The Tastiest Parks in El Paso

Desert Trails Community Park

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"Desert Trails Park is a hidden park within the Sonoma Ranch neighborhood. If you drive too fast you may miss the entrance, which looks like a gated community from the streets. Other than the nice clean pavement trail, the park looks natural and raw with lots of schrubs around. It's great for dog walkers but there are wild animals as the sign illustrates. Once towards the center of the park, you get a beautiful view of Las Cruces on its hill."

John Lyons Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"Teeny tiny thing tucked in a neighborhood. Great for locals to bring their kids to play at the small jungle gym but not much green space for older kids or adults to frisbee or anything else."

Memorial Park

★★★★★ 4.6 (8)

"I think Memorial Park is one of the nicest parks in El Paso. It's always been one of my favorites. I'm surprised I haven't written a review about it! It has a lot of lush green grass and trees, especially during the warmer months. Since El Paso is located in the desert, we don't have too much of that. It's kind of far from my house so I don't come to it that often. If I lived closer, I would definitely walk around and relax. There's also a swimming pool and library. I've never been to either one. Before Covid, I brought my son to a festival at Memorial Park. There was a lot of vendors and children's activities. My son enjoyed it. Memorial Park is also close to the rose garden (another favorite of mine!).This is a nice park to have a gathering with friends and family. One of my friends had a memorial for her son here. She brought food and drinks, along with a singer and butterflies to release. She held the memorial one year after her son passed away. It was a beautiful tribute for him. Memorial Park is also a nice place to take photos since it's so green pretty much all year long. People/photographers come here to take wedding, quinceanera and graduation photos. Check out Memorial Park if you haven't already."

Ascarate Park

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (4)

"I am between a 3 and a 4 for Ascarate Park. This is because I do give credit to the county for keeping a man made lake in west Texas "The desert" that must take some major up keeping, at the same time from the 5 times I have visited I have never successfully fished a fish. I see lots of people trying but never seen anyone successfully doing it. The park is well kept for a county park yet of course there are improvements on sight that can be worked on. The restrooms are okay, not dirty, not porta-potties but not fancy. Im happy there is water and soap to wash your hands and toilet paper of course that's a big plus. Its nice to come here and have a change of view and atmosphere here in El Paso. There is no other place in a 35 mile radius that compares it. I highly recommend for walking and picnics during the fall or spring. Summer is way too Hot. I do think the county should have donation boxes or donation link in their site for future improvements or projects that are not afforded by the county itself. Lots of birds and ducks. Some Green."

Skyline Optimist Youth Park

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (3)

"We were able to use the baseball fields on one side of the park to get a couple scrimmage games in. Decent fields, great views! There was a walking track, open grassy fields, and a couple relatively clean porta johns."

Rio Bosque Wetlands Park

★★★★★ 4.5 (4)

