Park Avenue Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The sandy wash at the bottom can flash flood during summer monsoon season (July through September) — check weather forecasts and skip this trail if thunderstorms are anywhere in the region.
There is virtually no shade once the sun clears the canyon walls, and summer temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees — carry water even for this short hike and avoid midday in June through August.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Arrange a car shuttle by dropping one vehicle at the Courthouse Towers viewpoint parking area at the bottom — this turns a there-and-back into a one-mile downhill stroll instead of a two-mile round trip with an uphill return.
Hit the trail in late afternoon when the western sun lights up the east-facing walls in deep orange and red — morning light leaves much of the canyon in shadow, which is cooler but far less dramatic for photos.
Most visitors stop at the obvious viewpoints along the wash, but look up and behind you frequently — the Three Gossips formation is best appreciated from partway down the trail looking back toward the trailhead.
