Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch Reviews

This is a great place to go for a walk and see some wildlife. Lots of ducks, geese, cranes etc. Lots of rabbits too. If you have young kids they will love it. I️ would go back for a run there also. Lots of trails.

I love the scenery and the dogs love to walk all the different paths. I have taken some breathtaking pixtures here. Bring a leash - this is not a dog park.

Great waking trails. Lots of birds and wildlife, especially waterfowl. Park at the park or at the library next door. This is one of the best confluences of nature and recreation that I’ve ever seen. Neither seems to interfere with the other

Lots to see they have 7 ponds with lots of different birds and turtles. Lots of walking paths, there is a observatory and also a children’s dinosaur dig area. They also have sitting areas and picnic areas

Our daughter(s) and their families visited last winter, and we took the grandkids to the Preserve for their first fishing experience. The day was sunny, in the 60's and the Preserve was beautiful and pristine. The youngest grand-daughter (7) caught her fish ever. A small Sunfish, which we told her she had to put him back in the lake.
It still created a lot of excitement for her, while the adults, just sat and enjoyed a beautiful day at the lake, just minutes from our Arizona home. They're from Chicago, so this was a big treat for them in January.

My wife and I walked here one morning in December. What a great place!! Walking thru there you would never think you were in Arizona. Rabbits everywhere and ducks. Can’t wait to go back!!

My granddaughter and I would visit the Preserve every Tuesday. We walked around the lake and she enjoyed seeing the ducks and turtles. We enjoyed our time together.

Spectacular park for hiking, birdwatching and spending time with friends. We went mostly for birdwatching and we were not disappointed. There are so many ponds and small lakes. You can see a lot of bird species in the middle of an urban area.

Nice atmosphere. We saw rabbits, coyote, owls, and of course ducks on the reclaimed water lake. Plenty of places to sit and rest or take pictures.

This is a well maintained urban lake, one of the larger ones in the valley. You’ll need an urban fishing license if over age 9. You can get this online. If your planning to fish outside of the metro area you can also use the general license. When acquired the license is good for a full year (365 days)

We enjoyed this area very much. So many pretty birds. Do know that if parking lot is full, you can park at the neighboring library and enter from there. The parking lot was full on a Tuesday morning at 10.

This place is a must if you love nature! The water area is beautiful, with lots of birds and ducks. The trails go on forever and bunnies,quail and hummingbirds galore! We really enjoyed it. Plenty of places to rest too.

We love to walk through the preserve or have a picnic. The library is very close & they have a cute park, for thes children to play in.

My new favorite park. As a Florida native, this park made me feel at home! The wildlife and the pond life was awesome to see. Families were having photo shoots everywhere, the trails were easy. Definitely planning to go here regularly.

Many trails to stroll around beautiful water reclamation ponds. Wildlife galore, including numerous species of birds. Well worth a visit.

Lovely place to take a walk, bird or nature watch or just sit and enjoy. Lovely desert garden.
Lots of Moms and kids enjoying as well. Great for all ages.

We love this place and have visited it twice. Spending over 4 hours each time.
Lots of wildlife to see. It's so peaceful and relaxing.

With a group of like minded hikers and led by an Audubon Society birding guide, I was able to learn about the birds, environment and habitat of this area. What an educational and delightful experience. Although the weather was not wonderful, we all enjoyed this mile long wander along paths, around lakes and ponds, within marsh areas. Seeing interesting and vivid birds in their natural habitats and learning about them, all the while being surrounded by this lovely park, was one of the best "hikes" I've ever had the opportunity of taking even though I usually like more strenuous ones. Young children in strollers with their parents, young and older people with their fur babies, people of all ages walking or running through the well cared for paths makes for a great community space.

Looked at a few walking trails near Mesa, several along canals - which seemed appealing. But they were generally along roads, malls etc with lots of concrete. This was really exquisite, multiple linked trails around ponds (basins). Tons of birds and birders. Level ground, well maintained trails, informative signposts. Great for a few hours outdoors.

Start with the 'sun' exhibit in the central park; then as you walk the delightful pathways thru vegetation and along the ponds, there are plaques that tell you 'you have reached Venus' or another planet distant from the sun. There is also a dinosaur dig for the kids (well..I enjoyed digging too) It is basically a sandbox where you dig through the sand to uncover plaster 'bones' ...they ask you to rehide your discovered 'bones' before you leave.

We liked this place so much we went twice during our Phoenix visit. It consists of 6 ponds with trails around and connecting them. For a birder it is fantastic. I id’d over 50 species. I never realized that I could see so many waterbirds in a desert area.

But this park has many uses. Walkers and joggers were in abundance. There was a playground, too.

Also good place for wheelchairs.

My family and I have been visiting the Riparian Preserve for the last three years and we were incredibly surprised by the lush beauty of this park. There's a play area and a multiage/multitude space constructed out of concrete for children to climb, crawl through and walk around. A manual water pump provides children with tactile stimulation and gives them a sense of "work."

There's gorgeous lakes and birds galore go observe and listen to calling at sunset. A small observatory is also on the grounds and opens every now and then for the public to observe planets in the night sky.

There is an abundance of space and trails to enjoy ok foot or by bike. I can't recommend the park enough for residents of Phoenix area and visitors alike. It will surely become one of your favorite spots in the valley.

On our most recent semi-annual trip to Phoenix, we took our grandson to the Preserve. We've been there a number of times before and have always enjoyed it. But, this time was a bit different. We took with us some birdseed to feed the ducks on the pond. A whole new experience. There was a feeding frenzy as the ducks vied with each other to get the seed. It was terrific. And our grandson loved feeding the ducks. We did hike some of the trails and as usual, great hike. We'll be back.

This location as free on site parking that is first come first served. The ground you walk on is either paved or gravely but flat. There are picnic areas, bathrooms, and trails to follow. The water brings in all sort of bird life to view while walking. You can bring your dogs and walk with them on a leash. Beautiful shaded area to enjoy all year round.

just make sure it is mid winter so you dont fry walking around the lake... but it is the end of august and i am ready for winter. if you want to be tough it will be cool anytime of the year. lots of ducks and fishing

We loved visiting the Riparian preserve. We enjoyed a wonderful walk while we were there. It was very educational, too.

Don't recommend it in the heat of the summer.

And - it's free.

My son in law recently took me here to walk with his dogs. The parking is kind of iffy but we did find that you can park in the library lot and have access to a couple entrances. The place is beautiful and very well kept. We saw a lot of families with young children and older children. Everyone seemed to be enjoying all the amenities such as fishing and hiking the trails. Gilbert has done a tremendous job with this preserve and they should be extremely proud. We will be back again and again whenever I come to visit.

A nice path around a fishing lake for a peaceful walk. Then explore the paths around the managed lowland swamps to view the birds and wildlife.

This place is great for kids, has several ponds, lots of wildlife, and it links to a walkway for the public library. There is a playground for kids and a "dino dig" area...but I think we are never there at the times they do the dino dig. You can fish in one of the lakes and there are informative plaques about all the animals and goings on within the reserve.

My husband and I came here one morning, spending about two hours walking the paths. If you enjoy nature, plants and animal life, you will love it here. It is well manicured, and allows you to walk off the main pathways to investigate further. The animal and bird life it so exciting! We had the best time. There were a couple of school groups here, mothers playing with their kids, and other locals walking around. It is quite large so it didn't feel crowded. It is a great way to show respect to nature while enjoying it.

It was a relaxing walk along paths and lake perimeter. Natural habitat for rabbits, waterfowl, etc.
Perfect day and a picnic lunch would have been enjoyable.

This is a nice oasis in the middle of a community. Lots of birds, rabbits, fish, plants, informative boards and people to see, watch and learn about here. Nice grounds, well kept-but not overly groomed, stone pathways through most of the preserve, asphalt, otherwise. There is a nice, large fishing/observation pier out over plenty of water. Several inlets where you can step over and absorb a scenic view of water or land or boggy region teeming with birds.
It was very clean with many garbage/recycling cans, it may actually have a shortage of parking.
Try parking in the library parking lot if the main lot is full.
Enjoy, we did several 1 hour walks throughout the reserve.

We had a very nice walk around the lake. Lots of animals and plants to see. There is also a telescope there but it was closed the day we visited.

Great weather in February to enjoy Phoenix sunshine and this preserve. There are great facilities for families with sandpit and playgrounds. There are large grassed areas to throw a frisbee around. Lovely shaded picnic tables and clearly marked walks around the water area. Wonderful range of bird life to see and some rabbits. A great place to enjoy an unhurried picnic.

I love this place. It's. A great place to get in touch with nature and yourself. Many people come here so it is busy. You can enjoy water front, large cactus, Desert scape, an observatory, play areas and more

Great little treasure to walk, picnic, play with the kids. Public washrooms available. Take organic oatmeal to feed the ducks! If you’re lucky you will also see turtles.

This is a wonderful place with a wide variety of amenities for anyone to enjoy! I went on a recent visit mostly to do some bird watching but it also is a great place for a nature walk or for a family outing with kids. The trails are clearly marked and well-maintained. Clear maps. Really great birding site. Looks like they also have a nice offering of tours and informational sessions. I would absolutely recommend Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch for anyone visiting the greater Phoenix area.

Always enjoy this walk. Plenty to see. Never crowded. A little gem close to downtown Gilbert with plenty of parking.

Pond with ducks, turtles......bring appropiate food for them. Nice desert plants and wonderful for kids to hike and discover Dinosaurs. Fun play area. Can also spend time at the library next door.

What a gem the Riparian is! Several paths to take either on foot, bike or horseback. The wildlife at the Riparian is abundant. Very peaceful place to be.

Wide variety of trails, surrounded by the preservation of water the park has. Wonderful areas to sit and view nature, incredible bird watching and photo opportunities. I love this place, it's become a sanctuary of peace when my mind needs to unwind. I bring my dogs all the time with me, they love saying hello to all the other dogs and seeing the ducks.

