Home › Arizona › Mesa › Merkle Trail
Merkle Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 144 Google reviews · Running trail in Mesa, Arizona · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Merkle Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
This loop trail through the desert in Usery Mountain Regional Park is lined with benches & cacti.
What runners say about Merkle Trail
“The entrance fee is well worth it as it keeps the trails clean and maintained.”
“Along the trail are some great views of Superstition Mountain.”
“Easy walking and great scenery about one mile on lower trail”
Great little one mile loop trail in the usery regional park. Perfect for young children or people that want a shorter walk feel vs hike. The views of the area are great and the cactus so close to the trail. The entrance fee is well worth it as it keeps the trails clean and maintained.
I love this trail. Two peaks up and down. Nothing too difficult some beautiful vistas. It's a quick trail with three good parking spots.
Easy hike for a family with small children. It only took us 30 minutes to walk around the path close to sunset - we couldn't help but stop to take photos next to every cactus. ;) Lots of benches along the way! It's $6 to get into the regional park, but the beauty was so worth it!
The Merkle Trail is located inside the Usery Mountain Regional Park which is a Maricopa County Park. To access the park, there's a $7 entrance fee per vehicle. For people entering on foot, bike, or horseback, the fee is $2. Annual passes for all Maricopa County Parks cost $85.
Trail conditions & character
“Loved a slow jaunt along Merkle Trail around the small hill, and the climb over top yields a clear view of the valley!”
“Loved a slow jaunt along Merkle Trail around the small hill, and the climb over top yields a clear view of the valley!”
“This trail is about a one mile loop across the base of a relatively small rocky hill.”
“There's plenty of parking at different areas along the trail.”
“The trail is gravel, but is crushed gravel and usable with strollers, walkers etc.”
“This trail is about a one mile loop across the base of a relatively small rocky hill.”
“Also, the loop around the base of the hill is pretty flat with little to no jutting rocks so you could even use it to jog laps.”
“The trail is gravel, but is crushed gravel and usable with strollers, walkers etc.”
Plan your run at Merkle Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitemaricopacountyparks.net
- Phone+1 480-984-0032
- Social Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Mesa
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Wind Cave
4.7 ★★★★★ 459 reviews
Popular hiking trail leading to a wind cave and featuring friendly chipmunks at the top.
Usery Mountain Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,921 reviews
A 3,648-acre park offering camping, archery & 29 miles of multi-use trails plus scenic wind caves.
Usery Mountain Regional Park Nature Center
4.6 ★★★★★ 67 reviews
Nature preserve offering mountain-biking paths, hiking trails, reptiles and picnic areas.
Usery Mountain Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 189 reviews
Park featuring picnic areas, hiking and mountain biking trails, and facilities.
Desert Arroyo Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 223 reviews
58-acre landscape of protected desert with a looped trail system & an outdoor desert classroom.