Hike, bike, or horseback ride the Maricopa trail starting at the Horseshoe Park trailhead.
Maricopa Trail
Horseshoe Park trailhead is part of the Maricopa Trail system. The elevation is 1,394 ft per Maricopa Country Parks. You might recall our blog post about the Desert Wells Stage Stop and ruins. This segment of the trail goes from Horseshoe Park to Desert Wells Stage Stop, which is about 2 miles. If you are going to hike this trail you might want two vehicles. Leave a car at one location and drive to the opposite location.
Note: This trail is not for ATVs or motorized vehicles.
Horseshoe Park Restrooms
There are public restrooms at this location. Remember there are no restrooms at the Desert Wells Stage Stop.
Parking
The trailhead starts on the west side of the complex. Many signs say, “Trail” and arrows to help guide to the hike.
If there is no event taking place there is plenty of parking. I do recommend when you are planning this hike to check the events calendar to see if an event will be taking place because the parking fills up fast.
We attended the Queen Creek Fall Festival at this location a few years back and the parking lot was full.
Maricopa Country Park Rules
Per the Maricopa Country Parks:
- Stay on designated trails.
- Tell someone where you are hiking and when you expect to return.
- Carry plenty of water for your entire hike. Remember water for your dog.
- When your water is half gone, turn around and return to the trailhead.
- Carry a cellphone.
- Don’t hike alone.
- Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for hiking.
- Use maps, know where you are going and what kind of terrain you are hiking on.
Horseshoe Park Trailhead – Queen Creek, Arizona
The Maricopa Trail is 315 miles long per Maricopa Country Parks. Do you have a segment of a hike that you enjoy? If so, where is it and what is the name of it?
This sounds like a great hike! I’ve only hiked in the desert once and it was so different (but enjoyable) to the wooded areas around where I live.
It is nice to see the different landscapes of plants and trees.
I would love to ride this trail on horseback. I’m sure it would super fun to explore the area while enjoying the horses.
I agree. We have a few friends with horses nearby. I look forward to scheduling a horse ride in the fall.
Looks like a nice, quiet place to go for a hike.
It is a great place for a hike.
Very organized information. Thank you.
🙂 You are welcome.
This looks like a cool place to hike. We are planning a road trip to Arizona for July. We’ll see if we actually get to go. I’ll keep this in mind!
When in the valley area in July make sure you have lots of water and stay inside during heat advisories.
What’s the hike like, does it have much shade?
Not much shade. You would want to wear a hat and sunscreen.
Sounds like this would be a nice trail.
Yes, it is.
Great trail! I love getting on trails and exploring!
Us too!
I would love to visit and hike here one day. Thanks for sharing and I’m pinning to my travel wishlist board.
You are welcome.
This looks like a fun trail to hike. That’s good advice, to turn around when half the water is gone. I’m afraid I wouldn’t get far, as I drink a lot of water! I’d need to carry several metal water bottles with me.
I trust you carry a backpack to put all your waters in.
What an awesome trail with so many options…great tips h th or hiking in the desert.
Yes, it is nice to be able to walk, bike, or horseback ride.
I would love the hike the desert one day. There seems to be so much to see and do. Very different than hiking in the NE.
Yes, the plants and flowers are different.