The Riparian preserve is an excellent place to visit if you enjoy bird watching. There are many species of birds and many nest in the preserve. If you want to now which is which you ask someone with binoculars and a camera. There's also some easy hiking with kids or the family dog and if you're a runner the trails are available for a nice run. The preserve also has fishing. You can find bass, blue gill, catfish and trout. However you will need an Arizona fishing license and need to check the regulations posted for the preserve.
There are a couple of armadas to sit under and have lunch as well as bathrooms nearby. You can check the town of Gilbert website for activities that go on during the year. Regardless of when you visit....it is important that you bring plenty of water. Enjoy

Saw bunnies and lots of birds. Level walking area. Some gravel. Walk circles a pond. Great for birders and camera buffs.

Great for observing birds. Make it a short or long stretch, well worth it. Especially with kids! Enough shady spots to be comfortable. Wear closed toe shoes and bring a camera...

I spent a morning walking throughout the preserve. The trails are well maintained and numerous map signs help keep anyone from getting turned around. If you are a bird watcher at all, this is the place for you. As someone from back east, I found all the fauna fascinating. Very enjoyable place to get in some steps.

We had a free afternoon during our visit to Phoenix, and one of our party had flagged this preserve as possibly being worthy of a couple of hours time. We found it to be a beautiful setting, and spent about an hour walking around the main pond, and a little ways into the small pond area as well. We encountered many birds up close and personal, including mockingbirds, ducks and many other types of waterfowl. The winding paths are covered with fine gravel and easy to walk on, and the way that they wind through the various groups of bushes and ponds made the entire visit a true delight. Highly recommended, for all ages. Yes, there are even some play areas for children on the grounds, and it appears that they offer programs for groups of young people who are brought to the park for visits.

Well kept and nicely appointed, this park has something for everyone! Bird watchers will love all the benches and signs. Children will love the playgrounds and Dino dig. Gazebos with tables for picnics. Lakes for fishing or duck/bird watching. Great walking paths. Nicely kept restrooms. Plenty of free parking too!

Lots to see and especially all of the natural vegetation and wild birds of Arizona. Also neat to interact with the fishermen and watch all of the geese.

We decided to walk the trail and was very pleased with the cleanliness,saw all those baby rabbits ( Happy Easter!) and lots of ducks ,birds and some fishing areas.The parking was a bit small though theres some available near it,you can't park on the streets.

There is not much more to say than it is an area of fields, some under water and some not. Plenty of rabbits and some ducks.

my husband and I loved to hike here esp on weekends.Just beautiful!we bring food to feed the ducks and u also have the chance to go fishing if u like.The trail can be describe as easy,Ive seen kids and elderly there too.Very nice spot to take family pictures ,as the place is properly taken care of.

The ducks love eating whole wheat Cheerios! There are so many, and well behaved too. So, be kind to our fine feathered friends. Little Rae loved all the different kinds!

Great open park with structures that kids can use their imagination with! Picnic tables right there- open fields and unique play structures , even a pond with fishing and tons of ducks!

Ahh! Although the riparian preserve is nestled directly off a busy intersection in Gilbert, Arizona, when I leave my car, my transition to nature’s tranquility is immediate. People are there. The Southwest Regional Library is there. Children fishing are there. Yet, I am there to lose myself in nature. I walk the path, I see and hear many ducks, I see colorful birds in the trees, and I focus on my own inner thoughts. It is possible to wander several different trails. If one goes early enough, it is possible to watch the sun rise. Or later, the sun set. For a few quiet minutes away from the bustle, the riparian preserve is nearby, free, and easily accessible. Ahh!

A few events here at various holidays. Near the library too. Paved walk ways. Nice little private coves in the weeds where you can sit and fish with Junior. Some wildlife, birds, picnicking, and lots of fresh air. A safe place. Bring a book and relax.

Wonderful peaceful place. Good to bring pets, children, elderly. Nice walking path. Location to picnic with family.

My family and I had a good time at The riparian Preserve. It was definitely a lot of walking, but it was very beautiful and I am excited to go back and see what it looks like in different times of the year.

The Riparian Preserve is a wonderful place to explore and watch nature. I enjoyed seeing the ducks, birds and rabbits. I'm not sure how enjoyable this place is in the summer because of the heat. You can park at the library next door if the small parking lot of the preserve is full.

This is a beautiful, peaceful place to go for a relaxing walk. Weather you go alone, with a friend or loved one, or with the whole family, there is something for everyone to enjoy here. The kids will enjoy looking at the ducks and playing in the dino dig. There is even an observatory open some evenings. One of my favorite places!

My friends and I have visited this beautiful park several times now. It's one of our favorites to go to. We took our Senior Prom pictures here back in 2016 and ever since we have been coming back. It's a beautiful place to not only take pictures but to just go out for a walk and enjoy nature and its inhabitants.

What a lovely, interesting place to walk. A lake teeming with wildlife, streams, and even an observatory. Check out the agenda for times of special events. Great for all ages!

We visited on a sunny holiday in February. The weather and the free time brought a LOT of people out to the park.

We had to park in the secondary lot (adjacent to the library) as the first lot we tried was full.

The park, which we probably did not fully explore, is built around 5 - 6 large ponds. Each one is a magnet for birds of all types. I saw a number of photographers with huge lenses prowling around looking for shots.

There are well-marked dirt trails that wind in between the ponds, which are also largely bordered by large bushes and trees. Hence, you get the feeling of being much more isolated from civilization than you actually are (which can be nice).

Other amenities included some playgrounds for the kids, at least one boardwalk across part of a pond, restrooms, and even a small observatory.

If you just want to do a short nature-walk or if you are into birdwatching, this could be a nice place to spend an hour or so.

We found the Preserve during a search and had to check it out. So glad we did. A very nice place to walk. Cement walks as well as dirt paths. Nice bathrooms available. There’s a bridge where we enjoyed watching turtles in the water. Just a very nice place to go enjoy nature. Highly recommend it

I love doing nature photography and as a first time visitor to Arizona, I was looking forward to seeing some new birds. With camera ready, I headed to the park and was totally surprised. I was first amazed at how large the preserve was, but even more amazed that it was all free. My next surprise was seeing and photographing for the first time Ring Necked Ducks. There were at least a couple hundred on the first pond. The place was loaded with song birds, waders and Cotton Tail rabbits. And there were several species of humming birds in the wild. No feeders to get in the way. I highly recomend this wonderful park to anyone in the Metro Phoenix area.

The Riparian Preserve is next to the Gilbert Library. We walk our sheepdog in this natural habitat weekly. We see rabbits and lots of birds here plus large trees; there is a lake with ducks and fishing too!

We had a group come across the valley to see this place, and it was a really nice surprise. We had a naturalist show us around about a mile trail, and she even handed out high-quality binoculars to view the very varied bird life. All free. Interesting. Heard it is extremely crowded on weekends.

A lovely place for a walk and to see many birds. A beautiful little oasis you do not expect to find in the middle of a big city in the desert. Great place for all ages and is dog friendly as well. It's also free.

Several trails. lots of birds, rabbits, squirrels and dogs on leashes. You can do a little fishing or just hike several trails. Nice early morning or evening walk.

A nice mix of botanical and wildlife. There is a path throughout the park which is not too long and not too short. There is a playground for the kids, ducks to feed, and covered picnic tables to have lunch. There are bathrooms available near the front of the preserve. You can fish in the pond, feed the ducks or just go for a stroll. I have been there several times with my family.

The Riparian Preserve is a hidden gem in the middle of Gilbert. Early morning and dusk are lovely times to go and walk the paths and enjoy the desert landscape, wild bunnies and the serene water views of the lake. It is such a peaceful escape in the middle of a bustling area but with the quiet of a park. The Gilbert Library is within the same block and also worth visiting. Many photography sessions take place here due to its simple beauty. I recommend a visit if you are in the area for a quiet reprieve and the desert wildlife and vegetation.

Every time we visit Gilbert we take a walk around the Riparian. It’s always so tranquil and even on hot days there’s shaded parts on the paths.

First, the trails are beautiful and the wildlife is amazing for anyone who wants to go with their family and have a nice evening.

Complaint:
It seems to be a growing issue in this area with dog walkers who let their dogs do their thing and then the owner doesn't cleanup. There are many animals in this area and overall it is beautiful but I saw multiple owners look around not thinking anyone was looking and walk away without cleaning up after their dogs. There are a few choice areas in the park that smell more like fecal matter with visible dog poop than other areas.

The Riparian preserve! Don't expect to find huge playgrounds or baseball fields here. This a wonderful place for families to learn a little about our local natural habitat, great for bird watching and teaching little ones about hiking. I love it here! It's a neat little getaway to just listen to sounds and watch the beauty

Visited in February. Nice pretty park with walking trails. Many nature photographers enjoying the birds. Kids loved the bunny rabbits here and there. Walking is easy and
pleasant. Can't speak for the Summer, though. It might be too hot.

We visit the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch every winter we are in the Phoenix area. Numerous species of ducks can be viewed as well as Burrowing Owls, hummingbirds and some geese.

The ponds vary in depth and some of the outlying ponds, beyond the concrete walkways, can attract less frequently seen species.

Over the last years, the areas around the reserve have become much more developed, but I have not noticed a drop-off in the variety of species.

Excellent place to walk, jog, fish, birdwatcher, visit. Very limited parking, but usually can find a place to park at the library on the corner of Guadeloupe and Greenfield. It was very busy on a Saturday after 3 days of rain, but still wonderful.
I will come back here next trip to Chandler. There is even some limited camping inside the Preserve.

Great place for a nature walk- along the water in Arizona. Series of ponds-some paths paved or gravel. Easy to navigate and stop and take photos . Recommend for people of all ages. Plenty of parking, places to sit and enjoy the surroundings. Hidden gem.

Husband and I came here on Easter Sunday and it was HOPPING! Literally! With families and bunnies! Weather was perfect. Lost of places and birds to explore. Nice, flat, easy walk for anyone. They allow you to fish too.

