1.How far is Usery Mountain Regional Park from Queen Creek?
No agency publishes a driving distance or drive time from Queen Creek to the park, so check a live map for current conditions before you leave.
Maricopa County writes its directions from central Phoenix: I-10 east to US 60 east, then exit Ellsworth Road north to the park entrance. The last leg, north on Ellsworth Road from US 60, is the part a Queen Creek driver will already know.
The county prints the address as 3939 N. Usery Pass Rd., Mesa, AZ 85207. That is a postal address: this guide has not confirmed whether the park lies inside Mesa city limits, and it is outside the Town of Queen Creek.
| What | May 1 to October 31 | November 1 to April 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Park | 5 am to 9 pm daily | 6 am to 8 pm daily |
| Nature center | 7 am to 2 pm Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday | 8 am to 4 pm daily |
The park phone number, as the county prints it, is (602) 506-2930 ext 4. Hours are volatile, so confirm on the county park page before an early start.
2.Usery Mountain Regional Park fees and annual pass, 2026 to 2028
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a fee update on December 10, 2025. The new fees took effect January 1, 2026, with further phased steps in January 2027 and January 2028. The figures below are the county’s own table as retrieved November 5, 2026.
| Fee | From Jan. 1, 2026 | From Jan. 1, 2027 | From Jan. 1, 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle entry (parks other than conservation areas and the Desert Outdoor Center) | $10.00 | $10.00 | $12.00 |
| Hike, bike or equestrian entry | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Annual day-use entry pass (all Maricopa County parks) | $120.00 | $140.00 | $160.00 |
| Archery daily supply fee (children under 15 free) | $4.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| Archery supply fee, Usery only (children under 15 exempt) | $48.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Developed campsite (electric and water hook-ups, dump station access) | $40.00 | $50.00 | $60.00 |
| Camping reservation fee (non-refundable) | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
The vehicle-entry row covers parks other than conservation areas and the Desert Outdoor Center rather than naming Usery, and the county’s camping page says to see the reservation site for current camping rates. Confirm the figure at the gate or on the reservation site before you rely on it.
Is the Maricopa County annual pass worth it?
The county says visitors planning more than 13 visits a year may save money with the annual pass ($120.00 in 2026), which is valid at all Maricopa County parks and can be bought at Usery. It is a cost-savings option only, not a priority access pass, and it does not guarantee entry when parks reach capacity.
The same fee table lists a discount for patrons 65 and older on one Day-Use Annual Pass per tier ($30 off the current $120 rate), 50% off one pass per tier for disabled veterans, and 10% off souvenirs and fee-based programming for pass holders.
3.Usery trails compared: Wind Cave, Pass Mountain, Merkle and Levee
The county says the park has more than 34 miles of trails and that all trails are multi-use unless designated otherwise. Its trail table gives distances one-way unless they are marked as round trip or loop. Four routes cover most first visits:
| Trail | County distance | Use | County rating | Walking time at 1 to 1.5 mph (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merkle | 0.9 miles round trip | Barrier free | Easiest | About 36 to 54 minutes for the round trip |
| Levee | 1.6 miles one-way | Multiple use | Easy | About 64 to 96 minutes each way |
| Wind Cave | 1.5 miles one-way | Hike only | Difficult | About 1 to 1.5 hours each way |
| Pass Mountain | 7.5 miles round trip (trail table); 7.1 miles (Hiking page) | Multiple use | Difficult | About 5 to 7.5 hours at 7.5 miles; about 4.7 to 7.1 hours at 7.1 miles |
Pass Mountain’s length differs between two Maricopa County pages: the trail table gives 7.5 miles round trip, while the Hiking page labels it 7.1 miles. We show both rather than pick one. The trail circles Pass Mountain, so plan water and daylight for the longer figure.
The time column is our arithmetic, not a county estimate for each trail: the county says that on most trails you should expect a pace closer to 1 to 1.5 miles per hour than the 2.5 mph possible on well-maintained trails. In hotter months the county also rates every trail at least one level higher than its normal rating.
The Merkle Trail is the county’s barrier-free option, with gentle grades. For another desert trail option, see our San Tan Mountain Regional Park guide.
