White Tank Mountain Regional Park: RV Camping and Hiking Near Phoenix, AZ

RV camping at White Tank Mountain Regional Park

White Tank Mountain Regional Park, on the west side of Phoenix, AZ, was a great find. The campground has some RV sites up to 45 feet long, with approximately 40 total campsites. Some are back-in, some are walk-in (tents only), and all developed sites have water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, a BBQ grill, and a fire ring. There is a nearby dump station on the property.

Group campgrounds

There are two group campgrounds, one with large ramadas that cover four picnic tables, with BBQ grills and central campfire rings. One area is designated for youth camping for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and all campgrounds have restroom facilities with showers.

White Tank Mountain nature center and petroglyphs

At the park entrance, there is a small library and an active nature center. Park rangers provide free nature talks, and on a nearby half-mile trail, the Black Rock Short Loop, you will find a large collection of petroglyphs from the Hohokam and Yavapai tribes. Rangers regularly walk this path with groups to provide additional information along the flat walk.

Hiking trails at White Tank Mountain Regional Park

There are plenty of hiking options for all levels of hikers. From flat half-mile walks to long, mountainous walks that will test your cardio endurance. If you are spending just a few hours in the park, pick a couple of the shorter hikes after you stop by the nature center. If you have a full day, one of the longer hikes can work, and you can get through most of them over a several-day visit.

With over 30 miles of hiking trails, you will see many signs that remind hikers to stay on the trail, rather than wander off into the wilderness. These signs are designed to protect the environment and the habitat that supports a wide variety of animals. Some of the signs warn about venomous creatures (rattlesnakes and scorpions), both of which you can safely view inside the nature center.

While you’re there, make sure you plan for some time to view the displays and look into the fish tanks with live snakes and scorpions.

The Waterfall Trail

My favorite hike is the Waterfall Trail, which is just under 2 miles round-trip and includes some elevation gain. The first portion is on a concrete path (sidewalk) to allow for many levels of hikers, and then transitions to a more typical rock-and-dirt path. At the end, you will arrive at a narrow box canyon that nearly always has a pool of water, and if it has rained recently, a waterfall. With or without the waterfall, the scenery is amazing, and you can see the minerals left on the sides of the canyon when the waterfall isn’t running.

Mesquite Canyon Trail Loop

Several of the trails are long day hikes, at least by my standards. The Mesquite Canyon Trail Loop is roughly 8 miles long, and while the brochure says you will climb 700’ in the first mile, my experience was different. We climbed all the way up into the tundra, but I didn’t see any glaciers around…

We packed a lunch and found a very scenic spot for a break about halfway through the hike. There was a pleasant breeze, and the views overlooking Phoenix to the east were spectacular. With remnants from the 1930s cattlemen, this hike isn’t for the novice due to the length and elevation changes. I thought up was hard, but down was just as bad on my knees. We had an awesome time, but it was a one-time hike for me.

Hiking tips

Even if you are planning just a short 30-minute walk, ALWAYS take water for everyone in your group, in addition to your normal hiking supplies (good shoes, a head covering, sunglasses, and such).

Dining and entertainment near the park

In addition to inside the park options, just outside the entrance is a special horse corral, The Corral at White Tank Ranch.

(Editor’s note: The Corral at White Tank Ranch is a restaurant located just outside the park entrance. While it was formerly associated with Corral West Horse Adventures, the riding and rescue operations are no longer active.)

The food options are delicious and priced very reasonably. The drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are good, and the nightly live entertainment (in some seasons) was great. The staff was kind, and the service was amazing. I recommend arriving before dark, as the entrance is hard to see and is only about 50 feet short of the park entrance.

Things to Do Near White Tank Mountain Regional Park

If you can get reservations during the early spring, you might take in a Cactus League Spring Training baseball game at any one of several nearby ball fields. If you are in the area for the winter, you can take in an NFL game, as the stadium is about 30 minutes from the park. Downtown Phoenix is about an hour away and has everything every big city offers for out of towners.

Other places to stay nearby

There are several RV parks on the west side of Phoenix that support campers of all types, if you can’t get reservations inside the park. Some prefer to be a little closer to town and everything the local area has to offer.

Tip: Make reservations early for the October to May timeframe, as there are many visitors to the area. June through September is pretty open, but maybe a bit warm for some people.

When campsites inside White Tank Mountain Regional Park are full, these nearby regional parks and RV parks are convenient options for RVers:

• Lake Pleasant Regional Park: Regional park camping with RV sites, lake access, and scenic desert views north of Phoenix.
• Cave Creek Regional Park: RV-friendly campground north of Phoenix with hiking trails and Sonoran Desert scenery.
• Buckeye Ranch RV Resort: Full-hookup RV resort west of Phoenix, closer to White Tank Mountain Regional Park.
• Desert’s Edge RV Park: Convenient RV park with full hookups and easy access to Phoenix amenities.
• Desert Shadows RV Resort: Popular RV resort option north of Phoenix with a wide range of amenities.

Want to see more blogs like this? Check out some other posts by JD Harris

• Discover Northern Arizona: An RV Camping Paradise
• Tips for Planning an RV Trip Without a Trip Planner

JD is a retired officer and F-16 pilot, and served in the USAF for more than 33 years. His final assignment was Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Pentagon. As a family he has been RVing for decades, in bumper tow trailers, Class C and most recently, Class A motorhomes. JD has been married to Heather for more than 35 years.