Took my grandson to the Preserve this morning. We enjoyed a short stroll while watching the waterfowl on one of the many ponds. Parts of the walking paths are shaded to provide a respite from the AZ sun. Then he wanted to go to the kids play area. It's set up nicely so kids of all ages (toddlers to teens) were having fun. The best part for this grandma was the shaded area with picnic tables that is next to the play area. I was able to keep him in sight but still be comfortable in the shade. There were many families there as well as other grandmas with grandkids.

An amazing place to view birds. Interesting background as to how this wetlands came to be. Would highly recommend visiting if you want to see a nice variety.

It started out on a perfect high note with the availability of a map (they weren't there the second time we visited) at the entrance. On the reverse side, there was a bird list, which was great since we were there to bird.

I'm not sure how "wild" the wildlife is. The waterfowl come to the shore (obviously to be fed). The turtles sunning themselves on a log are oblivious to people just 20 feet away. You can get really close to the rabbits, if you wish. We've never been so close to Gambel's quail, nor seen so many, before this trip.

It was a beautiful day and a wonderful walk around the facility. Oh, the signage is second to no place that I've ever been. There's a lot to see here and a lot to learn.

We saddled up our two dogs and invited visiting friends to join us at the Riparian Preserve. This was our first visit, but not our last. Everything about it was...perfect. The walking trails are paved and offer views of the lake, various ponds, wildlife (especially jack rabbits), and birds (lovely quail). We saw many other dogs enjoying the place with their owners, and it's nice to say that all appeared to be picking up after the pups...no 'gifts' in places they didn't belong. People were fishing (catch and release), and simply enjoying a bit of nature within Gilbert. We appreciated that there are maps posted at various points so that you are able to confirm where you are at on the property. You'll enjoy the Riparian, so, "Go take a hike!"

Beautiful grounds for a nice walk! It was a nice day and we went for about a three mile walk around the grounds. Kids explored and had a blast as well! We love it here! Great play are for the kids too!

Better signage would be helpful. We walked quite a distance and came to a dead end and had to retrace our footsteps. It was quiet and relaxing for the most part. Maps please.

FREE! Wonderful outdoor setting for children! Bring a lunch and enjoy the wildlife. Water areas have an abundance of fish and ducks with descriptive placards...great teachable moment. Please respect the do's & don'ts on feeding the wildlife. There is a "dinosaur dig" area...bring your own tools (hand-held shovels, picks & buckets). It is a covered area; however, I suggest going during cooler times of the year. Bring water & wear your hats and sunscreen! As a bonus, there is a public library located next to the park.

Attention: I have been walking at this park now for about 1 month. I discovered it looking at a map of the area we moved to. If you like the outdoors and are into more flat walking trails this is for you. This is NOT hiking; you will not bend the knee. This is more for casual walkers or speed walkers and things in between. It has many ponds with trails and tree cover from the sun. Yes something rare here in AZ trees. Also there are benches where you would expect them. You can fish with a license in the main pond in front. There is a floating dock.

Terrain: Mainly flat, pebbles and dirt will be the terrain. Sneakers and sandals are fine. There are wide flat cement sidewalks that do go a good portion around the main pond near the parking areas. They veer off into the parking lot, if you walk on the street side you can walk the perimeter of the park and turn East or West which goes on the back side of the park. This portion of the walk is side by side with horse properties. However the main trails are not cemented.

Weather: the only thing to monitor is the temperature. The time of the day reflects if it’s cool, warm or hot.

In the front of the park is plenty of children activities, playground, and picnic tables what you would expect.

Bathrooms: there are two (2) buildings. One in the front where the children’s area is and the second one are in the center of the trails. Most of the trails that run north and south will intersect in this bathroom area.

The trails are short, there are many intersections. If you walk directly from the front of the park to the horse properties its about 1 mile. It’s up to you to make the walk long or short.

Safety: I recommend this park to all ages, handicapped or not. If you are disabled make sure you walk or roll (wheel chair) with a partner. It may be in Gilbert but you are still in the wild. Bring water.

This is a photographers dream. Especially in the spring or fall. Colors, wildlife, there’s a playground for kids, and it’s a fun place to fish too. It’s a must see if your in Gilbert.

Next to the library and a very peaceful place to visit. Lots of nature to take in. Good place for a walk with family or your dogs. Especially nice during the Holidays as they decorate the area.

This place is fantastic! I spend hours every month walking here. It's peaceful and the trails are great!

What a nice place to take a little walk! Nice foliage colors, great birds, flat walking perfect for seniors.

We visited here in February with our two dogs. There were rabbits everywhere which drove our dogs a little bit crazy. They love to chase rabbits but it is strictly forbidden here. There is a nice paved walk that goes around this man-made lake and besides rabbits there's lots of water fowl to look at. There are also some trails that are not paved but not very hard to walk on...they are made of tiny pea-sized gravel. They have places to sit and rest along the way if you need to.

Take my kids here to get excersize and experience nature. Lots of PokémonGo stops along the way to point you to important areas along the way.

Wanted to do some birding as well as get in a nice walk. The variety of water and flora were unexpected and a delight.
Dog friendly too!

Very calm and clean with a lot of various length trails to explore as well as camping sites and places to site and enjoy the views..

Went along with my friends,the place nice and clean. Good walking spot. Ideal way to unwind your weekend.

I came here from Colorado with my 11-year-old and took my 11-year-old nephew. Both were less than enthusiastic going in. But walking through the trails seeing the birds and bunnies. Inspired them and we had a quality three hour experience. Highly recommend amazing property.

This is a wonderful place to walk. Families, seniors, birders. fishermen or anyone who just wants to spend time with nature. There are sidewalks around the main pond that are in very good shape and and an easy walk for anyone. There are other trails by the many ponds that are maintained very well. It is such a peaceful place to spend time/ It is also helping the water shortage in Arizona by recycling the water to replenish the groundwater while providing a place for birds to nest. There is also a small planetarium that is open one evening on the weekend . And all this for free

I visited the preserve on a hot day in July when the temperature reached 122 degrees, but it was worth it. Walked for about three hours enjoying birds, jackrabbits and nature in general.

I have been hearing about this place many times in the past year and finally I got to see it on Christmas Day. There were many people there, as I could realize from the parking lot...many cars which I did not expect but it all makes sense now that I saw it. It was a great and quiet place to relax on a holiday. As you walk on the grounds, you don’t feel like you are in the desert anymore. There are lots of water birds and you see bunnies pretty often as you walk around. There is water around the path you are walking and you can admire the wildlife living there and taking lots of pictures of them. The only thing the park requires is that you don’t feed them. It is also a great place to watch the Arizonian sunset. Dogs are also allowed, but in leash. It is a great activity for family with children and also for elderly people , there are benches they can relax and the walk is not hard. It is also easy to find Guadalupe Rd. and Greenfield rd.

This place was fun to do my daughter's first birthday party and we also used this preserve to do maternity photos. It's nice to walk around the entire park, inside the trails but also the entire perimeter when it's cool out if you go during the summer there's lots of mosquitoes. Lastly there is geocaching here!

The walk is flat and on easy trail around six ponds. Lot of water birds and cactus. Great place to relax and enjoy viewing. Also to practice photography. Many types of plants.

We checked out the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch on the advice of friends we were visiting locally. The preserve has nice wide trails and a lot of signage about various bird species to look for. It was fairly dry in some areas but we saw SO many different birds we'd never seen elsewhere, including a roadrunner. We also saw MANY migratory water birds including egrets, ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks, avocets, stilts, coots, teals, shovelers, grebes, basically everything on the signs. My young adult daughter is a professed bird nerd and we took our time and really enjoyed looking at everything. Take binoculars!

Okay, so this riparian preserve was here ever since I moved to Gilbert back in 2004. But I finally visited this place with my family. I was surprised on how nice it was. I just thought it was overgrown brush on a man made lake but it was very well kept. With a running river/aqueduct and the trees made for nice shade. Wild life was abundant. My parents are in their 70’s and 80’s and we’re able to make it through just fine. This place is pet friendly and a great place to bring a camera. Highly recommended

Multiple trails to walk with multiple areas with water. Great place to bring kids and for walking the dog. Absolutely, love walking there.

Anytime I need to get away, am feeling down or just want to chill out, I visit the Riparian Preserve. Since I only live about a mile from the preserve, it makes it quite easy to visit often. It is a hidden jewel in the heart of the Town of Gilbert.

The Preserve is 110 acres and is home to 8 ponds. The story goes something like this: In 1986, the town of Gilbert wanted to recycle 100% of its treated wastewater. The preserve was built to help the town accomplish this goal. Effluent (liquid waste or sewage discharge) from the wastewater treatment plant is released into the preserve, where it flows into one or two of the seven recharge ponds, which are rotated throughout the year. The sun and the plants growing in and around the ponds help clean the water. The water trickles down through the soil below the ponds, getting cleaner and cleaner the deeper it goes, thanks to the natural filtration the soil provides.

The water eventually percolates into the aquifer below the preserve and recharges the groundwater where it is stored for future use. Water is also pumped into the eighth pond, which is stocked with fish, and is designated a catch-and-release fishing pond.

If that isn’t cool enough, the Preserve also contains tons of trails where you can catch a glimpse of some of the many species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, wildlife, and cool insects. There is also lots of shade. The smell of the desert flora is amazingly pungent and unique, with many a Creosote releasing their pleasant aroma, especially after a monsoon or brief desert drenching. It is truly a magical place to get lost in the heart of the hustle-and-bustle of city life.

From the Town of Gilbert website:
“The Preserve is organized into various vegetative zones ranging from marshlands to native riparian and upland vegetation areas. Approximately 298 species of birds have been identified on the site, and many insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals have found homes there as well. Over 4.5 miles of trails weave through the park, and there are interpretive education panels on wildlife and vegetation throughout. Viewing blinds have been established at various locations near the edge of several ponds to further enhance the visitor’s experience. A floating boardwalk crossing the northern end of the lake allows visitors a close up view of the fish and ducks on the water. Additional educational areas include an ethnobotanical garden, a paleontology dig site, gardens for pollinators including a hummingbird garden and butterfly garden, plus a state-of-the-art observatory and hilltop outdoor classroom. The preserve also includes restroom facilities, picnic ramadas, and a play area.”