4.What is the Wind Cave Trail at Usery like?
The county calls the Wind Cave Trail the park’s most popular feature. It climbs the mountainside to an alcove where water seeps from the roof and supports hanging gardens of Rock Daisy, and it rewards hikers with elevated views and access to the adjacent Tonto National Forest.
Geologically, the county says the Wind Cave is formed at the boundary between volcanic tuff and granite on Pass Mountain. The trail table lists the trail at 1.5 miles one-way, hike only, in the difficult rating, so bikes and horses belong on the multi-use routes instead.
None of the photographs on this page shows the Wind Cave or its trail. Check the county park page for current trail notices on the day you go.
5.Hiking Usery in the heat: what Maricopa County advises
Queen Creek’s summer heat travels with you. The county’s trail ratings page says that during the hotter months, when temperatures or humidity are high, trails are rated at least one level higher. It also says more than 200 people require rescue each year while hiking in parks and preserves.
- Carry enough water for your entire hike, including water for pets.
- Turn around when your water supply is half gone.
- Be alert for rattlesnakes, especially at night or during cooler temperatures, when the county says they may be more active.
- Plan on 1 to 1.5 miles per hour on most trails, not the 2.5 mph possible on well-maintained trails.
- From May 1 to October 31 the park opens at 5 am, an hour earlier than its 6 am winter opening.
For month-by-month temperatures see Queen Creek weather by month, and for planning around the hot season at home see our Queen Creek summer guide.
6.Camping at Usery Mountain Regional Park
The county describes a campground with water and electrical hookups, a dump station, flush toilets and hot water showers, and a large parking area for RVs up to 45 feet. All individual campsites can be reserved online through the Maricopa County Parks reservation site.
For larger gatherings the park offers two Family Campgrounds by reservation. The group sites are dry camping only, with no RV hookups and a minimum reservation of six units.
On rates, the camping page says camping fees apply and points to the reservation site for current rates. The county fee table lists developed sites at $40.00 from January 1, 2026 and a $10.00 non-refundable reservation fee, but it does not say which Usery sites fall in that tier.
7.Usery archery range and horseback riding
The county calls the Usery archery range the only "Five Star" rated archery range in Arizona, with restrooms and a shaded shooting area. It has nearly 100 targets on six separate courses and hosts over 30 tournaments a year. The daily supply fee is $4.00 as of November 5, 2026, with children under 15 free; range information is at (602) 506-2930 ext. 4.
Riders get a designated horse staging area. County rules bar saddle, pack or draft animals except on designated trails or areas under special permit, so stay on the multi-use routes; the Wind Cave Trail is hike only.
8.Usery park rules checklist before you leave Queen Creek
These come from the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Park Rules, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on August 13, 2003 and revised January 13, 2016, and from the county parks FAQ.
- Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet, with a current dog license.
- No pets inside park buildings, except seeing-eye or hearing guide dogs.
- No drones in the county regional park system. The county FAQ says the Arizona Model Aviators, off Meridian Road at the park’s southeast corner, may allow drone use; contact the club first.
- No glass, ceramic or hard frangible plastic beverage bottles.
- Fires only in designated places.
- No noisy conduct, generators, motors or radios between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Do not damage or remove any tree, shrub, wildflower, cactus or other vegetation without a written permit.
- Stay on the designated trail or walkway between trailheads.
9.Who was Usery, and when did the park open?
The county’s History page says the park is named after King Usery, a local cattleman active in the late 1870s and early 1880s. Pass Mountain, often called "Scarface" locally, is the park’s most recognizable geological feature, with the Superstition Mountains to the east.
Founding dates conflict on the county’s own site: the park page says the park became part of Maricopa County’s regional park system in 1961, while the History page says it was established in 1967. Both are county statements, and neither page explains the difference.
10.Usery, Lost Dutchman or a longer day trip?
Usery is one of several outings east of town. Our Lost Dutchman State Park guide covers the state park near Apache Junction, our day trips from Queen Creek comparison sets the options side by side, and our Saguaro Lake guide covers time on the water. If you are still deciding where to live, our commute guide covers the roads you will use most.