Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Park
118 acres3.2 mi of trail
Tiger Moth TerritoryCattail CrawlRattlesnake Ridge TrailSandpiper Escape+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Tony the Marine · CC BY-SA 3.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Gilbert
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park in Gilbert
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. 62 miles of mapped trail cross Gilbert, 0.9 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch (3.2 mi), Desert Sky Park (2.2 mi), Crossroads Park (1.3 mi).
Ahead of 78% of U.S. towns · #45 of 140 in Arizona. What drives it
Conserved land
4%
1,525 acres · of 68.8 sq mi of land
Trails
62 mi
0.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,283 ac
12 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
332 mi
326 mi lanes · 6.1 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
17
2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Gilbert?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Gilbert have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Gilbert is ahead of 78% of U.S. towns, #45 of 140 in Arizona. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; the share of residents near a park ranks highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Gilbert’s overall grade.
Conserved land4% of the land · typical AZ town 14% · U.S. 4%B−Trails0.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (62 mi) · AZ 1.1 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land12 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,283 acres) · AZ 8 · U.S. 13B−Parks close to homeVirtually all residents within a half mile of a park · AZ 56% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 78%
LessMore
Arizona towns of 2,500+ (140)Ahead of 68%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Gilbert ranks #214 on Outdoors.
Arizona towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 14%; the U.S., 4%), so Gilbert’s 4% is ahead of 23% of Arizona towns, while its trails per square mile lead 42% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, with 3.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Desert Sky Park
Managed by Town of Gilbert
149 acres2.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Crossroads Park
Managed by Town of Gilbert
62 acres1.3 mi of trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
McQueen Park
Managed by Town of Gilbert
45 acres1 mi of trail
Sun Circle Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Gilbert Regional Park
Managed by Town of Gilbert
275 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Freestone Park
Managed by Town of Gilbert
66 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Zanjero Park
Park
17 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 101 parks & preserves
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch118 acres · 3.2 mi of trail
DirectionsDesert Sky Park149 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsCrossroads Park62 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsMcQueen Park45 acres · 1 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsGilbert Regional Park275 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsFreestone Park66 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsZanjero Park17 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
Spectrum Park9 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsEastern Canal Trail31 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsAdora Trails Park11 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsStratland Estates Park5 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Discovery Park51 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsTern Park5 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
The Barn & Trail Side Community Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsRanch del Verde Park7 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Cheyenne Park7 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Penrose Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Splashpad Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Coronado Ranch HOA
The Groves Park3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Pirate Park3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Bridgeport Park2 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Vermont Park2 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Park Village Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Marlene Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Page Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsCircle G Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsThe Arbors Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsGreen Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Coronado Ranch HOA
DirectionsDerringer Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Village III Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Riparian Preserve at Neely Ranch73 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEvans Ranch Community Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Carol Rae Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Towne Meadows HOA Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Mirador Estates - Playground Equipment4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Gopher Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Coronado Ranch HOA
DirectionsOak Tree Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Melody Ranch Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Veterans Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsVista Allegre Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBaranca Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Coronado Ranch HOA
Brittlebush Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Wateka Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Coronado Ranch HOA
Warbler Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Villa Madeira Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Fruitvale Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Gilbert Rodeo Park (Closed)45 acres
The Ranch Community Park21 acres
Calestenics Park Fitness21 acres
Cosmo Dog Park16 acres · Town of Gilbert
DirectionsAmber Park16 acres
Shiloh Park15 acres
Nichols Park15 acres
The Islands Park14 acres
Linda Park12 acres
Lakeside Park10 acres
Ashland Ranch Neighborhood Park8 acres
Ashland Ranch Park South7 acres
Neely Ranch Park6 acres
Val Vista Lakes Rose Garden6 acres
DirectionsAppaloosa Park6 acres
Sunview Park5 acres
Springtree Neighborhood Park5 acres
Lindsay Estate Park4 acres
Constellation Park4 acres
Annecy Park4 acres
DirectionsCalistoga Park4 acres
Play Park4 acres
DirectionsFinley Farms South Tot Lot Park3 acres