Take a visit there and you will not be disappointed.

Popular park with lots of walking trails and plenty of interesting and educational features for the kids. The preserve doesn’t have a playground, but there are many kid-friendly features/play areas. There are 7 lakes (they may not all always have water). We usually see many interesting birds and the ever present bunnies. It’s a beautiful urban oasis. The preserve is adjacent to an outstanding library, and in fact shares a parking lot with the library - a great opportunity for a “twofer” outing with the kids.

What an unexpected pleasure it was to find this gem. We walked the trails and enjoyed the many species of plants, the beautiful birds (including about seventy white pelicans) and the the many water areas around the preserve. It was quiet and peaceful as we were strolling through the preserve. If we lived closer I would enjoy this frequently.

Multiple ponds, some dry some wet. Rotate ponds to preserve and condition the ground for nature. Plenty of signs explaining the water rotation process.You just have to read. So many animals, rabbits, birds in trees, birds in water, mice playing in the brush, exotic birds, turtles, ducks of all kinds, swans, humming birds, rare birds of all kinds, Vegetation browning is a result of the end of a desert summer just like in your yard when you live in the desert. So many benches to sit on while you take in the scenery. The animals will come right up to you. It is such a beautiful place to walk your dog, child or take a picture. I went there to explore and take pictures for a photography class. This place is fabulous.

This area is actually our water reclamation area for the Town of Gilbert. It was built to serve more than one purpose, however, and is now a wonderful set of hiking trails surrounding various ponds. These ponds attracted a large variety of birds and other wildlife, so that an early morning hike may afford you the opportunity of viewing cranes, heron, ducks, eagles, etc, as well as rabbits, ground squirrels, and even the possibility of coyote and bobcat. This is well worth the time to explore.

Very nice place for a casual walk in undisturbed natural habitat with many birds and little rabbits etc.
Especially in the middle of urban setup...loved going there all the time.

Anitha

The most beautiful urban landscape, good for all ages. Thoroughly captures the features and terrain of southern Arizona within the city limits. Wish we had come on the weekend to do the observatory. Could easily spend an hour to all day exploring the many trails.

Connecting stocked ponds are a bird haven, acres of paved trails, playground, shade, benches, restrooms. Ample parking. Several reasonable hotels nearby if you're birding at sunrise. One of the best bird lists in AZ.

This place is amazing if you like birds. There are many vareities of water fowl and land birds. The paths are wide and level. While many are not paved, they are hard packed and a wheel chair would not be much trouble to push.

This is a perfect place for evening, or morning strolls, we take lots of professional pictures here, and at Christmas they do lights and music.

A wonderful way to escape being in town while you are in town. There are plenty of paths all of which are family friendly. People come from all aover the world to bird watch here!

Riparian has a few miles of walking of biking trails as well as a fishing pond, a nighttime observatory, and kids activities. When the weather is nice, you can see local wildlife, especially migratory birds.

There are lots of groomed walking trails next to the water. I call them ponds but I grew in Michigan with some great lakes. Well kept park in the town of Gilbert.

This is a great facility but because of issues it’s not getting water from the SRP canal which allows it to fill all the ponds for water fowl. The city tells me there is a plan to rectify that which might be in place for the winter migration next year. Hope
it does because when all the ponds are full this is an outstanding urban oasis for wildlife

Visited the first time just as a place to take a walk as a couple. It was great, wide clear paths, lots of shade and lots of wildlife to see. the managed ponds were pretty incredible, and the fact that we have this habitat in our city limits is really cool. subsequent visits have been with the dogs and they love it too. great place to take a walk that is close by and always clean and well managed.

I'd say this is a hidden gem but the last time came here for a walk it was really crowded. There must have been 6 different professional photographers out here doing family photos. I can see why, though, because it's a beautiful slice of nature with lots of fun views. Tons of ducks, birds and bunnys to be found out here. There are several paths you can walk from a short walk to a long walk. Come back often to try them all. I'd like to come here when it's not so crowded so we can really take it all in.

There are also great bike paths just on the far east side that run along with canals so you can bike to the preserve as well.

Highly recommend this great spot.

This is a nice in town hiking area. Very family friendly, with 7 ponds, - fishing lake (licenses required), trails surrounding everything, lots of wildlife and educational, motivational and inspirational information along the way. There are picnic pavilions (reserve) and camping areas (rent only to reserve), and two restrooms. There is a unique playground for kids, a dinosaur dig area and a planetarium. You can feed the ducks around the lake but be aware of the feeding requirements posted. It was very busy the Sunday afternoon in February that we visited… lots of families, a birthday party, people fishing and just out walking. The trails are mostly gravel flat well maintained, and some areas are paved. Parts of the park are multi use - all are marked (bikes, horses…). We enjoyed the convenience of the trails and easily walked nearly 4 miles around all the ponds. We saw lots of wildlife - ducks, snowy white and little egrets… it was a nice afternoon. The restroom had no TP but thankfully I always have some in my hiking pack.

Found this place thanks to Tripadvisor. Well worth a visit whether it be for an hour or two, a half day or a full day. Great for all ages, young and old, there is something for everyone. Be aware there is a lack of parking spaces but everyone seems to use the spaces in the library car park next door. There is a cactus garden at the front of the park with a children's play area, toilets, picnic spots etc. From there several paths lead off in different directions. They are all flat and paved and even when the paving stops, the paths are flat and easy to walk. You can easily get away from the crowds by strolling along the paths away from the main entrance. Make sure you wear sunscreen tho and a hat and take plenty water to drink. There are about seven ponds in all, plenty of seats around to let you sit and enjoy the preserve and spot the birds and the wildlife. There is a short walking bridge/pier over the corner of the main pond and you can fish from here if you have a license. A little gem of nature right in the middle of Gilbert.

I didn't even know this place existed until I saw a little posting of a bird walking event in my community's monthly paper. Apparently they have the bird walk every other week I believe, check out their website to be sure of when the events take place. It is very good for a walk or jog as this park has trails. Very peaceful, there's an area of a wide body of water where ducks hang out. Playground for kids as well. Lots of parking. You must visit to see for yourself.

Easy activity for kids!
Great way to enjoy wild life and it's close to home!
Fun place to go on weekends

Hidden gem right in town.
Great place to take a relaxing stroll in a nature fillled setting. Great wildlife viewing and peaceful serenity that will make you forget you’re in the city.

Once we ventured into this amazing place, we were hooked! It's always changing with the wildlife, foliage, and water features. The Riparian Preserve is a great place for a brisk morning walk or just a relaxing stroll.

My husband and I often go to the Riparian, and it's always such a good time. We go to see the birds or to walk the dogs, and there's always little kids around, fishermen, and just people. So nice to take some long walks and get a break from the city.

Was in Scottsdale for a few days, I visited the Riparian Preserve and was told by numerous people that it was "slow". I saw black crowned night herons, sparrows of various kinds, ladder-backed wood peckers, flickers, cactus wrens, thrashers, cinnamon teal, avocets, snowy egrets, black-necked stilts, a sora, various peeps, western grebe, northern harrier, great blue herons, black chinned hummingbirds, broad tailed hummingbirds, northern shovelers, gila woodpeckers, albert's towhee, mourning doves, Gambel's quail, sharp-shinned or cooper's hawk (not sure which it was), red-tailed hawk, ring-necked ducks, mallards and others, to name a few. I am sure I missed manny more. For a place that was often described to me as "slow', it was pretty awesome. I can't imagine it when it is better and not "slow" as people were telling me.

The Preserve is actually a water treatment plant for water reclaimed from golf courses, but don't let that scare you off, it is beautiful. There are multiple ponds, with very well maintained paths which lead to various habitats for wildlife including hundreds of rabbits and some coyotes. If you enjoy nature/wildlife/birds and/or a photographer - this is a must see "freebie" brought to you by the City of Gilbert. Enjoy it!

There are many trails to wander and see trees, birds, ducks, rabbits. Very peaceful and totally free. We took our two 75 dogs and we all had a great time!

Great spot to explore with kids: even the playground leaves a good amount to the imagination. Find the winding dirt trails, eat a snack under sprawling palo verde trees along the stream, walk around the various lakes and ponds, even dig for Dino bones!! Well done space to find some peace and start out a day with or without kiddos in tow.

Stoked: lots of space, very natural with modern comforts (playground, paved pathways, bathrooms etc)

Bummed: not much.

Tip: if/when it's hot, get there early and park under a tree along the stream; it'll stay 10-12 degrees cooler than anywhere else!

This is an amazing place to walk around and see the amazing flora and fauna native to the desert. Beautiful cacti and succulents about and the area near the lake with the water birds is amazing!

Hard to believe such a beautiful and serene place exists in the middle of a residential area. The array of wildlife is amazing- Birds of all shapes and sizes- herons, Egrets, Cardinals, Geese and many other birds with hummingbirds and bunnies everywhere. Lots of flat easy trails . This place is paradise!

The Riparian Preserve has an abundance of birds gathered in trees and on the 6 ponds/lakes surrounding walking trails. The Preserve has an excellent pamphlet that list all the birds that live or migrate through the area.

A lovely walking area with lots of paths around ponds of reclaimed water. Many birds and water fowl everywhere. Restrooms, a playground, benches along the paths - all make for a delightful time.

This is a great place to go birdwatching, picnicking or walking. There are several "ponds" with trails around them so you can walk and see a wide variety of birds. There was a beautiful white swan on the near pond the day we were there. This is a very family-friendly place right in Gilbert and includes picnic pavilions. There is also a beautiful cactus garden right at the front.

This is where I usually turn around from my canal trail bike ride. It's very peaceful, and there are birds and ducks from around the
country during Arizona's winter months. There isn't always water in the lakes due to how the town of Gilbert manages their water control. Once you are at the preserve, you can choose to branch off to other canal bike trails and head either north or south. You can also continue on east, but I haven't done that yet.

