The Dreamy Draw Recreation Area is the northern part of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. It's easily accessible to vehicular traffic, being just east of Arizona SR-51 at the Northern Avenue exit. With miles of hiking trails, and hiking access to Piestewa Peak and other mountains in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.

As of this writing, Dreamy Draw is my favorite hiking spot in the Valley, as it's only a couple of miles from my home and, for health reasons as well as the enjoyment of it, I take short hikes there at least three times a week. And that means I've taken a terrifying number of photos of the place, capturing it in sun as well as less-clement weather.

Introducing Chris to Dreamy Draw

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 3/22/2016		Page Views: 495
Hashtags: #DreamyDrawRecreationArea #PhoenixMountainsPreserve #Travel #Arizona
All the photos from today's hike in the Phoenix community park.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (43 words)

I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise that, after introducing Keith to the joys of hiking, his twin brother, Chris, would also express an interest. So, today, we took him to Dreamy Draw. Since it's springtime, there's lots of new flowers to see.

Discovering Dreamy Draw

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 2/28/2014		Page Views: 1,114
Hashtags: #Places #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw
I find a new place to hike.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (82 words)

There's a regional park near us at our new home. It's called Dreamy Draw. Apparently there used to be mercury mining done here, and exposure to the toxic metal reduced the sanity of the miners. But the mines are long closed; the rumored crashed UFO is buried beneath a dry dam, and the area is open to all who wish to hike there. So I thought I'd check it out, though I didn't have much time.

Introducing Keith to Dreamy Draw

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/16/2015		Page Views: 505
Hashtags: #DreamyDrawRecreationArea #PhoenixMountainsPreserve #Travel #Arizona
All the photos from today's hike in the Phoenix community park.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (66 words)

Please enjoy these photos from Keith's and my first 2015 visit to Dreamy Draw.

Keith's Second Dreamy Draw Hike

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/21/2015		Page Views: 1,077
Hashtags: #Places #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw #Photography
All the photos from our second hike together in this beautiful regional park.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (26 words)

Having discovered this cool place to hike (only a couple of miles from the condo in which we live), Keith and I couldn't wait to return.

Mountain View Preserve

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/28/2015		Page Views: 1,445
Hashtags: #Places #Photography #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw
Photos from the western side of Dreamy Draw park.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (57 words)

Keith and I have been hiking every day or so, and mostly we've been visiting Dreamy Draw, which is a regional park with many trails, covering a fairly large area. Today we tried something new: The Western part of the park, called Mountain View Preserve, begins with a stroll through a tunnel that goes beneath Highway 51.

Trail 1A

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/16/2015		Page Views: 1,146
Hashtags: #Places #Photography #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw
Partly cloudy photos from Dreamy Draw.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (37 words)

So we go hiking at Dreamy Draw nearly every day. But there are so many trails there that it's like we're always going to a different place! Today, we decided to follow trail 1A through the park.

Trail 220

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 11/19/2015		Page Views: 1,101
Hashtags: #Places #Photography #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw
Photos from yet another trail in Dreamy Draw park.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (14 words)

Today's Dreamy Draw hike took us on yet another trail for the first time.

Trail 100

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 12/8/2015		Page Views: 1,036
Hashtags: #Places #Photography #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw
Photos from Dreamy Draw park's main trail.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (54 words)

No matter what trail one takes in Dreamy Draw, it will cross Trail 100 one or more times. So today, Keith and I decided to just follow Trail 100 itself through the Eastern side of the park. (The trail passes under the highway to provide access to Mountain View Preserve, which we've already explored.)

Silver Clouds and White Marble

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 12/8/2015		Page Views: 1,031
Hashtags: #Places #Photography #Arizona #Phoenix #DreamyDraw
Dramatic skies brood over Dreamy Draw, giving it an entirely new look.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (36 words)

I've hiked so many times through Dreamy Draw by now, that I seldom find anything new to photograph. However, today's hike took place beneath brooding skies threatening to unload one of our highly-anticipated winter rains.

A Minor Peak

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/13/2016		Page Views: 1,079
Hashtags: #DreamyDraw
I climb to the top of one of Dreamy Draw's lesser peaks.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (45 words)

Today I took a solo hike while Keith slept in, and decided to climb one of the smaller peaks in the park.