The current popularity of RV camping has really put a crunch on the ability to schedule a multi-night say anywhere these days. We often have to piece it all together to make a lengthy stay in a single area. Such is the case when planning for our reunion event. We needed 5 nights in a row in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. It seems that wasn't possible, so the patchworking began.
Feb. 2 - First night in the area, Buckeye's Skyline Regional Park.
This is a fairly new park and isn't on a lot of lists for the area. It's an 8,700 acre mountain preserve located in the southern White Tank Mountains. It's situated just outside of Buckeye.
When we arrived we were delightfully surprised to find one of the most spacious campgrounds we've ever seen. Each site is easily 4 times wider than sites are in many other places. There are only a few sites, but most are adequately deep to accommodate even the largest rigs, and the access road is wide enough to make backing in easy.
There are multiple hiking trails, all well marked, and lovely desert scenery too. The park is open for campers, hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Clear signs list special trail instructions for each group in the few areas where it's necessary ( i.e. no horses on the bridge).
In the afternoon we head into Glendale for the "Say Hi before you die" reunion activities (a little dark cop humor there), a 30 minute drive away, leaving the pups to guard the trailer.
This first evening was casual with a delicious spaghetti dinner, time spent getting reacquainted with people we hadn't seen for a year, or more, and an early "to bed" for everyone who had traveled to the event.
One little, very important, detail.... this is a "boondocking" RV parking situation - that is, no power and no water, you'll need to be prepared for that. We're used to coping with cold weather and all the other "opportunities" when we travel, so it's not a problem, but it might be for others. This park has very nice restrooms, but no showers.
No electricity meant no heat all night while we were asleep. We were very comfortable though, having used our propane heater before going to bed.
The dogs however, had a different opinion. "What do you mean we have to go outside? It's cold!"
If you are interested in using the hiking trails be advised, a lot of other people are too! We noticed the parking lot filled to near overflowing very early in the day on Saturday, and mostly cleared out by dusk.
Park entrance is free for day use, and you can rent a campsite via their website. Currently (2024) the price is $20 per night.
Time to move on to another nearby location.
Feb. 3 - So, one night taken care of in Skyline, now we need 4 more. We move to White Tank Mountain Regional Park, space #28 for one night.
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