The riparian preserve in a great place for the kids with a great play area including an artistic 80 foot snake made of concrete. There is an observatory and several trails for walking. Tons of wildlife everywhere. Down side is parking lot is small and you may have to park at the adjoining library.

I enjoyed my afternoon at the GWR this week. Lots of trails, birds, bunnies and activities to keep you moving. There are restrooms and a play area for small children. Bird blinds, boardwalks, trails and lots of interesting viewing locations. A great reclamation area for all to enjoy.

Lots of cactus and flowering trees and plants, big pond with swimming ducks. Relaxing and beautiful place to take the family for a stroll.

Love to go for morning walks and breakfast picnics. Out of town guests always enjoy visiting. Family friendly.

Pleasant morning stroll. Easy access, kid and wheelchair access friendly. Bird lovers come will enjoy it here.

What a great spot for a for a walk to clear your head! The sights, nature is just what the doctor ordered. Plenty of wildlife to enjoy and to learn from. Great location for family walk and talk gathering. Don't forget to take water with you.

This is a nice little park to wander around the lakes and see some ducks/geese. Basically the same as any other park though. I don't remember if it has a kids area...I don't have small children, so...

Great place to go relax, fish, walk or take pictures. We park at the library and walk down around the pond. Always a spot to fish or set up a chair. My girls love to find the turtles that are aways around. At night in the spring/fall the mosquitos come in pretty heavy, but to be expected. Wish they would open the back area up more.

This is a must-see on your trip to Gilbert It's a quaint little Park with many areas to walk around. Everything is free. It's dog and family-friendly.

Read about this place in things to do, we weren't expecting what we found. This place is very beautiful. About seven lakes and wetlands; in February anyhow, very easy paths to follow. Plenty of birds, rabbits, turtles. Many people were fishing in one of the lakes. Not what I expected, a very pleasant surprise. No admission charge and lots of free parking. We had our dog with us, they are welcome providing they are on a leash. Would imagine this place is very colorful when the blooms are out. Highly recommended.

Very enjoyable place to walk leisurely. Lots of people fishing too. I wish all of it had paved walkways as I used to take someone in a wheelchair and much of the park was not accessible. But, it is still worth visiting.

A nice place for an easy walk and to enjoy viewing wildlife in their natural habitat. Less people as you get further in to the park and peaceful. I plan to take my pups there for a few walks and look forward to that on weekday mornings when it should be very quiet and peaceful. Nice discovery, thanks to our son who was in town and suggested we go.

Bring some duck / turtle pellets or Cheerios to share and make 100 new friends, including those swimming the water and those walking the pedestrian path over the water. You can get "lost" in the beauty of this park without fear of ever making a wrong turn on any if the numerous paths that all lead you back to the main parking area. Parking can be a pain, but if full, just park in the library lot (unless there are signs warning not to-I didn't notice any. The park is kid friendly to the max

We have been here several times, with grandkids and just ourselves. It has lots of birds and other small critters, rabbits, sometimes turtles. There are trails to follow but parts of it seem very wild. Easy to walk, but lots to look at. It's on our radar to visit every time we are in Gilbert.

Stopped by for a few hours of R&R, quiet and serene great place to lay on a blanket and read. People watching was good and being one with nature that close to the "city" is special.

This was my second visit to this marvelous birding place while visiting my sister in the Scottsdale area. It is a bit of a drive, but worth it if you are into bird watching. The area attracts a variety of shore birds. The walking trails around the 7-8 ponds are mainly flat, so it is an easy walk.

We were visiting our son for ASU Family Weekend and didn't really know what we wanted to do...but we knew that we wanted to get some of the freshman boys off of the campus. We only walked one-fourth of the property because it was hot but we saw many birds, butterflies, and even a bunny! I felt like we got lucky with a parking spot. The lot was small considering how many people were using it. There was a birthday party going on. One family was fishing and another was birdwatching. There was also a lady in a wheelchair enjoying the day on the well-planned paths. This is definitely a good outdoor resource.

It is great to have a riparian preserve within a vast urban jungle. It is a place to escape the hustle of the city and commune with nature. There are many birds to be found in this area of trees and ponds. There is a fairly extensive trail system throughout this park located on the south side of Guadalupe Road. There are several species of ducks on the ponds (some appear to be domesticated species). In addition we saw egrets, a green heron, a kestrel, black necked stilts, gambles quails, avocets, sandpipers, verdins, yellow rumped warblers and numerous other birds. One can easily spend an hour or two exploring the park.

Enjoyed spending several hours walking around this park while visiting the Gilbert area. The parking lot is very small but the library next door has a huge parking lot and has easy access to the park. The park has easy walking trails. You can spend as much or as little of time you want here.

We had a great time, we walked and talked many things, it was a good day to live with my children.
I love this place!

we were visiting a friend in Phoenix and she took us on a walk at this preserve. very nice to do in the morning or evenings - I'm sure it gets a little warm in the daytime. We walked around the ponds and around the paths. Saw lots of birds and lots of folks with their binoculars. There are also some folks that put painted rocks around the area paths, if you find one - pick it up and move it somewhere else for someone else to find. Kind of cute. lots of bunnies too. very nice place

I was visiting my sister and family in Gilbert and we had a nice day to visit this little gem of a park in the midst of suburbia. There are nice, flat walking trails around the small lakes with a boardwalk that goes out over one of the lakes. It was interesting to see all the waterfowl in the middle of the desert and it is educational to read the signs about the reclamation of the water here. We saw lots of bunnies, some hummingbirds, and even a pair of roadrunners. It is a lovely place to spend an hour or two enjoying the walk and the beauty of nature. We had to circle the parking area a time or two to find a place to park; we were there on a weekday, so I would imagine that the weekend parking could be a challenge. I would recommend a stop here.

This is an excellent venue for bird-watching and wildlife photography. Miles of well-maintained walking trails and usually not too many people. Highly recommended!

The place is very tranquil and really put yourself into relax mode. The sounds of the birds matches with nice sound of the water really get to you.

It was a fantastic place to walk and view so many birds and wildlife. What a treasure for the community!

Great place to view and photograph birds. Flat and easy walking around the lakes and lots of trees and places to sit and watch or photograph. A small group of coyotes can be seen at the very back early in the morning.

This would be my 3rd visit to this preserve, Always interesting, bring water to drink while sitting in the shaded areas overlooking the various ponds in differing stages of water filtration. If you take your time and remain still the wildlife around you will reveal themselves. Turtles and iridescent colors of dragon flies, hummingbirds, grackles, doves, English Sparrows, Finches, Snowy Egrets, Black and White Stilts, Mallards, American Coot and soaring Golden Eagles, and Osprey were easily seen the latter part of May 2019. Signage is worth taking the time to read. Relaxing nature experience.

The Preserve is a great place for families. There are great playgrounds and neat animals to observe. Several families were getting their Christmas photos taken here last Winter. It is a beautiful place to observe Arizona's natural habitats.

We decided to do our walk here to get some different scenery. Trails were great and it was easy to get around. Saw a bunch of birds and critters.

This place is a wonderful place to take a quick hike or a reflective stroll, stopping to watch the wildlife. Places to sit and meditate..
Going back, always!

This was my first visit, had previous heard great things about the place though. Very neat place to check out, lots of trails to hike and sights to see, although some trails were very overgrown and are in need of some maintenance. Was able to see a good variety of wildlife, lots of different birds, a few turtles, fish and squirrels. Very peaceful and relaxing environment, could spend hours here. I will definitely return for another visit during a different season to see the differences.

Away from the traffic and bustling areas near Mesa and Gilbert, this combined water resource and hiking area is truly a great spot to walk as you read the informational postings about water reclamation along with pictures and characteristics of birds and fish. I would highly recommend this preserve for anyone, including families (There can be educational programs in one area, especially on weekends). Dog walkers are OK with leash, and reminders to pick up after your canine companion.

Loved this place was clean and fun. A lot of animal sightings. I loved that it was pet friendly also because my dog got his walk in as he was tired, but he loved it too seen a bunch of rabbits.

I love this park. You feel like you are not in the city. In the spring you get to see all of the flowers blooming and the baby ducks and turtles. In the winter you get to see the Canadian geese.

While away a few hours wandering the beautiful trails and see all the bird life and water birds in one place. Throw in some bunnies and lizards and lakes and there you go.

Love it here. My husband fishes (never catches lol)and I walk trails with dogs.this is one of my favorite places.definately a place to see.there is an observatory open on select evenings too.

The city of Gilbert is to be commended for providing its citizens and visitors with such a delightful spot to enjoy nature. The preserve is well planned and maintained. my husband and I took a 3 hour morning walk and were so pleased to view 49 species of birds. Although obviously heavily used daily by runners, dog walkers,and school groups, we felt undisturbed. Only two suggestions...(1) expand the parking lot and (2) require horse owners to clean up the droppings of their animals' waste the same way dog owners are..

I love the preserve. Great place to take a walk and see wildlife. Good for those who need a paved walk and good for those who like trails. Fun activities year round. Love Christmas at Riparian.

This is one of my favorite parks in East Valley. You can enjoy the park with your family or going there to relax, or even photography because there is a lot.

Took the grandkids fishing. They even caught one. It was so hot but we did it anyway. This park is full of birds, fish, and winding walk ways. I can’t wait for it to cool off so we can take family walks there.

We came here to look at birds, but lots of other folks were here to enjoy nature. Something for everyone!

Beautiful nature walk. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Peaceful! Paved path and dirt path. Lots of birds and bunnies.

Visited the Riparian Preserve two mornings at sunrise a few days before Christmas. Lots of birds to photograph. Many cotton tale rabbits as well. Concrete and dirt paths are easily accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Great for young and old.

What a fun location with lots of wildlife. This is nicely done and the trails are for walking about at any age. There are a lot of people but most of the time we could sit and enjoy the view or watch through our binoculars and feel the peace and tranquility. Lots of bench areas to sit also.

Having the ponds set up in a way that you can walk around them or in between them was pretty nice.

Being your camera and binoculars, come morning, day or night, and you'll not be disappointed.

Brooks and streams, lakes and walking paths.
A library on site and observatory. Birds a plenty and photographers heaven. You can sit on a bench or picnic on tables. Watching wildlife from a quiet blind. Walk the dog but be sure and pick up. Fish or walk on a bridge and feed ducks. Wonderful place.

My wife and i wanted to do some walking and found this park. Lots of trails and beautiful scenery. If you have a couple of hours, I would strongly recommend.

110 acres of wide paths, waterways/lakes, plants, shrubs, cactus, birds, bunnies and much more. This is an easy walk with lots of places for photo ops. Such a great, well maintained outdoor area that we were very pleased to explore. Up close and personal interaction with pelicans were a highlight .

So, can you review a place too many times. Probably. I debated reviewing the Preserve a third time. But decided it was important to share that it's still a wonderful place. We were in the Phoenix area visiting son and family. This time, it was only my wife and I and our grandson visiting the Preserve. A different perspective. Through a child's eyes.

Our grandson loves the Preserve. There's birds to feed, turtles to watch, water to play in, concrete paths to walk, piles of sand to play in. Oops! Maybe shouldn't share that. They were doing trail maintenance and there was a pile of sand and gravel. Our grandson loved climbing and playing King of the Hill on the pile. That's in addition to feeding the fish, watching the turtle get on a log and walking on the concrete feature.

They have done a wonderful thing with the Preserve. And . . . it's got a real purpose. Replenishing the aquafer. Someone was foresighted.

We'll be back for sure. This time maybe I'll play in the water.

What an incredible place. There is a large variety of birds, small mammals, plants and trees. Beautiful!

This is a great place to take a nice walk without going far! You are bound to see some wildlife when your out and about! Great to walk or bike!

My wife, family and I have been enjoying the Riparian Area next to the library for many years. We've donated a bench next to a pond for resting, reflectioin and bird watching in memory of my wife's mother who loved to take morning and evening walks here. There are multiple loops to choose for hikes, none are challenging, but all offer a different vantage point on the ponds and fields. We take our grandsons there for walks, playing on the equipment at the front of the park and for the little observatory which sky watching events. It's a good place to picnic. There is fishing and turtle watching in the pond between the library and the park.

You may see people exercising here but you'd have to do a lot of loops and work hard to get in a big workhout. We go there more for a relaxing morning or evening walk.

This is a beautiful place to spend an hour or two. The paths wind around multiple ponds that are teeming with waterfowl and shorebirds. Truly an amazing number of birds to identify in a relatively small space. The trees were full of hummingbirds, some warblers, mockingbirds and more..... There were many birders & photographers capturing it all. This is a well designed preserve with lots of benches to relax, cleared areas that allow you to get right to the waters edge and multiple bathroom facilities. There were a lot of people there for a Wednesday morning but the preserve is large enough that it was still very peaceful. The bunnies were a fun little bonus! I am impressed this gorgeous preserve exists in the middle of strip malls and endless roads. The city of Gilbert has a real treasure here and anyone visiting the Scottsdale/Phoenix area should treat themselves to a few hours here.

My husband and I have been in this area for years and just found out about this beautiful Preserve. My husband enjoys taking pictures of the wildlife. If you just want to take a walk to just enjoy or you like bird watching and taking pictures, this is a lovely place. Pack a picnic and make a day of it. Lots of things for the kids too, in the children’s area.

the park is really taken care of with lots of oportunity to select different activities. Paths are easy to walk on and there are lots of wildlife, rabbits and birtds. Each time we go we see something different. They have an area where kids can play and it is pretty shaded so you can just sit and relax. I would not go in the summer as it would be too hot unless you when first light and left by 9:oo. We went to bird watch and to walk.

This walk through an urban watershed area is absolutely fascinating. There is lots of signage to let you know the purpose of each type of watershed pond. It is a great place for families because children can see turtles, ducks, sandpipers, hummingbirds, rabbits and other creatures who coexist happily in the preserve. We were there on a warm sunny day, March 1, 2020 and enjoyed the outing thoroughly.
The pathways are accessible; an individual could do a short walk or circle each of the 6 ponds for a comfortable 2-3 mile outing. We were visitors, but if I lived in the area, it would be a regular place to uplift the spirits.
Be patient - you will likely have to wait for a parking space.

This is an outdoor park preserve that has several easy walking trails that you can walk and watch a multitude of species of birds, ducks and geese along with humming birds and rabbits. There is one pond that you can feed the ducks and geese so bring bird seed, cracked corn or whole grain cereal to feed them. There are bathrooms at certain places and a fun sand box/pretend dinosaur dig and play area for small children. This is also a place where you can bring painted rocks to hide and find others. Did I say free? We feed the ducks on a regular basis.

Nice flat sand path or sidewalk for walking. Pets are welcome but parking can be difficult to find on a nice day.

This was a fun place for the Girl Scout Troup to explore. The girls were working on several badges for wildlife and natural habitats.

Lovely spot. Beautifully maintained with easy access and lots of birds etc. parking is a little limited but the shirt walks and vistas are well worth it

A rather large layout with multiple ponds and paved paths that wind thoughout. Birds and rabbits a plenty.
The somewhat manicured surrounding desert scape is beautiful.
They also have a small observatory that is free and open 1(?) night per week.
Great place to take a walk after you visit the great library.
Recommended!

We walk the preserve quite alot. During the fall and winter the migrating birds are plentiful. There are alot of hawks, falcons, owls, etc. also. It is quiet if you get there early in the day and the animals are easily seen. Rabbits, a few coyotes, snakes, etc.

Walking, Hiking, Biking, Bird watching, hang around with the kids at the water or play area, right by the Library

The Raparian Preserve is a great place to take a walk with your date, kids, teens, friends or dog. There is are large lakes with ducks and fishing. A creek that connects the lakes. You can watch the bunnies, birds, ducks and fish or dig for "dinosaur" bones in the sand pit. They have a large telescope to see the stars and plants. At Christmas time they set up lights and have lots of family events. If you like to Pokemon, it's a great walking park.

This is one of the most tranquil places I've ever been to. The wild life is in abundance. There are ducks, geese and other water fowl. There are so many rabbits. The walk paths are clean and easily managed. There are places to sit and just relax. The people that were visiting the park were nice and polite. There were a lot of people doing the Pokemon search, you had to watch out for them, because they are so consumed with it that they aren't always aware of where they are going. They are actually fun to watch. I really appreciate the pet owners. The ones I saw had little bags and cleaned up after their pets. Also, their pets were really well behaved. Watching the mama duck with her babies was precious. I wish I could just move in and live there, my life would feel less stress and aggravation!

I met a few people for a morning walk with our cameras. The walk around the preserve was enjoyable it not a little chilly for Phoenix (35F with some ice on the water). I think the hill in the air affect the birds we were there to visit. There was very little movement.

It was however and enjoyable morning to be out and about. I would think morning would be good to catch the wildlife stirring, just not the coldest morning of the year.

On a recent trip to Mesa, my brother suggested visiting the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert since my husband and I are birders. The Riparian Preserve has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society and we saw a good number of bird species on our 2 1/2 hour walk. There is ample shade from shrubs and trees along the path we took so that even on a hot day, it is a pleasant place to enjoy the outdoors. There are informational signs along the paths about the birds and wildlife that live in the preserve. As we did not have time to walk along all the 4.5 miles of paths, we plan a longer visit to the preserve on our next trip so that we can see more of this wonderful property.

Came to Arizona to visit family and we visited this beautiful local park. We greatly enjoyed out time here and seeing all of of the natural beauty of Arizona. Great place for family photos!

Riparian is a diamond in the desert. All kinds of different vegetation and birds. Very, very nice stroll and beautiful scenery.

My daughter and her classmates recently came here for a field trip. The weather was very nice, and they had a lot of fun! It was very educational. Definitely a location consider if you are a teacher.

Great walking paths that are shaded! Lots of friendly people walking and birding and taking photographs. One of my favorite places to walk but NOT in the summer!!

This park hosts walking trails around ponds where hosts of wildlife can be seen. The trails are mostly shaded which is refreshing. My party took many pictures of birds and one of our number went for a nice run along the trails.

This preserve attracts migrating birds as well as local species. There are numerous trails and several ponds to walk around. Some shade. Best to go early or not in summer months.

I went during the holidays to see the lights and walk through the Riparian Preserve. It is a nice park to take the family and walk around. There are plenty of ducks and various birds to see.

this is a nice little walk that has many different floura from different areas of the state. lots of hiking trails.

This reserve is very pretty - lots of shaded trails to walk around on and it's fun to watch all the birds and bunnies. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a nice place to spend some time outdoors.

Great when the weather is good, not so great above 105. I walk my kids here, they run but have yet to all in the water....only a matter of time.

A very surprising preserve in the centre of town. Gilbert should be congratulated for having the foresight to retain this gem in the middle of town.

A very easy and enjoyable walkabout.

Not a lot of parking but it and access to the grounds are free.

Lovely area to walk with lots of wildlife and lots of different trails. A great place to get those steps in while enjoying the scenery

People come from all over to walk The Resparion! Its peaceful, beautiful and full of activities! At Christmas they have a beautiful display of lights to walk by. Great place to visit and spot some rare birds. Recommend this place highly.

The Ripiran is a great free family outing. We took our girls fishing, watched ducks, took a stroll and played at the park. It is a great place to get outdoors and enjoy nature!

What a fantastic place to walk and relax with your dogs. It's one huge sensory trail for you and your dog(s) with so much wildlife to see. The critters are abundant that you typically see something at every turn. Birders, star gazer, and fisherman alike can enjoy this place.

Spent a quiet and tranquil morning walking the trails around the various lakes. The preserve is so picturesque. Great place for photography, or just relaxing with nature. Definitely will be back. Oh, and it's free!

Feeling ill. Took some time to sit by the water and relax. Left very refreshed.

Found it interesting to see families fishing. Great Sunday outing.

One of my favorite birding locations! I wish I lived closer and could visit more often. The area is well maintained and clean. Friendly people and workers.

