Join Ranger Kevin for an evening hike under the stars at Usery Mountain Regional Park at 3939 N. Usery Pass Road in Mesa on Friday, March 31 from 6-8pm.
Limited to 20 people. To register, call the Usery Nature Center at extension 602-506-2930. Register for Moonlight Hike at No. 4. Registration for the program closes on March 29th.
A loop of about 2 miles is on the Blevins and Noso trails. According to the release, trail segments are easily rated, with little elevation change over the course of the hike.
“Of course, when the weather permits, we enjoy the quiet beauty of the outdoors at night as we walk through the desert landscape where the moon and stars shine silvery. We are not setting speed records here. It’s time to appreciate the natural world: wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, bring plenty of water and a flashlight or UV light.
Attendees should meet in the Trailhead Staging Area West side of the parking lot by Blevins Trailhead. Baths are nearby. No pets, the release said.
Hikes will only be canceled in the event of an active storm or poor trail conditions.
Car admission to the park is $7. Usery Mountain Regional Park is open May 1 through October from 5 AM to 9 PM. From November 1st to April 30th from 6am to 8pm. maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/usery-mountain-regional-park.
The 3,648-acre park became part of Maricopa County’s regional park system in 1961. It lies at the western end of the Goldfield Ranges and borders the Tonto National Forest. The park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna that inhabit the lower Sonoran Desert. Along one of the park’s most popular Wind Cave trails, water seeps through the roofs of the alcoves, supporting hanging gardens of rock daisies. The Wind Cave is formed at the boundary between the volcanic tuff and granite rocks of Togeyama. Breathtaking views from this he’s 2,840 feet elevation are offered to all visitors.
