Parks, Trails and Outdoor Places in Glendale

Glendale's outdoor life stretches from desert hills in the north to canal paths in the south. The city counts seven regional parks covering more than 1,600 acres, and between them you can climb a rocky ridge before breakfast, cast a line in a stocked lake after work or ride a lighted path along an old irrigation canal. November through March is the season to use them hard, and this year there is one change to plan around at the city's biggest preserve.

Thunderbird Conservation Park: the Hedgpeth Hills

Thunderbird Conservation Park covers about 1,185 acres of the Hedgpeth Hills in north Glendale, along 59th Avenue between Deer Valley and Pinnacle Peak roads. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset and carries roughly 15 miles of trail, used by hikers, runners, mountain bikers and horseback riders.

The trails range widely. Coach Whip, the longest at about five miles, is rated easy and runs point to point from 67th Avenue east to 51st Avenue and Potter. Flatlander is a gentle loop of about a mile and a quarter. For a workout, the Cholla Loop and Arrowhead Point trails are rated moderately strenuous, with rocky climbs and views across the north Valley. Bird watchers should look for the four viewing blinds on the north side of the park's sedimentation basin, one of them wheelchair accessible, where the city says more than 50 bird and wildlife species have been seen.

What's new this year: the city is rebuilding all three trailheads, with redesigned parking, restrooms, shade structures and new signs. The work is staggered so one trailhead stays open, and the trails themselves remain open throughout. The 59th Avenue trailhead closed on April 6, 2026 and is scheduled to stay closed through December; the 55th Avenue trailhead off Pinnacle Peak Road closed in July and is expected to reopen in February 2027. That leaves the 67th Avenue trailhead at Patrick Lane as this winter's way in, until it takes its own turn from January to August 2027. The city notes the schedule may change, so check the park page before you drive.

After a morning on the trails, Graziano's Pizzeria, a family-owned spot at 20329 N. 59th Ave., is a short drive south down 59th Avenue. On the 67th Avenue side, Pita Kitchen at 20221 N. 67th Ave. serves pitas, kabobs, salads and falafel.

Parks with lakes, peacocks and room to roam

Sahuaro Ranch Park, at 9802 N. 59th Ave., pairs ball fields, playgrounds, volleyball courts and an off-leash dog area with the city's historic ranch. Its 17-acre historic core, on the National Register of Historic Places, is open from 6 a.m. to sunset, with orchards, a rose garden dating to 1890 and peacocks wandering the grounds. Admission to the historic area is free except during some special events.

Glendale Heroes Regional Park, at 83rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road, is the west side's big gathering place. Its four-acre lake has fishing piers and walking paths, and it is stocked year-round through Arizona Game and Fish's urban fishing program. The park also has eight first-come pickleball courts, a 16-lane archery range where archers bring their own gear, an X-Court for skateboards and BMX, and a dog park.

Up north, Foothills Park at 57th Avenue and Union Hills Drive has a dog park with separate small-dog space and an agility course, plus the Foothills Sk8 Court with bowls and street-style features.

Paths for walking, running and riding

Two linear parks give Glendale long, flat routes that are easy to string together.

• Grand Canal Linear Park follows the Grand Canal for about 4.5 miles, from 75th Avenue and Camelback Road west to the New River Trail. The path is paved and lighted and crosses the canal several times, which makes it a good choice for an evening walk or a bike commute.
• Skunk Creek Linear Park runs about 3.5 miles along a natural creek bed, from 51st Avenue and Utopia Road to 73rd Avenue and Greenway Road. Parking is at Foothills Park.

Thunderbird Paseo Park adds another set of trails for walking, biking and riding. The city rates all of its trails easy except those at Thunderbird Conservation Park, whose ratings vary by route.

If you like to stretch after a run, Kula Yoga at 12240 N. 51st Ave. keeps a class schedule online, with loaner mats and a prop room for newcomers.

Staying safe in every season

Glendale's own trail guidance is plain and worth following all year, not only in summer:

• Hike during the cooler parts of the day, wear sun protection and carry more water than you think you'll need.
• Turn back once half your water is gone, and bring water for your dog.
• Stay on designated trails; shortcuts damage the desert.
• Keep dogs on a leash no longer than six feet and pick up after them.
• Cyclists yield to other users, keep to 15 mph or less and call out when passing. Horses always have the right of way.
• Watch for rattlesnakes, scorpions, bees and teddy bear cholla, whose spiny segments detach at a touch. If you meet a coyote or javelina, stop and give it room to leave.

Glass containers and alcohol are not allowed on the city's trails, and open fires are prohibited at Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Maps and trail conditions

The city's Hiking Trails page links to a trails brochure and map updated in October 2024, and each regional park has its own page with a site map. Thunderbird Conservation Park's page carries its trail map, a map of numbered ramadas and the trailhead construction schedule. Before heading out, check the city's Park Notices of Closures page for holiday hours and project work; it currently notes irrigation work on the Grand Canal Linear Park expected to finish in 2026.

Pick a cool morning, start with the open trailhead at 67th Avenue or an easy loop on the canal, and you'll find that some of Glendale's best views are only a few minutes from home.