Desert Awareness Park - Cave Creek, AZ
Desert Awareness Park: A Pet-Friendly Destination in Cave Creek, Arizona
Desert Awareness Park is a unique community space in Cave Creek, Arizona that offers a blend of desert exploration, pet-friendly trails, and family-focused amenities. The park is well-known for its educational events highlighting local flora and fauna, and its easy walking trails suited for mild hikes with your leashed canine companion. Wheelchair accessibility and family features like a playground, large sandbox, picnic tables, and restrooms make this park welcoming for all ages.
Dog owners will find the park a great starting point for dog-friendly hiking around Cave Creek, alongside shaded areas and water fountains to stay cool. The open-air ramada (Kiva) provides relief from the sun, perfect for relaxing after a walk. While dogs are welcome and there is ample space for leashed walking, there are no dedicated fenced or off-leash dog areas. Desert Awareness Park’s natural desert landscape and friendly atmosphere create a welcoming spot for locals and visitors alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed at Desert Awareness Park? Yes, dogs are allowed but must be on leash during your visit.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, both the entrance and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park features pet-friendly trails ideal for hiking with your dog.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, restrooms are available onsite.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids? Yes, there is a playground, swings, and a large sandbox for children.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, there are shaded areas including a covered ramada (Kiva).
- Are picnics allowed? Yes, picnic tables are available throughout the park.
- Are water fountains available? Yes, there are water fountains onsite.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Reviews mention clean facilities and ongoing maintenance.
Reviews
Pretty barren but does have a kid’s small playground. There is an educational earth geocache. We attended a small event to learn about harvesting and processing prickly pear… it was nice in the shade of the ramada
I’m here at the Desert Awareness Park, in Cave Creek. Today they’re having a Walk, Talk and Taste of the Desert event, put on by the Desert Awareness Committee here. They are a volunteer organization and trained members are stationed in different areas of this guided park tour, to tell you about different plants and what they’re good for and how you can use them in recipes. It’s a figure 8 type, two part walking trail through the small Park. I am wearing sneakers and I could walk up and down the mild hilliness. The best part is after you follow the various guides around the park, there is a tasting session at the end in a neat open air, shaded thing they call a Kiva. In this open-air kiva, it is cool after the walk in the sun and they have three large tasting tables!! where you can taste things that have been grown from the local desert area.
Nice park which illustrates deset flora and fauna quite well. Nice facilities onsite including restrooms and water fountain.
Nice little place to take the kids for a few minutes. Shade was good. Some of the paint on the monkey bars were coming off(might be heat related). Bathrooms need handicap accessible bars. There’s a large sandbox.
Hidden gem! Newly updated park with surrounding nature trails. Park has a small structure with a rock wall, several ride on toys, a swing set and lots of sand.