Papago Park

The park's dramatic buttes are made of red sandstone and conglomerate, rock formed from ancient sediments and stained warm by iron. Over long ages, wind and water weathered the softer pockets in the stone, hollowing out the caves, alcoves, and windows that give the buttes their distinctive Swiss-cheese look. The most famous of these is the Hole-in-the-Rock, a broad natural opening high in one butte.

The Hole-in-the-Rock is more than a scenic curiosity. The ancient Hohokam people who farmed this valley used the opening to track the sun, watching where its light fell through the hole across the year to mark the seasons and time their planting. Standing inside it today, looking out through the stone window at the sprawling modern city, you feel the deep continuity of people using this same red rock for a very long time.

Long before Phoenix existed, the Salt River Valley was home to the Hohokam, master desert farmers who dug hundreds of miles of irrigation canals to water fields of corn, beans, squash, and cotton, sustaining large communities in this dry land for centuries. The park's buttes stood at the edge of that world, used for astronomy, ceremony, and shelter.

The Hohokam are the ancestors of today's O'odham peoples, including the Akimel O'odham, or River People, whose communities remain in the region as part of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Gila River Indian Community. When later settlers built Phoenix, they reused and rebuilt the very canals the Hohokam had dug, which is part of why the city took the name Phoenix, a place risen from what came before.

Papago Park manages to be many things at once. Its trails wind among the buttes and desert flats, easy enough for families and rewarding for the views, while stocked lagoons draw anglers and a golf course and ball fields fill other corners. Ramadas and lawns make it a favorite for picnics and gatherings, all within minutes of downtown.

The park also hosts two of the Valley's great institutions. The Desert Botanical Garden displays thousands of desert plants from around the world in beautifully designed grounds, a showcase of Sonoran and global desert life, while the neighboring Phoenix Zoo draws families year round. Together they make Papago Park not just a scenic escape but a full day's worth of desert experience.

The cooler months from fall through spring are the prime season in the Valley of the Sun, with warm, sunny days perfect for hiking the buttes, picnicking, and touring the garden and zoo. Spring can bring desert wildflowers and blooming cactus, and the mild evenings are ideal for a sunset climb to the Hole-in-the-Rock.

Summer in Phoenix is famously hot, with intense midday heat that makes early morning or evening the only comfortable times to be outdoors. Visitors who come in the warm months hike at dawn, carry ample water, and save the middle of the day for the shaded and indoor attractions. Whatever the season, the red buttes glow their richest at sunrise and sunset, the best hours to see the park at its most beautiful.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Papago Park, straddling the border of Phoenix and Tempe, is a beloved desert park known for its distinctive red sandstone buttes, easy trails, and family-friendly attractions. Its most famous feature is the Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural opening in a sandstone formation reached by a short walk, offering lovely views. The park is also home to the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo, fishing lagoons, and a pyramid tomb, making it a versatile recreational hub that blends natural beauty, culture, and gentle outdoor fun in the heart of the valley.

You can take the short, popular walk up to the Hole-in-the-Rock formation for views over the city, stroll or bike easy trails among the red buttes, fish in the park's lagoons, and visit its major attractions, the world-class Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo. You can also see Hunt's Tomb, a small white pyramid on a hill with nice views. With its blend of easy nature, family attractions, and picnic spots, Papago Park offers something for nearly everyone.

The Hole-in-the-Rock is a natural opening eroded through a red sandstone butte in Papago Park, reached by a short, easy scramble from the parking area. From inside and around the opening, you get framed views over the park and the city, making it a favorite spot for photos, especially at sunset. The formation was historically used by Native peoples to track the sun and seasons. Its accessibility and scenic views make it one of the park's most popular and family-friendly features.

The cooler months from fall through spring are most comfortable for enjoying the trails and outdoor attractions, while summer is hot, so early morning or evening visits are best then, with plenty of water. Sunset at the Hole-in-the-Rock is especially beautiful. The Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo within the park can be enjoyed year-round, with cooler hours preferable in summer. For the fullest, most comfortable experience of the park's trails and formations, the milder months and gentler hours are ideal.

Papago Park is home to the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo, and lies near Tempe with Arizona State University, the Salt River, and downtown Phoenix's museums and attractions, with Scottsdale and Camelback Mountain a short drive away. That makes Papago Park a central and versatile stop to combine with the Valley of the Sun's premier attractions, from the botanical garden and zoo right in the park to the museums, dining, and outdoor destinations across the Phoenix metropolitan area.