Merkle Trail

The Merkle Trail is located inside the Usery Mountain Regional Park which is a Maricopa County Park. To access the park, there's a $7 entrance fee per vehicle. For people entering on foot, bike, or horseback, the fee is $2. Annual passes for all Maricopa County Parks cost $85. There are also fees for the archery range and camping that's also inside the park. The Merkle trail is a nice easy 1-mile loop. It's wide, well groomed and mostly flat.The trail is gravel, but is crushed gravel and usable with strollers, walkers etc. There's plenty of parking at different areas along the trail. There are a few rest benches along the trail as well, and several flushable restrooms by some of the parking areas. If you want something a bit more challenging, the Vista trail leads you across the high point that Merkle trail goes around. Along the trail are some great views of Superstition Mountain. There's other trails near by too. Usery Mountain Regional Park is located in the NE part of the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert is considered the wettest desert in the world and can get anywhere from 3-15 inches of rain annually. It's also the most biologically diverse and is bristling with plant life, which attracts a wide range of animal life. I spend a lot of time kayaking on the Lower Salt River which is only a few miles from Usery Park. While paddling down the river, I've seen big horn sheep, wild horses, deer, rabbits, fox, cougar, eagles, cardinals, otters, ducks, egrits, turtles, coyotes, several fish species, snakes etc.

I love this trail. Two peaks up and down. Nothing too difficult some beautiful vistas. It's a quick trail with three good parking spots.

A good trail with a good view. Recommend coming early or late in the day so you're not out in the afternoon heat! Overall, good stuff. Will stomp around this area again some time.

Great little one mile loop trail in the usery regional park. Perfect for young children or people that want a shorter walk feel vs hike. The views of the area are great and the cactus so close to the trail. The entrance fee is well worth it as it keeps the trails clean and maintained. It was very empty on a midweek day not sure how it is in the weekend. Definitely a hidden gem worth visiting especially with little kids.

Easy hike for a family with small children. It only took us 30 minutes to walk around the path close to sunset - we couldn't help but stop to take photos next to every cactus. ;) Lots of benches along the way! It's $6 to get into the regional park, but the beauty was so worth it!