"I've had this bookmarked for years. Literally, years! The longing I had to come here was insufferable. But when I did some research I found out it was bone-dry and had been for years. That really took the fun out of a "bosque" or "wetland". Then, my boyfriend recently attempted to remember the name of a park that just opened up a canal that would filter water into the surrounding canals... could it be, could it really be the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park? It could.There was one thing that we learned from using GPS to get to this secret location... screw GPS! Sure, open it up on your GPS app, but do not follow the directions. It turns out their physical address will not lead you to a road that can be taken by car. The best way I can explain it is to exit Zaragosa (from North Loop), take a right on Panemerican, and take Panemerican all the way down until you pass the canal. There will be a RBWP sign immediately in front of you. We unfortunately followed GPS and wound up trying to navigate a way in ourselves off of dirt roads, eventually we hit the border fence and decided to turn back and somehow stumbled upon a dirt road that lead us to the right place.We try to take our pack of dogs to different places around the city so they can explore and more importantly, get extremely tired and not bother us for the rest of the day. So of course our pack came along for this trip and they absolutely loved it! The paths were all well maintained and even though our dogs hopped off the trails once or twice (which made my heart drop into my butt because I feared they would get bit by a snake... although we didn't see any snakes) they always hopped back on the trail (after being yelled at) unharmed. The entire day we only pulled out a single thorn that our larger dog had the unfortunate luck of meeting while off the trails.I also loved the amount of markers and signage in the area. It made the already interesting hour and a half walk even more enjoyable. After the initial RBWP sign with all the park info, the first sign we came to was The Burrowing Owls sign. We read all the information and I thought aloud "Wouldn't it be cool if we actually got to see the owls?" We hadn't taken ten steps and we immediately saw one sitting on a post. Turns out their burrows were only a few feet behind the sign. Our dogs were oblivious to the owl perched only ten or fifteen feet away, but their noses were going a mile a minute. Luckily, our dogs are good listeners for the most part so we didn't have to worry about them dragging us on a owl hunt (although they seemed more curious, than ready to hunt), but the owl's home isn't that far from the start of the trail so if your dog is a puller be prepared.The markers were a great help and also gave us a good laugh. There are three different major trails: the Rio Trail, Bosque Trail, and Wetlands Trail. Each one is represented, one by a duck, one by a frog, and one by a dragonfly. Even though this is clearly outlined on the sign with all the information about RBWP, we somehow missed that and followed each sign with the anticipation of seeing each creature. This way to the ducks, this way to the frogs, this way to the dragonflies. Somewhere along the way, I actually asked, "Do you want to see ducks or frogs first?" As fate would have it, we actually did see each of these creatures on their respective trails.The Bosque Trail (aka Frog Trail) was the only trail that didn't follow water, but it appeared as though water was slowly trickling to this part of the park so maybe in a few months it will be filled with water. And frogs.The Wetland Trail (aka Duck Trail) was my favorite. Throughout the duration of the trail there are benches in great condition that are shaded under large trees. The whole thing follows a little creek, if you will, that's home to many wild ducks. There are even a couple of spots on the trail where you can cross the creek on a well-designed bridge.And last, but not least... The Rio Trail (aka Dragonfly Trail). This one is immediately to your left at the trail-head. We didn't follow this one completely so we could've missed something totally amazing, but we did stop about fifteen feet into it to take a seat on the bench that was cloaked by a large, yet somehow whimsical tree. It made me feel like I was in a piece of a real life Secret Garden. The dragonflies that were swarming around were some of the prettiest I've ever seen. Although I did see some larger dragonflies, a vast majority of them were these tiny baby blue things, no bigger than my thumb.These canals have just been opened up and are now pumping water, but already they've attracted a large amount of wildlife back to the area! I really think we'll be back multiple times to explore more of the area. And I really can't wait to see this place after a good rain in EP. This is one of the coolest walking trails in El Paso and we need more places like this!"

Sam Graft Park

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"I like this neighborhood park alot. It has very green well watered grass. Covered picnic table and shaded play area. Little walking path with historic signs as well. Great little place to spend a couple hours especially if you have kids."

Ponder Park

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

"At least once a week, my boyfriend and I try to meet up for lunch. Most of the time we pick a restaurant, but there was one week where we were feeling a little adventurous and decided to bring our lunches to a park. The big issue with most city parks here is the lack of shade so I need to cut to this quick letter I may need to send to El Paso Parks & Rec Department...Dear El Paso Parks & Rec Department, I appreciate that El Paso has quite a few city parks... some that have been around for years with trees as tall as buildings, but in recent years it feels as though you all have decided what the bare minimum is to be considered a park. Some sort of activity area (i.e. playground or baseball field), good amounts of grass, sparse amount of trees, and a few benches. I want you to know, El Paso would not be upset if you built a park that didn't have an "activity area" because there are such things as parks for walking, running, and biking... which can also be very enjoyable for children. I would love to see a park with trees galore with a large trail that flows through the interior with benches, tables, and chairs for people to stop and enjoy their time. It's doable. Also, just a heads up for other parks... try to keep playgrounds covered. Those things heat up!Sincerely,FrecklesThis park is alright. It's in extremely close proximity to the always busy Viscount. I kind of wish they had a fence surrounding the park. There was a lot of grass and a few large trees. I didn't notice if there was a playground, but there is a baseball field. From where we were sitting the park seemed quite large so there definitely could be more going on.We settled at a metal table under a structure that provided shade. This benched area didn't seem to be well maintained though and the trashcan was entirely too close to it. I understand why they did that, but I still don't think it was a good idea.I wouldn't recommend this park for someone looking to eat at unless you're bringing a blanket to sit under a tree, but it is a good park for running around or throwing a ball which I did see happening while there. I think this could be a really nice park because it has so much space, it just needs a little TLC."

Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"The National Historic Landmark status is a good step for this piece of our history.. If you are to drive there and see a group of worn out building and a large parade ground. It has a minimum of maintenance to barely keep it alive. That said, if you can schedule yourself to come on Bayard Days in September you are in for a real treat. The historical society puts on an annual event that really brings all the history to life. They bring n school children by the bus loads and have costumed actors telling about the events of the time when the Fort was in use. I was there for this last year and I believe this recreation of history is a wonderful model that is an example for other historical societies to follow. There is a walking tour with signs about the yard for you to follow anytime.There is a one building museum that is open on Bayard Days. Call the Historical society for details and tours."

Klein Park

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"Great park. Always clean and well maintained. Playground equipment is in very good condition too. Lots of huge mature shade trees, benches picnic tables and a nice, small amphitheater. Wheelchair accessible. Klein is directly across the street from the best local coffeehouse, Becks. Next door to Becks is the historic building housing La Nueva Casita cafe. You could spend an entire afternoon here, lunch at LNC, enjoy the park and have some ice cream or a yummy baked item at Becks before you head home!"

Vista Del Valle Park

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"I absolutely love this park. The neighborhood is quiet and friendly. I've been here early mornings to evenings and it's a great place to be. It's one of the most green parks I've seen actually. Lol. They have walk paths for joggers, walkers, and to walk your furry friend. :) Which btw, they've marked certain areas of the pavement showing mile marks. Awesome!The park consists of spacious grassy areas and trash bins across the place. It's well maintained and they provide doggy bags too. People park either on the curb or near the library, which is located on the end of the park. The only down side is that it's barely lit at night and the only restroom is one Porta potty. The most lit part of the park is the children's playground, which is great but I wish there was more lighting. Besides the wonderful green pastures and playground, there's a volleyball and basketball court. They have a few benches and many trees, so there is shade. But I prefer to bring a mat and enjoy the scenery. :) there's always people of all ages here and there's always a soccer or football game."

White Sands National Park

★★★★★ 4.8 (524)

"Whites Sands should be on everyone's bucket list. Just about 45 minute drive northeast from Las Cruces. We were able to rent a sled and sled down some dunes. The area was vast so we found our own area away from other visitors. The sand is cold to the touch even though the air temperature was warming up. Entrance to the park was $25 (exact change or card only). It was fun playing there. They had shaded picnic tables so bring food and drinks. Enjoy!!"

Hueco Tanks State Historic Site

★★★★☆ 4.2 (39)

"After living in El Paso for 5 years, it was my first time visiting Hueco Tanks today. I now regret that I didn't visit here sooner. We were looking for a place to go hiking today and decided to come out to Hueco tanks. When we got there, it was around 9:55am and there were 4 cars in line waiting. Yes, apparently you need to make a reservation or else you'll have to wait in line. Luckily, after waiting for 40min, the park ranger asked us if we were interested in joining their guided hike. It was $2 more so we said YES and finally went inside. The guided tour was FANTASTIC. It was about 2.5 hours and you get to see areas that you can't normally go if you're not with a guide. You get to learn a lot about the history of Indians and see historical sites etc. I can't believe it was only $2. Our guide said you can check Hueco Tanks FB page to look for more tours. Apparently they have so many different kinds of tours - I'm really interested in the Jan 1st "First Hike". FYI, reservation office is open only on weekdays so you should plan ahead."