Sagebrush Park3 acres
Vaughn Avenue Basin Park3 acres
DirectionsBaars Court3 acres
Kensington Estates Park3 acres
Annecy Park E3 acres
Cat F Park2 acres
John Allen Park2 acres
DirectionsBob & Sheilah Wagner Park2 acres
Mirador Estates - Gazebo Area2 acres
Circle Park2 acres
Stratford Neighborhood Park2 acres · Stratford
Windmill Park2 acres
Rancho del Verde Park2 acres
Magpie Park2 acres
DirectionsStuart Ave Park1 acres
Kimball Park1 acres · Coronado Ranch HOA
Spinnaker Bay Park1 acres
Patterson Point Park1 acres
Soccer Park1 acres · Coronado Ranch HOA
Banning Park1 acres
Apartment Park1 acres
Water Tower Plaza1 acres
DirectionsStratford West Park1 acres · Stratford
Mira Vista Place Park1 acres
Fencepost Lane Playground1 acres
Stratford East Park1 acres · Stratford
Nash Park1 acres
Little Park1 acres
Joshua Tree Park1 acres · Coronado Ranch HOA
Thornton Park1 acres · Coronado Ranch HOA
Mirador Estates - Connector1 acres
Church green belt/park1 acres
Who protects it
1,525 conserved acres
4% of Gilbert’s land. Who manages Gilbert’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,488 ac
County33 ac
State Department of Land4 ac
Local Park · 1,205 acLocal Recreation Area · 169 acLocal Resource Management Area · 147 acState Resource Management Area · 4 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Regional Park Local Park | Town or city | 444 | Open |
| Rittenhouse Basin Local Park | Town or city | 218 | Open |
| South Area Water Recharge Site Local Resource Management Area | Town or city | 147 | Open |
| Riparian Preserve @ Water Ranch Local Park | Town or city | 118 | Open |
| Riparian Preserve @ Neely Ranch Local Park | Town or city | 73 | Open |
| Freestone Park Local Park | Town or city | 65 | Open |
| Gilbert Soccer Complex Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 64 | Open |
| Crossroads Park Local Park | Town or city | 52 | Open |
| Folley Park Local Park | Town or city | 52 | Open |
| Discovery District Park Local Park | Town or city | 48 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
336 places to go in Gilbert
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Gilbert
Barn PoolIn The Barn & Trail Side Community Park
DirectionsNW Gardens Swimming Pool
DirectionsSplash Pad
DirectionsPlus 4 public pools without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Gilbert
Blue Park
DirectionsGilbert Youth Soccer Complex
DirectionsKindergarten playground
DirectionsMira Vista Park PlaygroundIn Mira Vista Place Park
DirectionsMonkey Bars
DirectionsRed Park
DirectionsSplash PladIn Splashpad Park
DirectionsVineyards Park PlaygroundIn Play Park
Directions290 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Boat launches in Gilbert
2 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Gilbert
2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Gilbert
24 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Gilbert
Canal CampsiteFee · In Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
DirectionsHoney Bee Point CampsiteIn Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
DirectionsWater Sedge Edge CampsiteIn Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
DirectionsDisc golf in Gilbert
Freestone Disc Golf Course
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Gilbert
1 community garden without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Trails & water
8 named trails and 17 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 14.6 miHorses · 8.2 miUnpaved · 20.6 mi
Sun Circle Trail0.4 mi
Tiger Moth Territory0.2 mi
Cattail Crawl0.2 mi
Rattlesnake Ridge Trail0.2 mi
Sandpiper Escape0.1 mi
Desert Willow Walk0.1 mi
Whispering Wind0.1 mi
Jackrabbit Jaunt0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Crossroads Park LakelakeFreestone PondpondHighland Groves North LakelakeHighland Groves South LakelakeIslands Lake 1lakeIslands Lake 2lakeIslands Lake 3lakeKid's Splash PadLake Playa Del ReylakeLower LakelakeMorrison Ranch North LakelakeMorrison Ranch South LakelakePower Ranch LakeRegatta LakereservoirStratland Estates LakelakeUpper LakelakeWater Ranch Lakepond
Biking & sports
332 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
326 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
6.1 mi
off-road bike paths
0.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Sun Circle TrailBike route
0.4 miCourts & fields
211Basketball
120Tennis
86Baseball
61Soccer
41Beach volleyball
34Pickleball
24Volleyball
24Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Gilbert Elementary SchoolBuilding · listed 1980
About itWhen to get out
April is the best month for walking in Gilbert
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.2 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 13.0 | 13.9 | 14.3 | 14.1 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 10.4 | 10.0 |
| High (°F) | 67 | 71 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 104 | 106 | 104 | 100 | 89 | 76 | 66 |
| Rain (in) | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
June is the driest month (under 0.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 106 °F). 1.1 inches fall in February, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 106 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Gilbert →
Next door
Gilbert and its neighbors
Gilbert has the second most mapped trails of the 4 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert | 4% | 0.9 | 12 | 99%+ | A− |
| Chandler | 4% | 0.9 | 10 | 99%+ | A− |
| Mesa | 6% | 0.6 | 8 | 98% | B+ |
| Queen Creek | 18% | 0.9 | 13 | 93% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Gilbert
Where can I hike in Gilbert?
The longest trail networks: Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, 3.2 miles; Desert Sky Park, 2.2 miles; Crossroads Park, 1.3 miles; McQueen Park, 1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Gilbert is conserved land?
4% of its land, against a typical 14% for an Arizona town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Gilbert’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Crossroads Park. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Gilbert?
332 miles of bike routes are on the map: 326 of painted or protected lanes, 6.1 of off-road paths and 0.2 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Sun Circle Trail.
Is there public land near Gilbert?
39,806 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Gilbert or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,283 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Gilbert have?
Ahead of 78% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #45 of 140 in Arizona. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Gilbert neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →