ranked Easy at 6.9 miles, good for all skill levels. Accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Elevation gain 698 feet.
Additional top trail tips can be found at https://www.alltrails.com/ Where’s your favorite place to escape the city and elevate your perspective on a quick hike?
Interested in Mesa master planned communities or new homes in the East Valley? Sign up at http://cadenceaz.com/contact/
*Photos Courtesy of AllTrails.com and Jenna Miles.
- Lost Dutchman State Park and the Superstition Mountain Wilderness

- Wind Cave Trail in Usery Mountain Regional Park
