Slide Rock Route

Slide Rock is one of those places where the hike is almost secondary to the whole experience - and we mean that in the best way. The trail is short and easy, looping through the park along Oak Creek with these massive red and orange canyon walls towering above you on both sides.

We started at the old Pendley Homestead apple orchard, which is a cool piece of history. The orchard is still there and in the fall you can actually pick apples. Walking through it with the red rocks as a backdrop felt surreal. From there the trail follows the creek downstream past some gorgeous swimming holes.

The main attraction is obviously the natural rock waterslide - a stretch of smooth, algae-slicked sandstone where Oak Creek flows over a natural chute. We watched people sliding down it for a good 20 minutes before trying it ourselves. It's genuinely fun and the water is refreshingly cold on a hot Arizona day.

The trail itself is flat and well-maintained. You're walking through cottonwood trees along the creek with constant views of the canyon walls. It's not a workout by any stretch, but it's beautiful and relaxing. We loved just sitting on the rocks by the creek and taking it all in.

Fair warning - this place gets absolutely packed in summer, especially on weekends. The park actually closes when the parking lot fills up, so arrive early. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle which feels steep, but the setting is worth it. We'd recommend this as a half-day thing - hike the trail, spend some time at the waterslide, and bring a picnic to enjoy by the creek.