We admire the sun as it sets behind the White Tanks every evening but when was the last time you actually went there? This time of year is a great time to pack some snacks, grab the kids and head down Olive until it dead ends at the park. Here are 5 super kid friendly activities. Do one or bundle a couple together for a longer visit!
#1 Visit the Nature Center & Library
This one building packs a lot of punch in a small space. The Nature Center has live animals and some displays about the local plants and animals and is free to explore. Just out the back door is a little garden area with some tables for picnics, flowers in the spring time and a desert tortoise that lives in a special enclosure. Nature Center hours until the end of April are 8 am-4 pm daily.
Once the kids have seen all that, you can head to the library just on the other side of the entrance and marvel at the view their huge picture windows provide of the White Tanks. (This library is actually a great summer destination because you can admire the beautiful scenery from the comfort of air conditioning!) Like all libraries, they have some great children’s programming so check out their schedules and plan your trip for when you can hit a story time AND the Nature Center. Take a look at the Library's events Here
#2 Black Rock Playground & Trails
Enter the Regional Park and follow the main road about 5 minutes until you arrive at Area 4. On the right is a brand new playground that is perfect for kids who love to climb! They have playground “rocks” and “saguaros” just begging for climbing. There are lots of cable style climbing opportunities too. Not too much for a 1 year old to do but older kids will love it and it is well shaded. From the back of the play area is a section of a trail that wraps up the small hill and provides a great view of metro Phoenix.
Look back towards the main road and signs will direct you to the pathway that crosses the street and lands you at the trail head for the Black Rock Loop Trails. There are 2 loops, both of them unpaved but pretty level and both scenic. One, perfect for younger children, is ½ a mile. The other is a little more ambitious at 1.3 miles but still pretty doable for kids. There are a few interpretive signs the kids can check out along the way. After a rainy winter there are lots of pretty flowers. This year, unfortunately, not so many but it’s still nice to get out, enjoy Mother Nature and count how many lizards you spot.
#3 Windmill and Pond
Drive another 2 minutes on the main road and you will see a turnoff for the Pond/Windmill/Horse area on the right. Turn in, drive straight towards the windmill you will see in the near distance, and park at the far end of the large gravel lot. From there you can pick up the Wild Life Trail which will take 6 minutes at the most and bring you to a sweet little riparian habitat (man made) next to the large windmill that was visible from the main road.
The pond is fenced off so don’t expect water play but there’s a blind to help you observe all the birds that are attracted to the spot. There are also several benches that are a nice place to have a snack in a serene and green setting. Be advised there is no restroom at this location.
#4 Waterfall Trail & Playground
This is probably the most well known trail at the White Tanks. To get there, keep going on the main road just a few minutes beyond the Pond. There will be a small intersection and sign directing you to turn left. Make that turn, go about 1 minute, park in the lot, use the restroom and off you go! The first portion is paved so it’s easily wheelchair and stroller accessible. If you go all the way to the end, there is usually no water there (unless it has just rained) but you can see how over the ages water has worn a little smooth waterway for itself. This trail is almost a mile long so there and back is close to 2 miles.
Just across the way from the trail head is a fun little playground and picnic area that is well covered from the sun and a great add on to the Waterfall Trail. The planners of this regional park did a nice job of putting playgrounds near kid friendly trails!
#5 Picnic & B-B-Q Facilities
There are tons of places to just pull over and have a picnic or bring food to cook on the grill. Some are shaded, some are right near bathrooms, others not so take your pick. There are water spigots near every cluster of tables for rinsing and putting out flames. No hike needed to enjoy the great outdoors! Maybe bring some games for the kids, a guitar to sing along with or just plan on giving everyone a chance to chillax.
The Nitty Gritty
Going into the park costs $7 at the entrance booth or you can purchase an Annual Pass that is good for all the Maricopa County Parks (Including Lake Pleasant and Hassayampa River Preserve, the next two county parks closest to us) for $85. Bathrooms with flush toilets are readily available and almost always clean. There are reasonably priced campgrounds for campers, tents, large groups and individual families. Rangers offer programs and there are also volunteer opportunities to do trash pick up and invasive plant removal. Dogs on leash (6 ft or less) are allowed. (Obviously be prepared to pick up their waste.) For more information click HERE.
So there you have it - 5 Family Friendly things to do at the White Tanks. They are right in our backyard and the facility is really well maintained, so take advantage of their proximity and plan a visit soon!
