Description & History Trail Surface Information Desert Habitat Flora Checklist Fauna Checklist Map View Other Accessible City Trails
Location The Barrier Free Access Nature Trail is located on the East Side of Tatum Road, just north of the CAP canal at Union Hills Blvd in the Reach 11 Recreation Area. A paved parking area with two disabled parking spaces and disabled accessible gate leads to a graveled multipurpose trail. The multipurpose trail (E211N) is a Reach 11 Recreation Area system trail for use by equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers. For ½ mile the trail runs along the parks northern boundary before it intersects with the paved Barrier Free Access Nature Trail.
Description & History
The Barrier Free Access Nature Trail is a ¾-mile long paved trail that travels through some of the most unique desert habitat in the area. Twenty different locations along the trail provide information signs on the flora and fauna that a visitor may encounter while walking the trail. The loop also features a small pond and picnic area. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department used funds from a Heritage grant provided by Arizona State Parks to construct the Barrier Free Access Nature Trail. The Heritage grant was awarded to the City of Phoenix in 1991 and construction was completed in 1995. According to the draft Reach 11 Recreation Area Master Plan the trail will become part of an interpretive habitat area that includes an environmental center that is due to be constructed in the next ten years. Return to top
Trail Surface Information
The multipurpose trail is a hard, stable gravel surface approximately seven feet wide. At two locations the trail crosses a low flow wash of 60’ to 75’ of sandy terrain. The Barrier Free Access Trail is a paved ¾ mile long trail that circles through upland and xeroriparian desert habitats. Use of the Barrier Free Access Nature Trail by horses and bicycles is prohibited. Users are encouraged to take water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear when hiking. Return to top
Desert Habitat
The Barrier Free Access Nature Trail meanders through both upland and xeroriparian desert habitats that are supported by intermittent or ephemeral stream flows that are found in desert washes and arroyos. The numbers and types of plant life create a desert oasis feeling along the trail. Common plants associated with this habitat include mesquite, palo verde, acacia, hackberry, desert broom and ironwood. The increased density and variety of plant life in the xeroriparian habitat provides for additional cover, food, and water for desert wildlife. Increased numbers of species and overall animal numbers can be seen in this habitat. Some common wildlife species associated with this habitat include, dove, quail, cottontail and jackrabbit and coyote. Return to top
Flora Checklist Honey Mesquite Ironwood Palo Verde Hackberry Creosote Desert Broom Acacia
The spring bloom should be spectacular this year! Return to top
Fauna Checklist Cottontail Rabbit Dove Gamble’s Quail Blacktailed Jackrabbit Coyote Badger Javelina Diamondback Rattlesnake Anna's Hummingbird
Over 100 species of birds have been identified along this trail! Return to top