Round Trip Distance: up to 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 1216 - 1230 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Papago Park
Fee: none
Attractions: Fishing, picnic, hiking
The Papago Ponds are located near the Phoenix Zoo at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona. The lagoons, which are part of the Community Fishing Waters, are stocked with catfish in the summer and trout in the winter but fishermen can also catch sunfish, largemouth bass and grass carp. Besides fishing the area has several picnic ramadas and is a great place for a family hike.
The ponds are located between the Phoenix Zoo and Hole in the Rock Butte. Public restrooms can be found at the Ranger Station and just south of the middle lagoon.
There are no official trails to follow but the layout of the landscape around the ponds does provide plenty of natural routes.
Palm trees along the berms that surround the ponds offer a shady route.
To the north Hole in the Rock Butte adds to the areas aesthetics.
The ramadas can be reserved online for an entire day or if no fee is required they are available on a first come first served basis. More information is available at this website.
Besides the ramadas there are other picnic tables and benches from which to have a picnic as well as just spreading a blanket out someplace in shade.
Whether fishing, picnicking or just out for a stroll the Papago Ponds are a beautiful place to spend some time. With all of the hiking and mountain biking trails, golf course, the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens Papago Park has a lot to offer. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.