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Surprise is adjacent to the park's north and east borders; in response to the environmental concerns, city planners have identified the White Tank
Mountains and the adjoining desert environment's preservation as one of the most critical planning issues in their general plan. To that end, the plan
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trails. Nearly 26 miles (42 km) of hiking trails wind through the terrain in the park, ranging in difficulty from a simple walk to moderately challenging. The most commonly used is the
Waterfall trail, a 0.9-mile (1.4 km) walk that culminates in a narrow canyon featuring a seasonal
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The developed portion of the park provides a number of outdoor recreational activities. Ramadas (generally shaded tables), picnic areas and campgrounds are available and often used for informal gathering places. Several of the campground areas are available for
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villages that were occupied between 500 and 1100 CE. The Black Rock Trail provides access to the remnants of one of these villages, although the remnants are not well preserved and often overlooked by casual visitors. More readily apparent are a number of
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opportunities. The park hosts an organized stargazing event at various dates through the year. A number of other organized events take place regularly during the year, including interpretive nature hikes, guided health walks, and youth-oriented events.
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that run through the mountains, particularly during thunderstorms common in the late summer. While this creates a potential hazard situation, the appearance of temporary waterfalls in the rugged terrain is a seasonal attraction to park visitors.
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waterfall. Bicycling and horseback riding are permitted on many of the trails. In addition to the network of hiking trails, the 10-mile (16 km) competitive track is designed for "high speeds, challenging one's skills, and racing".
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building. The library features a large viewing area of the park. The nature center includes live native reptiles, an information center, and a gift shop. Nature education programs are offered for children, families, and adults.
341:"buffer" between residential development and the park. Critics respond that the park will still suffer the effects of being isolated from surrounding areas, becoming in effect an ecological island.
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103:. Encompassing 29,271 acres (45.736 sq mi; 118.456 km) of desert and mountain landscape, it is the largest regional park in the county. The bulk of the
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325:. The rapid growth of these cities along with plans by various developers to construct large residential developments in the park's proximity has alarmed some
264:. Park visitors are encouraged to photograph petroglyphs or other archaeological remains, but park regulations prohibit touching or otherwise disturbing them.
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prohibiting motorized vehicles except on existing roads. Hiking throughout the majority of the park is also restricted to marked trails. Some
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219:, as well. Guided hikes offered by the park service offer visitors an excellent opportunity to learn about and view the native
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Opened in 2010 and located at the park's entrance, the White Tank
Library and Nature Center is housed in a 29,000-square-foot
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scattered throughout the park. Most are of
Hohokam origin, but some may have been created nearly 10,000 years ago, by
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Clear weather typical of the desert environment combined with darker skies due to the semirural setting provide for
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A number of local, indigenous species inhabit the park and are often spotted by park visitors, such as
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215:, the official state bird of Arizona. Being in the desert, the park is also home to many species of
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The park encompasses a large swath of desert and mountain environment and doubles as a
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sites, with 11 having been identified within the park boundaries, including seven
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Although normally dry, the area is subject to sudden and sometimes severe
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and park officials worried that the human impact may disrupt the area's
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The White Tank
Regional Park is located on the western fringe of the
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is permitted within the park boundaries, but subject to restriction.
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502:"White Tank Library and Nature Center Nabs LEED Platinum Cert"
480:"White Tank Library and Nature Center features and programs"
207:. A number of bird species are also common, including the
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The park is better renowned for its extensive network of
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Maricopa County Parks, White Tank
Mountain Regional Park
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access and are semi-developed, including picnic tables,
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Petroglyphs in the White Tank
Mountain Regional Park
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540:. The Arizona Republic (CNN link). July 24, 2000.
107:range is located within the park's boundaries.
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677:Protected areas of Maricopa County, Arizona
317:, and abuts the rapidly growing suburbs of
247:The mountains are also home to a number of
459:"Parks & Recreation – Maricopa County"
176:. The majority of the park is undeveloped
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16:Regional park in Maricopa County, Arizona
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110:The park was established in the 1960s.
595:White Tank Library & Nature Center
199:, as well as several species of small
672:Protected areas of the Sonoran Desert
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155:White Tank Library and Nature Center
652:Regional parks in the United States
526:. Arizona Game and Fish Department.
401:"White Tank Mountain Regional Park"
131:facilities equipped with showers.
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647:Parks in Maricopa County, Arizona
580:White Tank Mountain Regional Park
93:White Tank Mountain Regional Park
24:White Tank Mountain Regional Park
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426:"Sonoran Loop Competitive Track"
405:White Tank Mountains Conservancy
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35:Desert vegetation in the park.
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552:"Surprise General Plan 2020"
504:. Maricopa County Government
578:Geographic data related to
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662:Nature centers in Arizona
618:33.5882664°N 112.548349°W
524:"Game Management Unit 42"
315:Phoenix metropolitan area
309:Urban sprawl encroachment
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538:"Urbanizing White Tanks"
101:Maricopa County, Arizona
99:located in west-central
87:The entrance to the park
49:Maricopa County, Arizona
623:33.5882664; -112.548349
591:– Interactive Trail Map
387:"Maricopa County Parks"
168:Environment and history
667:Hohokam rock art sites
642:Petroglyphs in Arizona
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243:Hohokam civilization
105:White Tank Mountains
614: /
554:. City of Surprise.
442:New-Public Programs
203:, and more rarely,
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389:. Daily News-Sun.
327:environmentalists
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56:Nearest city
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657:Parks in Arizona
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60:Waddell, Arizona
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359:Arizona portal
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234:in the narrow
232:flash flooding
205:mountain lions
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161:LEED-certified
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508:September 1,
506:. Retrieved
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486:September 1,
484:. Retrieved
482:. AZ Central
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462:. Retrieved
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262:Meso-Indians
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146:and amateur
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69:29,271 acres
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621: /
609:112°32′54″W
464:January 16,
337:includes a
258:petroglyphs
213:cactus wren
127:grills and
95:is a large
74:Established
636:Categories
606:33°35′18″N
373:References
209:roadrunner
178:wilderness
144:stargazing
114:Activities
339:greenbelt
197:javelinas
189:mule deer
148:astronomy
589:TrailDEX
410:July 15,
345:See also
323:Surprise
217:reptiles
211:and the
129:restroom
125:barbecue
45:Location
331:ecology
319:Buckeye
253:Hohokam
236:canyons
201:rodents
193:coyotes
182:hunting
195:, and
136:hiking
77:1960's
429:(PDF)
225:fauna
221:flora
510:2013
488:2013
466:2014
412:2024
321:and
223:and
91:The
66:Area
582:at
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448:^
403:.
333:.
227:.
191:,
121:RV
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414:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
