Rio Salado Park — Attraction in Phoenix

Love this park. Nice, easy walking on wide, paved path. Home of the burrowing owls, but I haven't seen one after many visits, but will keep trying. A nice, easy to access inner city wildlife area with easy to spot Gambel's Quail, white heron, finches, cottontail rabbits, cormorant type water fowl. River doesn't always have water but I have consistently observed heron here. The paved path between 7th street bridge and 16th street bridge makes for a very nice walk, passing many owl burrows where you can hope to see the famous Downtown Owls hanging out. Super easy parking at both 7th and 16th Rio Salado lots...just pull in, park, hop out and you're right on the well-marked path. Be advised, this path is also used by cyclists and one should be alert. In my experience, Phoenix cyclists do not observe the "on your left" announcement convention, so a fast moving bike can be approaching from behind with no warning. Stay alert, watch your six, and all will be fine. Great viewing for aircraft departing Sky Harbor. I feel this stretch of park is pretty safe and would not be concerned about walking alone. If you are in Phoenix for a short visit, or just business - take the time to walk this path or visit this park. So easy, and so nice, and such a lovely way to get a bit of unexpected, peaceful nature into your day, without ever leaving downtown. Park signage about hours currently say they close at...

10/10 do not recommend going alone as a woman. That was naive of me.

It seems cool in terms of wildlife, and I came down here to survey insects, but it’s not a very safe environment for anyone alone.

There were homeless men shouting out at me of course, but when I went closer to the pond’s edge to photograph dragonflies, a man carrying nothing on him (not some biker or visitor) went out of his way to kind of corner me where I was. I slipped away throughout some vegetation and booked it back to my car (where I am now writing this). He stood around nearby where I was for a bit, but I have no idea where he is now.

Overall, this place doesn’t seem cared for in the sense that no effort has been made to make it safe for visitors who aren’t with a group. I don’t think I’ll come back anytime soon. Massive bummer.

P.S. The vegetation is completely fine and off path. Anyone complaining about that knows very little about Sonoran...

This place is as close to feeling like I’m back home by the river, aka The Chattahoochee, in Georgia that I’ve gotten since being here in Phoenix. Last year at this time there wasn’t really any water in this river so I’m pretty impressed with the size of it now.

Apparently people are not supposed to go in it swimming, although I saw some people on what looked like paddle boards out in the middle of it when I was there.

The walk along the River back up to my car was just long enough to make you feel like you did something outside.

I had my dog with me and it was great for him, too. Thankfully I had a couple of bottles of water with me for him.

Was 84 degrees and sunny on a Sunday afternoon and there were probably only 10 other people that I saw the whole time.

Will definitely be coming back here. It’s a nice change from walking on the...