EKKO Rally In The Valley

Usery Mountain Regional Park is located on the east side of Mesa Arizona. Mesa is located in the east side of the Phoenix metropolitan area also known as the Valley.

This park has over 29 miles of trails for hiking (including the Wind Cave hike), biking and horseback riding, an archery range and an RC airfield.

It’s an incredible place to have an EKKO rally! The park is kept in incredible condition, the trails are awesome, the views are spectacular! Plus, every conceivable store and restaurant is nearby yet you still feel like you’re in the middle of the desert with miles of mountains, saguaro cactus, and wildlife.

Getting Here

Google Maps

Park Map

Park Website

Park Check-In & Fees

Dry camping in the group site is $22/night. You will pay this at the ranger station booth upon entry. This includes free access to the park. Since the park is gated after hours, you should receive a gate code to access the park after hours if needed.

Be sure to tell them you are with the EKKO Rally in the Group Site A&B.

There are no separate rally fees other than raffle tickets if you wish to participate.

NOTE: The Group site will not open until 1:00pm on Thursday Feb 15. If you plan to arrive a day or two early, you will need to make reservations in the park as soon as possible. This is the prime season and sites may not be available. If you arrive early in the day on Feb 15th, there is a parking lot next to the ranger station booth where you can wait.

Usery Mountain Regional Park

Located on the Valley’s east side, this 3,648-acre park became part of Maricopa County's regional park system in 1961. The park is set at the western end of the Goldfield Mountains, adjacent to the Tonto National Forest. The park contains a large variety of plants and animals that call the lower Sonoran Desert home. Along the most popular feature of the park, the Wind Cave Trail, water seeps from the roof of the alcove to support hanging gardens of Rock Daisy. The Wind Cave is formed at the boundary between the volcanic tuff and granite on Pass Mountain. Breathtaking views from this 2,840-foot elevation are offered to all visitors.

Group Campsite

The Group Campground A&B have been reserved for the EKKO Rally. Each side has a ramada that is equipped with electricity, water, tables, fire pit, barbecue, and flood lights. The group site also has it's own bath house (showers and toilets).

There are NO electrical or sewer hookups available in the group site, please prepare to boondock.

There is a nearby (walking distance) dump station where you can empty your cassette, dump grey water and refill with water.

Use the east entrance to the Group Site

After you pay your park fees, drive past the entrance to the Buckhorn Campground and continue straight to the 2nd right (McGill Dr.) and the sign that says Group Camp A & B.

If you try to enter from within the Buckhorn Campground, the gate will be closed.

Camp Ground Area Map

Hiking-Wind Cave

If you are looking for an easy, relatively short hike, the Merkle Trail is barrier-free. If you are looking for a long more difficult hike, try the 7.1-mile Pass Mountain Trail. Another visitor favorite is the Wind Cave Trail, that reaches high onto the mountain side and allows hikers onto the adjacent Tonto National Forest.

Hiking Usery

Mountain Biking

The park has over 29 miles of trails for hiking biking. Next to the park sits the Hawes Trail System which has some of the most incredible mountain bike trails in Arizona and beautiful views. This entire area is a hiker/biker paradise, not just mountain bikes, but gravel bikes, ebikes of all kinds, and for the road bikes there are some large road loops that are popular.

Trailforks- Hawes

Archery

The only "Five Star" rated archery range in Arizona. Amenities include restrooms and a shaded shooting area. The range consists of nearly 100 targets on 6 separate courses.

Usery Archery

RC Airfield

The Arizona Model Aviator's flying site has an 800 ft x 85 ft paved runway with 75 ft dirt overruns. It has 250 ft of covered Ramada, a pit area, and ample room for spectator viewing.

Arizona Model Aviators

Shooting Range

The Rio Salado Sportsmans Club is a public range with 48 covered shooting positions, shotgun, smallbore, and pistol range complexes

Rio Salado Sportsmans Club

Outdoor Fitness

Park visitors can exercise under a shaded structure while enjoying the scenic backdrop of the park or enjoy a hike or run along their favorite trail.

Usery Outdoor Fitness

Nature Center

The Nature Center is located at the entrance to the park, prior to reaching the ranger station booth. The Nature Center provides information about the park, wildlife and plants as well as a small gift shop and restrooms.