We spent 2 hours walking the paths around the 7 small lakes in the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. We saw a very wide variety of bird life including many snowy egrets and all kinds of ducks. We also enjoyed two large logs where about 10 turtles were sunning on each log. Every few minutes the logs would start rolling and the turtles would either scramble to stay on the logs or fall off and scramble to get back on. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and plan to return. The parking at the library nearby is very easy.

We stopped in just to find out what it was. Lovely location with free on site parking that is handicapped accessible with trails. This is a reclaimed water area that is home to migratory birds, quail, rabbits and oh so much more. Trails are shaded by big trees with lovely benches to sit on spaced out all over. There is a cute play area for children, it is dog friendly and you can ride your horse here We will definitely be back!!

This park is a great place to walk your dog in an active environment. Everything there is indigenous to the Southwest desert. Song birds, water fowl, Quail, squirrels, and rabbits grace you with their presence. Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds. They have Rangers and restrooms on site. Next door to the Gilbert Public Library.

We walked on the many trails in this park and still didn’t see everything. There’s a place for kids to play as well. During our visit we logged in 47 different types of birds. It’s a very well maintained and fun place to visit.

I first discovered the Riparian Preserve by accident when I was out of for bike ride, exploring an area which was unfamiliar. While it is certainly not "lush" it has its own beauty. I found it to be quite calming. After riding through the Preserve I came out at the Library and the small lake where people were fishing. It was all quite charming and I suppose some of this was due to having come upon it unintentionally and being surprised by my discovery!

Wonderful nature setting for a walk. Multiple ponds and wildlife. The paths are flat and easy to walk. Lots of parking. They process 4 million gallons of reclaimed water a day through this park, recharging the aquifer so it is every environmental friendly. Great foresight in building this park.

Highly recommend!

I came here to photograph a wide variety of birds. It's a quiet place tucked away in a corner of the city. There were quite a few other people; other photographers, dog walkers, and some others just enjoying a nice 75 degree winter's day in Phoenix.
The birds seem at home here and it's easy to get some great photos. It's a nice place to spend a few hours and even have a picnic lunch. It's an easy drive from most parts of the city.

I've been walking the Riparian Preserve since its inception. Much more crowded now, but still a delight to visit. I am always amazed at the wildlife I see in the middle of Gilbert.

A real treasure for Gilbert. Walking trails, fishing,educational,camping,scenic and horseback riding, what more do you need.

Great walking paths. Lots of birds, bunnies and other animals running around. Pretty lakes to view ducks and geese.

I feel very blessed to live near this wonderful park. So beautiful all year round. Lots of people coming here to take family photos in November and December. Can be a little annoying when you are trying to take a walk but I try and steer clear on those weekends!
Thanks to the city of Gilbert for their awesome foresight to give us something that will be a blessing for generations to come!

We live across the street and visit all the time. I think it's one of Gilbert's best kept secrets. There's rarely a ton of people around. Fun easy level trails all over the preserve. You'll see rabbits, ducks, all kinds of birds and wildlife right in the heart of Gilbert.

We flew into Phoenix, and I wanted to visit the Riparian Preserve because I'd seen so many good duck photos from there. Yes, there were ducks, and MUCH more! It was more developed than I'd anticipated, and got a LOT more use. There people everywhere, and doing so many different things! Dog walking seemed to be VERY popular. I also saw several folks having family photos taken. We did see lots of waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, other birds, and many desert cottontails - which pretty much ignored people since there were so many people there. It would take me several visits to walk all the available walking paths and figure out where I most wanted to be to photograph birds! But even on a short (2 hour?) first visit, I had a great visit and got some good photographs, and our daughter had a great time walking, reading the educational signage, and playing on the playground.

What a smart thing to do. Create a bunch of marshes so that surface water can replenish the ground water below. And then to make the area into a preserve. Good going Gilbert.

We went there for a walk on a Sunday afternoon. I was really impressed by the pond and the various marshes, each attempting to depict a different biosphere. And as other reviewers have noted, lots of birds. And lots of different birds. Probably next time I would want to take a lunch and spend more time just watching.

We love the riparian preserve. We like to ride our bikes there from the house - and take a tour of the dirt paths around the lakes. Lots of wildlife from birds, to rabbits, to chipmunks, and wacky people too. A very popular spot for photographers.

What a great spot to visit! You’d never know you’re in the middle of the city, a stone’s throw from the Public Library!
The Reserve is the perfect environment where the contrast of the water highlights the desert beauty.

Great venue for a walk. Beautiful scenery.

Park in lot or library. Bring water. Maps would be nice as we did not print one (expecting to find one there) opened a map box...nothing there.

Flat easy trails. Fun park area for kids.

Signage on trails is worn & faded. Which makes me discount the rating, as it would be SO nice if the plant & trail signage was readable!

Water,animals and trails. Good place to spend an hour and get some walking in. It is also next to the Gilbert Library..enjoy!

Easy walking with lots of bird watching opportunities. I usually get in 2-3 miles when I walk but you can do less walking and more bird watching if that is your interest. Great place to walk your dog. Nice areas with benches to sit and enjoy nature.

Wonderful place to walk and see lots of birds and bunnies. Beautiful fauna and not too crowded the day I went. There is no admission charge. There’s a lake and it’s filled with a variety of beautiful ducks. Would recommend a walk here.

Easy to get to. Lots of parking, 2 restrooms, several picnic Ramada’s. What I liked the best werethewide cement paths. Easy for handicapped individuals.
We enjoyed the turtles we viewed from the nice bridge. All areas were very well marked. I recommend bringing binoculars.

Wonderful gem in Gilbert. We have been walking here for years. The paths are well maintained though some of the bird viewing areas are in need of tree and shrub clearing. Would also like to encourage more dog owners to pick up after their pets. There are pet refuse bags available and numerous spots to throw away the bags. Enjoy the rotation of the filling of the ponds. Recently have noticed the hummingbird and butterfly gardens could use some attention, have not seen as many volunteers as in the past working the area. I did note the volunteer website said it had been recently updated. Hope Gilbert does not forget to maintain this wonderful area while it expands other parks.

We expected more from this preserve. Most of the lakes were dried up and just looked like dirt. In the water that was there we did get to see some ducks, egrets and pelicans. We heard lots of birds in the trees but we never could see any. There were some paths to walk on and it was nice to get some exercise. I guess it's because of the time of year but there were very few plants in bloom so even the vegetation was brown and boring looking. There was a playground there and kids seemed to be enjoying themselves. Other than that, there wasn't much to see and it didn't meet our expectations.

There's a pleasant park area adjacent to a library which is probably very nice for locals to hang out at, but the only reason for anyone else to go out of their way to come here is for the birding. Several miles of trails circle several lakes and ponds. It isn't particularly scenic but it's great for attracting birds.

The water was a mess and it had a terrible odor. That is why I have not been back.
I did see a bunch of turtles🐢

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon (or whole day)! Whether you like to stroll, jog, fish, bird, photograph, picnic, bike, hangout with friends, breathe some air while sitting on a bench immersed in nature, this place is for you. It’s very impressive what Gilbert has done with this water treatment area. Huge congratulations are in order!

This place had fantastic wildlife. We appreciated the restrooms on site and the expansive area to explore. On this trip, we saw white pelicans, cranes, turtles, ducks (families feeding the ducks), sandpipers, bunnies, fish (and families fishing), lots of hummingbirds, and many people out walking their dogs. The trails were all flat and there were lots of benches and opportunities to get closets the water. There was groups of people with binoculars bird watching and others with cameras and long lenses. Parking was free and I'm so glad we set out to visit here.

This is a free attraction that is worth visiting if you are in the area. Many ponds, lots of trails some paved. Picnic are, playgrounds. Bathrooms and lots of educational plaques so the visitor can learn about the flora and fauna in this beautiful park. Stargazing with their telescope on weekend nights.

The Riparian Preserve is a gem hidden in the middle of a metropolitan area. The birdlife and wildlife is ever changing. The sunrises and sunsets that can be viewed will take your breath away. If you like to do nature photography, this place is a must to visit.

This is a beautiful natural area in the Gilbert area. It has a fishing pond and you can spot turtles, water fowl and the occasional fish if you are lucky. They also have an observatory that is open to the public on scheduled evenings. Bring the kids for a free "astronomy" star gazing evening. The paths are all pretty flat so it makes for a good walk even for the little ones.

I recently discovered this great place right in my backyard in Gilbert, Az. It is free. It is a nature preserve with 7 or 8 separate ponds. There are hiking trails, a playground area for children, picnic areas, fishing (with license), an observatory, assorted water fowl, herons, rabbits, owls many birds etc.

It is family friendly and dogs on leash are welcome. There are events and tours.

First time here. This was absolutely the best. Walked two miles. Took 50 amazing photos. Sunrise. Will come back here. Clean trails. Walking paths. Birds and so much more

I have been visiting the Riparian for many years. It's a great place to take a walk and see some nature without leaving the city. Sometimes it gets a little crowded on weekends.

This preserve is a beautiful natural habitat filled with wildlife. We regularly see jack rabbits, quail, turtles, and many species of birds. Much of it is available for those that have limited mobility or strollers with concrete paths and benches to sit and rest. There is ample parking, a play area for kids and armadas for rent. It's a great place to walk dogs, ride bikes, birdwatch or picnic.

Great place to take the family. Kids have fun walking the various trails and viewing the "wild life". Good opportunity for some exercise. And there's even the opportunity to fish!

The Water Ranch is a wildlife sanctuary in the desert. Hikers, bikers, dog walkers, birders and photographers enjoyh a wide variety of activties throughout the year. It is 110 acres with a number of ponds and easy to travel trails. There is a picnic area and a nice children's playground, including a dinosaur bone pit! We see egrets, night herons, pelicans, warblers, green herons and kingfishers, along with many other birds and animals. There is no cost! The park is very well maintained and I believe it is open dawn to dusk. A beautiful public library is right next door and it is also worth a visit. There are several bathrooms available. A number of special activities take place through the year. Check it out!

