Stopped here for an hour or so at the end of the day. The hike description and triplogs weren't exactly flattering, but I was pleasantly surprised with this tucked away preserve. Not enough time to bird-watch, but we did hit all the little trails. Mesquite Meander to Palm Lake loop to Willow Walkway to River Ramble to Lyke's Lookout. The trails close at 4:30pm, and we barely made it out by then. Light was nice at the end of the afternoon.

Foot tall (or higher) grasses lined the trails. The lake was lovely and some kind of mating ritual was going on with the ducks. A few turtles were sunning themselves. My husband saw a beautiful red bird (he thinks a vermillion flycatcher), but my pitiful camera could not zoom in far enough. I have five blurry red photos of something with wings. Tall non-native desert fan palms tower in a few areas. The Hassayampa river is only a few feet wide at its strongest flow point, but it sure is clear.