City of El Paso Park

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"An urban city park on Pollard Street east of Dyer Street. The glassy part in the middle is maintained fairly well though I'm sure it's a certain challenge to keep grass going in this arid environment in El Paso. Other parts with rock gardens and trees and shrubs could use some more care. There's a playground area under covering and a swing set right beside it. I can imagine the metal or even plastic parts get pretty hot during hot days of summer even under the cover.There's also a Veterans' Memorial in the middle section of this park providing some seating and well-maintained rock garden area with flag poles. According to the plaque there, it was dedicated in 2005. What attracts me the most to come here on a regular basis is an approximately 1/4 mile paved running/walking track encompassing the entire park. I encounter some regular walkers especially with their pets depending on the time of the day when I come here. The only downside I can think of is the fact most of the pet owners who come here do not pick up after their pets. There are at least three pet bag stations around the track, so I really don't understand why this is happening IMHO. Sometimes the track is littered with feces making walking experience rather unpleasant and somewhat treacherous. To make the matter worse, it's not only the track, but also the lawn area is littered with droppings making dangerous for children to freely run through the grassy area. It is just too bad."

Bulldog Championship Park

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"This is a very nice little park! We were glad to find this hidden gem in Socorro. It is not open all day like splash parks in the city of El Paso, but there are other things to do while you wait. The grounds are well kept, there are bathrooms, water fountains, lots of benches and plenty of shade in the areas near the splash pad. Worth the visit."

Murchison Rogers Park

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Park at the MoonThis "park" is essentially the peak of the El Paso Scenic Drive and the main viewing area to take in the spectacular views of both El Paso and Juárez, Mexico. There's ten "normal" parking spots and one handicapped spot. I'm not sure if these ever get filled up at certain times of the year, but on our visit (late Dec), there was plenty of parking. Be respectful of the houses surrounding the area and don't trash the place, as others have already clearly done. Also, be aware that this section of road is closed to vehicle traffic on Sundays and is a pedestrian corridor only. It's definitely worth a stop if you're visiting or even just passing thru El Paso, as the whole thing can be seen in under 30 minutes."

Gough Park

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This park is nicely located near downtown! Very clean paths are nice to ride bikes or walk for babies! Loved it!"

Jason Jiron Park

★★★☆☆ 3 (3)

"Nestled on 3 Crosses Ave., this small park provides a handful of picnic tables, a good-sized field for volleyball or practice for kids' sports, a basketball court with hoops at 3 different heights, and a playground. My son enjoyed having the playground to himself which isn't something that usually happens at noon on a weekday. If you want to take the occasional time off from mingling with the other parents during playtime, this is a nice place to relax & enjoy...."

Lomas Del Sol Park

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This park is a good little neighborhood park if you leave in the area near the street Parque Del Sol! It is not the BIGGEST park but it does have a lot to offer whether you want to play at the park or you want to play Pokémon Go. When it comes to the park itself, there is a big patch of grass which is perfect for some football or soccer. There is a small playground as well! There are no picnic tables to have lunch but if you layout a good blanket, a picnic in the grass is always good! Now when it comes to Pokémon Go, they do have two pokestops! This park also seems to be a good spawn point for Pokémon because anytime I am there, a TON of Pokémon pop up! It's a good little park and I am glad we have in in the neighborhood!"

Four Hills Park

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"Four Hills Park is a hidden neighborhood park that is surrounded by the backyards of neighboring homes. It's small and reclusive, esp. down on a hill. There are a few picnic tables and benches. If you want a playground, Sunset Hill Park is just across the street."

Keystone Heritage Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (11)

"We had our wedding here. It was lovely, and the wedding coordinator was great in working with us on the price and our schedule. There was plenty of space for about 100 people and we had the ceremony in front of the fountain, with the dinner and dancing under the gazebo. Excellent price and if you want an outdoor venue with AC in the restroom, this is your place! You can drink alcohol as security is included in the rental price for a wedding w/reception. There's a back gate where catering can be delivered. Clean up is your responsibility but with planning it's no big deal. I love El Paso and this is about as natural desert a setting as you can get and still be a garden. The gardens are beautiful in spring! Go check it out on a weekend or have an event here, you'll like it."

Hidden Valley Park aka Cowboy Park

★★★★☆ 3.9 (7)

"This is a cute little park. It also has basketball courts and swings. I like how the playground has a canopy over it for shade and there is plenty of seating around the playground. The park is clean and not dirty at all."

