Page 39 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Winter 2021-2022

Recreation Area inside Tonto National Forest, just on the edge of the city. Getting out on the water is not only a good workout, but a great way to see the dramatic desert landscape as you drift past it.
Saguaro Lake is the closest recreational body of water to Mesa, and kayak tours and rentals are available through the Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch. You can even go tubing on the Salt River from the main lodge! For paddling right in Mesa, No Snow SUP, owned by Canadian expats, rents paddleboards and a few kayaks. With advance notice they can deliver them to a put-in on the Salt River and provide lessons, if needed.
Vista Trail, with rewarding views of the Superstition Mountains on the horizon, and an arid wilderness of saguaros, mesquite bushes and palo verde trees in between.
Right in Mesa is the Hawes Loop Trail, a 3.2-km hike with red rock views, cacti for miles, and wildflowers in the spring. Slightly farther afield but worth the effort to get there is the 2.4-km one-way Hieroglyphic Trail in the Superstition Mountains. It leads through a scenic canyon where seasonal pools of water belie the desert landscape. The trail ends at the sight of ancient petroglyph rock art that was etched onto the weathered stone centuries ago.
RIDE
About 500 wild horses roam the land between the Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake and adjacent Tonto National Forest. You’d think getting out on the backs of domestic horses would increase our chances of spying these symbols of freedom, but no. “We do see coyotes,” says our guide from the Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch as he leads our
OPPOSITE: Horseback riding on Salt River. Visit Mesa/Paul Markow BOTTOM LEFT: Paddleboarders enjoy the tranquil outdoor environment of Mesa, Arizona. Visit Mesa SIDEBAR TOP: Instagrammable walls of downtown Mesa. Visit Mesa/Slaven Gujic SIDEBAR BOTTOM: At the Mesa Arts Center, visitors can view murals like this 10.5-metre installation titled, Desert Rose. Mural pictured is done by famed Los Angeles artist El Mac. Visit Mesa/Slaven Gujic
HIKE
Usery Mountain Regional Park is a favourite spot to hike, with 51 kms of trails that range from a short interpretive loop with signage to help hikers learn about the park’s plants, animals and geology, to the steep Wind Cave Trail, a popular trek to the top of Pass Mountain. We opt for the intermediate
EXPLORE DOWNTOWN
When we aren’t on a trail or on the water, my son and I enjoy wandering compact downtown Mesa. We walk between Pioneer Park, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and the i.d.e.a. Museum, which is a children’s museum with a focus on art and inter- active exhibits. Along the way, we pass whimsical sculptures like a giant pig, as well as numerous colourful murals that reflect Mesa’s southwestern heritage and culture. It’s fair to say this dose of culture helps us perfect the “art” of adventure in Mesa.
When we return to Canada my son can’t decide what he liked best about our time in the desert city—ironically, it’s a toss-up between horseback riding in the rain and paddling on the water.
WINTER 2021/2022 DREAMSCAPES 39