In the mountains you will find the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, an area where many like to visit and hike. Many of the areas in this park are undeveloped wilderness with many indigenous species roaming around the desert grounds. Some of the critters you might see while visiting the park are mule deer, coyotes, javelina, small rodents, and on rare occasions, mountain lions. Some of the birds found in the park are roadrunners and cactus wren, which is the Arizona state bird. Since the park is in the desert, many reptiles can be found wandering the area as well. You can take a guided tour and learn all about the animals and plants found in this natural desert preserve.
One of the main reasons I want to visit the mountain range is the numerous petroglyphs found scattered around the mountains and may predate the Hohokam people. Approximately 11 archaeological sites were recognized along with 7 Hohokam villages. There are various trails leading to these sites and villages dispersed and marked for your interests. You can take as many pictures of the sites and petroglyphs, but all they ask is that you don’t touch them.
The mountains also have stories of paranormal activity. There have been several UFO sightings over the mountain range, but since the White Tanks are located near Luke Air Force Base, many have been dismissed as being something military. Some people believe that what they saw was not manmade, but something unexplainable. Along with the UFO sightings, people have reported ghostly figures and other strange phenomena while hiking the mountains.