Big Ditch Riverwalk Park

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Along the creek in old down town Silver City is a wonderful, peaceful, shady, series of benches, stairs and walkways along the creek. With several bridges it is easily accessible from either side of the creek and is a nice escape, especially on a warm afternoon. Sometime it is a great place to read undisturbed. Sometimes it is the site of a roaring creek. Come on over and take a walk, it is always pleasing!"

Penny Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (7)

"This is one of the best parks I've been to. The only issue was the dude with a golf club, shirtless, stumbling around the park, possibly high on drugs. A police officer showed up a few minutes later to investigate, which was reassuring.But the park was filled with kids, playing together. They had obstacles, swings, jungle gyms, rock walls, giant slides and a whole bunch of other stuff too.They also had men and women's bathrooms and picnic tables with shade / covering."

Franklin Mountains State Park

★★★★★ 4.5 (47)

"Absolutely gorgeous mountain range. They offer primitive camping, hiking, biking, and more! There's a lot of little secret spots like abandoned mine shafts and some really cool history and legends! I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent here. It was nice to see the sunset in a semi secluded area away from the city. The nice breeze on a summer night just makes the ambiance of looking into the distance that much better."

Nations Tobin Park

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (4)

"One of the nicest parks in the northeast and definitely has to be one of the biggest in the city. I love bringing my dogs here, the running path is a favorite. The park is very well kept, lawn and trash wise. The rec center is full of activities and services to the community. The pool here is great in the summer, cheap and even has a slide!"

Horizon Mesa Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Was really impressed. I didn't know this park was here for a long time, and found it by accident (I live on the other side of Eastlake). Glad we did. The playground is covered!! This is a huge deal for me, because it is hot as hell (literally) for several months out of the year. Being so hot, the kids can't even play on the playground during several months of out the year without the risk of being burnt by the hot plastic and metal. So having a covered park really pays off during this time. There is a basketball court as well. It is a half-court with only one goal, but it would suffice for a friendly game of pick-up. There are 2 fairly large open spaces here at the park as well. and there is GRASS!! haha. Great for picnics, or flying a kit (if the wind will cooperate.)Overall, this is a really nice public park. You could easily make a nice morning or afternoon with the family here."

Marty Robbins Park

★★★☆☆ 3 (8)

"I grew up coming to Marty Robbins Park back in the 90's. I remember coming to the pool with my friends and playing on the swings. I was always waiting for the ice cream man, too! I remember running and walking here. It's close to my parent's house. It looks pretty much the same but... they remodeled the pool and recreation center in recent years. They also added the splash pad. I brought my son to it pretty often. Unfortunately, I think parts of the park were or are closed at this time due to Covid-19.I know the recreation center is open because I came to vote here the other day. I was the only person that went to vote at that time. Not much else to say about this park...Well it was named after the singer that sang "El Paso." The song won a Grammy back in 1959. Here's the song in case you're interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWm5WErkffQ What do you think of it?"

Ascarase Aquatic Center

★★★☆☆ 3 (1)

"Located in Ascarate Park the Ascarate Aquatic Center has a 50-meter Olympic size outdoor competition pool. It is one of the few Olympic-size competition pools in El Paso County. The pool offers basic amenities and basic " meh " changing rooms. The aquatic center also contains a small pool for children, a large slide, as well as two children's slides. The aquatic center also has an enclosed picnic area with BBQ grills which are shaded by tents as well as having two regulation sized volleyball courts, one sand and one grass.The area is available to the public as well as for party rentals. The pool is suitable for competitive swim events and is centrally located within the park which makes it an attractive facility to schedule and host events.HOURS OF OPERATION*:All County Pools will open beginning Saturday, May 27, 2023.May 27 - June11Saturday & Sunday ONLY12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.June 13 - September 2Tuesday - Sunday (Closed Mondays)12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.OPEN Memorial Day - May 29, 2023Labor Day - September 2, 2023*POOL HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE"

Aguirre Springs National Recreation Area

★★★★☆ 4.4 (18)

"!!!IMPORTANT!!!I have not been here so this really isn't a review. But I felt it worth mentioning that I did check the website and called the ranger station about this campground. It does not mention this on the web site but there is no electricity here and much, much more importantly there is NO WATER at this site!!! If you go here you will NEED to pack in all your drinking water. They do have pit toilets though."