I like writing reviews to hopefully give someone seeking a place information about going there. Usually, I'm a bit muted in my responses. Just the facts, ma'am. Well, not so about the Riparian Preserve. THIS PLACE IS OUTRIGHT WONDERFUL. First, it's so innovative as a water treatment concept. Second, they've laid it out so well. And third, it's downright fun! We came here with our grandson. A few things we did were: stand on the bridge and watch the birds, turtles and fishes; wade in the water; stroll among the many paths; hunt for 'dinosaur' bones (so neat I did some research on the company 'burying' the bones), walk on the undulating concrete wall.

It was all so much fun. And while a bit crowded, the place is so well laid out that we didn't at all feel the numbers of people.

I hope we come back here time and again when we're visiting.

I stopped by yesterday and took a half hour walk through. Lots of signage to explain what you may see on your hike.

Good place to walk around with your family and pets. Lots of trails and plants/ water features. I recommend in the morning or evening not a lot of shade and can get pretty hot in the day of summer.

Love the lake and trails to walk around. Lots of bunnies, birds, and ducks. Play area for kids, no swings. Picnic area, shade covers. Benches near lake. Love this area.

This was a lovely location to get some nice running paths and greenery. Very well maintained. Due to drought most of the ponds were empty but that’s to be expected in July.

This park is amazing. Great wildlife viewing, trails, playground area, and information about the water for the city of Gilbert. People were doing all kinds of activities. Seems like all ages were walking, biking, taking photos, and enjoying the amazing amount of birds that are attracted by the ponds. I will plan to head back as soon as possible.

We take our dog their regularly for a walk. You can see so many beautiful birds and beautiful scenery. Great place to take the family for some good healthy exercise and to enjoy the great outdoors. They also have lots of little baby bunnies to enjoy if you get to see them.

Great place to meet up with friends for pleasant morning stroll. It is an easy walk and very wheelchair friendly. You will see people fishing, people walking and lots of photographers, plus a lot of wildlife. I was there recently and was so surprised to see so many rabbits, plus the ducks and birds. Wonderful place for a family picnic. They have programs available for kids too.

Bring your camera; nice walking area; many birds to seek and photo; nice place to bring visitors who want to get a bit of fresh air and nice walk.

If you want a real hiking experience, I would suggest one of the more appropaiate excursions around Phoenix i.e. San Tan or Camelback etc. However for those in the East suburbs not wanting to venture very far, this trip will suffice. Just be forewarned, you will get a steady dose of baby strollers, screaming kids and dogs. Pretty well maintained grounds.

We go here often to just relax and hear the wildlife especially at night and just walk around the ponds. Great place to fish and its safe for everyone.

I wouldn't call it a hike, but a walk. Was nice looking throughout the area. Enjoyed watching the kids excited about fishing while I walked around the ponds and trails.

Nice place for long walks. It has multiple lakes with lots of ducks. The kids really enjoyed feeding the ducks. It’s huge, so we didn’t get to see most of it, but we plan to go again.

This place warrants several visits! Extensive trails, beautiful wildlife, trees, plants, and flowers. Waterfront places to sit and just breathe. An observatory that is open to the public each weekend to look at the stars and much more.
I will have to update once I go back to explore more. Terrific place, no charge, don't miss it.

Lots of waterfowl to watch and walking trails for exercise while enjoying the out of doors. Nicely done with signage to help understand what you are seeing. Popular location for bird watching and photography.

It was a beautiful day in AZ and the walk was an easy one with several side areas to sit and watch the wildlife. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to spend time wandering and enjoy being outdoors in the middle of a bustling area!

We just attended a small wedding here last weekend for dear friends of ours!! If you or anyone you know is looking for a small intimate wedding location here this place is perfect! With a beautiful view of the lake underneath the trees!! We loved it!!

This place was so beautiful a very handsome Mature respectful man take me on a date. His choice was exelent I have not felt so important and acknowledged by a man who I dont have to think of where to go finally it feels good. He surprize me with a picnic and chocolate icecream my favorite!! He was very intrested in me i feels so cared for the walks the lake so relaxing the sunset so romantice i will have good memories for him of course he kiss me and most adorable is he asked me before like a gentlemen. So i exept and i because of that kiss i know i can do much better in my life for the better of me as a person. This place is a must go

The Preserve at Water Ranch is a great place to walk, have a picnic, enjoy the wildlife and is a photographers delight. Great place to view Great Herons, White Egrets, Night Herons, Coots, White Geese, American Pelicans and much more. There are several large shallow ponds. A few of the trails lead to the fishing lake and regional library. Kids have fun at the playground while adults can enjoy the covered ramadas. The paths are dirt and gravel with some thorny native shrubs along the trails so bikes and strollers would be best at the playground areas. There are lectures at times at the small observatory, and other things you can do and reserve there.

What a wonderful place to go with young children during the holidays It may be a simple collection of lights and displays but it brings out the kid in all of us The price is right The location easily accessible It's a wonderful way to spend part of evening with your family

Great Family Expereince especially Friday Nights with the telescope and family friendly staff that care about children

I used to go to this place every weekend to photograph water fowl & birds. For some reason the water basically stopped and this place is just a shadow of what it was. Too bad it was excellent back in the day.

This is a lovely place to take a little walk, about 1.5 miles on level ground through paths under arching trees. It is a well known bird watching area also. It is a great place to take kids to run and play and there is a small playground area. I think there are programs for children but I didn't really look into those.

My kids love this park. We go multiple times a month as a family. I come solo to run or walk 5ks. The birds are gorgeous. The lakes beautiful. You can fish, stroll, ho birding. The photographers that line the ponds and make it impossible for anyone to see anything some days are frustrating. Also, pay attention to local prom/homecoming dates because for several weekends high school kids from every school in a 50 male radius come for photos. There are always proposals, weddings, family photos, etc going on but there's so much room no one gets in the way too much. The only thing that I wish was different was parking! It's impossible on weekends.

Have been here several times now and it just keeps getting better. Enjoy taking my dog for walks here with plenty of shade during the summer. Parking can be an issue, hoever I have been parking in the library parking lot and that seems to work better.

Great place to visit for hiking and photographers nice travels with benches to site and watch the sites. a lot of animals from birds and turtles

My wife went for a walk here and made sure to take me there on her next trip. I've driven past it on Guadalupe countless times but had no idea of just how big and enjoyable the place is. We walked for about an hour, passing all seven of the ponds and taking in all the many varieties of water fowl and birds native to the area. Parking can apparently be a challenge at times but we found a spot. The pathways are well maintained and I was very pleasantly surprised to learn about the fish stocked in the largest pond and available to be fished. I greatly enjoyed walking the area and look forward to returning regularly to walk and to feed the fowl and fish.

Love walking through or biking the riparian. We live next door so its very convenient. So many birds. We also have started hiding painted rocks

This is wonderful place to see birds, or just walk around the lake. It is right next door to the library and they often have events/gatherings here that are worth checking out.

We visited to have photos taken at the park. The park is beautiful. There were tons of ducks in the pond. A lot of people walking around. . There’s something for everyone. There are toilets onsite. Parking was pretty full but we found a spot

Great place to unwind and relax. Multiple trails around the Preserve. Great place to take your family to explore.

The preserve has lovely little walking paths that the children really enjoy. They also love seeing the ducks on the bridge. I would recommend early mornings or skipping summer months altogether though. It gets very hot.

On the weekends you can go to the Observatory and see the planets. I also ride my bike around the trails and pond in the mornings or walk with the kids.

A very nice city psrk. Mostly gor walking and watching birds on the many ponds. Also kid stuff like gyms and learning centers. Has scheduled bird walks. Easy walking on paths. Some birds very close and some shy. Good family stroll.

This is a great place to have a picnic as you watch the large variety of birds on the ponds, shore, trees, and flying. Enjoy the relaxed and beautiful spot and if possible come back at night to view the moon and stars through the telescope in the observatory on Friday nights.

This place is gorgeous and well kept. It is the perfect spot for a photographer to go and get shots with different types of scenery all in one area. There is water, a bridge, desert brush, cacti...and it is all stunning in the golden hours!

The Riparian is a great place for bird watching. Always a lot of waterfowl including ducks, geese, stiltbirds, herons and many more. There is also a children's area with a swingset and "archiology" sand pit for digging up fossils. There are bird watching "blinds" to stand behind and take photos. Don't forget to look for hummingbirds.
There is also a huge observatory that is open to the public on Friday evenings. Check their schedule. If is free, however they do ask for donations. The kids will love it.
At Christmas time they light up all the trees and add yuletide displays with music. And a visit from Santa.

Because I want to keep this place to myself! Located right in the center of Gilbert is this cool area to check out. A few miles of trails, lots of birds, small animals, and many photo ops to check out. Highly recommended!

Wonderful place to stroll for young to very old. We actually saw a couple elderly folks being pushed in wheel chairs along the paved paths! Great place to hide a few painted rocks,... or keep your eyes open and you may find one yourself!

Beautiful lake where wildlife gathers. My grandson likes to there and feed the ducks, geese , fish and turtles. Family friendly with clean restrooms and picnic tables
The only thing missing is a place for a playset for children to play on and slides and swings. That would be a great addition to the park.

My husband and I came to visit my son and meet our grandbabies in Gilbert. This is the first place we went to. It is so peaceful and beautiful. My grandson loved seeing all the wildlife and bunnies. So many more trails to walk wish i could’ve done them all!

Great place to relax and walk the pooches. Met GF here while walking our monsters. Many trails and ponds, with wildlife everywhere, always a good time here. Clean and well maintained.

You have got to see this area. If you like peaceful walks, nature and it honestly feels like you stepped "off the grid". Bird lovers will adore Riparian. I love walking my dogs through. There are at least 4 different trails and they have access to the canal paths so you can get to almost anywhere from Riparian.

This is a great area to go to. It has a small planetarium, a Dino dig, small lake to fish. Great area to walk around and see desert landscape and wild life. Best of all it's a great area for Pokémon go. Day or night you'll enjoy the riparian