Queen Creek is small-town Arizona with a lot packed into it. You can pick peaches in the morning, hike a desert mountain by lunch, and end the day with dinner made from olives grown a few miles away. Here is how to make the most of it.
Get outside
San Tan Mountain Regional Park is the local favorite for trails. It has more than eight miles of paths for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, with routes that range from easy strolls to strenuous climbs. Go early in the warmer months and bring more water than you think you need.
Mansel Carter Oasis Park is the other side of outdoor life here. It is a 61-acre community park with a lake, a big playground, a splash pad, basketball and sand volleyball courts, and open fields. The lake is stocked for fishing, so bring a pole (anyone 10 and older needs a fishing license).
Taste the farm life
Queen Creek Olive Mill is Arizona’s only working olive farm and mill. You can tour the groves, see how the oil is made, taste your way through it, and grab a meal at the eatery. It is the kind of place locals bring out-of-town guests to show off.
Schnepf Farms is a fourth-generation family farm that has been here for more than 75 years, and it is the largest organic peach grower in the state. Depending on the season you can pick your own fruit and vegetables, grab a fresh pie from the bakery, and let the kids loose on the farm. It is a Queen Creek institution.
Spend time in town
Founders’ Park, an 11-acre park right across from Town Hall, is the heart of community life and hosts events throughout the year. It is a good place to start if you want to feel the town’s pace.
A note before you go
Hours, U-pick seasons, and event dates change throughout the year, so check each spot’s website before you head out. And if you are looking for a local pro while you are putting down roots here, our member directory is full of trusted Queen Creek businesses.
Queen Creek rewards people who slow down a little. Pick a morning, pick a spot, and go.