Young Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (18)

"My husband and I love visiting this park when we are in the Las Cruces area. Plenty of space to walk around and admire the beautiful Organ Mountains and scenic landscape. There are so many different species of ducks swimming around in the pond. There's even a great spec for kids to play on the playground. The walkways are lined with lovely palm trees and pecan trees."

Frenger Park

★★★☆☆ 3 (1)

"Frenger Park is a huge meadow park that's great for soccer, running and dog walks. There are a couple of tennis courts by the small playground. Other than a couple of benches, there are no picnic areas on the side I walked on. It's just a park with the basics."

White Spur Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9)

"This playground is pretty cool. Thank you yelp for this great find! I took my daughter here and she had a blast. The best part, that its FREE! There is plenty places to sit and shaded areas. I like how they have the decor like castles and dragons and even a toddler area. It is near a railroad track, so it was pretty cool for my daughter to see the train go by."

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

★★★★★ 4.9 (50)

"Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is about 44 miles away from Silver City which may take you closer to 2 hours to get there. My husband, our little girl dog and I decided to drive out to this national monument on a Wednesday afternoon. We parked in the small lot and walked over to the bridge to talk to the ranger to see what the options were for hiking. Although previous Yelp members had previously mentioned that there was a fee, we were not charged a fee on this visit (not too sure if this is due to the pandemic?).Anyways, one of the rangers we spoke to had informed us that the main hiking path that goes directly up to the cliff dwellings is about a 1.1 mile loop (generally moderate) and can take an hour to an hour and a half but it may be longer depending on how long we decide to spend taking photos. The ranger also informed us that only service dogs are allowed on this trail and said that we were welcomed to use one of the 4 kennels below the bridge (which does have water bowls) if we want. The ranger also told us that there is another trail called the Grudging Grave that is a 2 mile hike that is moderate that is dog friendly.I wasn't too keen on having our little girl locked up in a kennel while we hike and also because there were 2 large dogs in separate kennels barking their heads off for their owners, we decided to take turns hiking the trail. I am one of those people who treat their dogs like their own children and I just don't think she would have liked being stuck under the bridge hearing those other dogs howling and barking the whole time we were gone. So, my husband went first to hike the trail (he is a much faster hiker than me) while I stayed with our little girl and did a little hiking of the other trail on our own. Later on when my husband came back, I went up and hiked by myself. The hike itself isn't too bad but you definitely want to wear good sturdy shoes since you are walking on rocks and hiking uphill. There is a good amount of shade on the trail but you definitely want to wear sunblock and wear a large brim hat to cover your face. And while you are at it, bring plenty of water for your hike.The cliff dwellings (or caves) are really cool to see once you make you way up to it. But you are only able to go to the base of the dwellings but not higher since it is blocked off by a rope and a sign telling hikers not to enter. That is too bad because it looks really interesting and would have liked to see more of the caves up there. It is really impressive to build an undergrown home that helps to provide shelter from the wind, rain and heat. If you are an avid hiker, I think it may be worth a visit to this national monument.Please note that this national monument is open between 9 am to 4 pm with 3:30 pm being the last allowed entry and visitors will have until 5 pm to exit the area before the gates close. There are also porta potties here in case you need to use them. Oh, and if you need to throw away trash, because this site does not have trash service, you will to take any trash you have out with you (which includes dog poop if you dog has to go. Sadly we saw some dog poop on the dog friendly trail that was not picked up and some that were in poop bags but not taken out with those people who visited)."

Bartlett Park

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This is a new up and coming park where a lot of new things have been added in the past few months! They have a huge playground that is pretty new, I believe there is a basketball court or some sort of court (or one in the works) and there is a lot of grass to play various sports or activities! It's a great park! It's also a good park if you play Pokémon Go as it as a gym!"