# Papago Park: Hole-in-the-Rock Geological Trail & Desert Fishing Lagoons > Place to go for families in the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler area (AZ). Times are Arizona Time. - When: Open daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM; main parking gates open 5:00 AM–7:00 PM - Where: Papago Park, 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008 - Ages: All ages; Hole-in-the-Rock is a gentle 0.3-mile walk with natural rock steps (baby backpack recommended over strollers); flat paved paths around fishing lagoons are stroller-friendly - Price: Free admission and free public parking - Schedule: Open daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM; main parking gates open 5:00 AM–7:00 PM - Organizer: City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department - Official page: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/papago-park - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/papago-park-hole-in-the-rock-geological-trail-and-desert-fishing-lagoo--listing-e16ce27aac2440c7bda3fa55 ## About Papago Park's Hole-in-the-Rock is one of Phoenix's most beloved natural geological landmarks. A gentle 0.3-mile trail winds up the back of a red sandstone butte with wide, easy rock steps, leading right into an open rock chamber where young children can scramble inside natural cave alcoves and look through circular openings out across the skyline and desert ponds below. At the base of the buttes, families can stroll along the palm-lined Papago Ponds, where kids love watching winter migratory ducks, geese, and turtles swimming in the serene urban fishing lagoons. While the short climb to Hole-in-the-Rock has steps best tackled on foot or with a baby backpack carrier, the loop trails around the ponds and picnic ramadas are paved and completely stroller-accessible. ## Similar picks in Phoenix - [South Mountain Park and Preserve: Judith Tunnell Accessible Trails & Dobbins Lookout](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/south-mountain-park-and-preserve-judith-tunnell-accessible-trails-and--listing-1f6a2333b84811f889499afc) — Open daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM; vehicular access gates to Summit Road open 5:00 AM–7:00 PM · South Mountain Park and Preserve · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. Covering more than 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park and Preserve is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. Near the South Mountain Environmental Education… - [Wildlife of the Sonoran Desert Guided Hike — Lost Dutchman State Park](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/wildlife-of-the-sonoran-desert-guided-hike-lost-dutchman-state-park--listing-3c865dedf6a148069e8a1978) — Fri, Nov 20 (+2 more dates) · 10:00 AM · Lost Dutchman State Park — Palo Verde Day Use Ramada, Apache Junction · Ages 8+ · With admission · checked Oct 27. Arizona State Parks volunteer Lisa leads a short wildlife walk at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, below the Superstition Mountains. The route is an easy one-mile… - [Usery Mountain Regional Park: Merkle Barrier-Free Nature Loop & Desert Center](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/usery-mountain-regional-park-merkle-barrier-free-nature-loop-and-deser--listing-18a281b0fa3c688addb3dbef) — Open daily 6:00 AM–8:00 PM (Nov 1 – Apr 30); Nature Center open daily 8:00 AM–4:00 PM · Usery Mountain Regional Park, Mesa · All ages · From $7 · checked Nov 4. Usery Mountain Regional Park encompasses more than 3,600 acres in the northeast Valley at the foot of the Goldfield Mountains. The park is celebrated among local families for the… - [White Tank Mountain Regional Park: Accessible Waterfall & Petroglyph Trail](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/white-tank-mountain-regional-park-accessible-waterfall-and-petroglyph--listing-5812663df3d5d175d1d39cc2) — Open daily 6:00 AM–8:00 PM (Nov 1 – Apr 30); Nature Center open daily 8:00 AM–4:00 PM · White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Waddell · All ages · From $7 · checked Nov 4. Rising majestically along the western skyline of Maricopa County, White Tank Mountain Regional Park features rugged mountain canyons, ancient saguaros, and deep prehistoric… - [Lost Dutchman State Park: Family Nature Trails & Superstition Mountain Foothills](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/lost-dutchman-state-park-family-nature-trails-and-superstition-mountai--listing-955be0940b8ee63d13f4004e) — Open daily 6:00 AM–8:00 PM; Visitor Center open 6:00 AM–5:00 PM (open until 7:00 PM… · Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction · All ages · From $10 · checked Nov 4. Located at the base of the dramatic, towering volcanic cliffs of the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park is steeped in Gold Rush legends and breathtaking Sonoran… - [World of Illumination: Reindeer Road Drive-Through Light Show](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/world-of-illumination-reindeer-road-drive-through-light-show--listing-da829096755eeb5ae9b5ee30) — Nov 13 – Jan 3 · 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Tempe Diablo Stadium · All ages · From $39.99 · checked Nov 7. World of Illumination returns to the East Valley with 'Reindeer Road' at Tempe Diablo Stadium, immersing visitors into an enchanting Arctic wonderland from their cars. Families… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in Maricopa County, AZ](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/counties/maricopa-county-az) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/counties/maricopa-county-az.md) - [Things to do with kids in Phoenix — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/events/2026-11.md) - [This weekend in Phoenix](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Phoenix](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix.md)