A successful administrator and account manager in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Arizona, Edrick Lassalle Soto enjoys outdoor activities such as swimming and snowboarding. Edrick Lassalle Soto is also an avid hiker.
Although there is certainly no shortage of great hiking in the greater Phoenix area, the 10-acre Gilbert Riparian Preserve (also known as the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch) offers great hiking opportunities within the city boundaries of Gilbert. It has been a dedicated and sanctioned wildlife sanctuary since 1999.
Traversing Gilbert Riparian Preserve’s interconnected network of trails, hikers can navigate around seven ponds that are home to both fish and waterfowl. In the autumn months, the Desert Rivers Audubon sponsors a series of free family bird walks in the Gilbert Riparian Preserve.
One of the most popular hikes in the Gilbert Riparian Preserve (and the city of Gilbert as a whole), according to the independent hiking authority AllTrails, is the Water Ranch Trail. This lakeside loop trail covers two miles and is appropriate for hikers of all skill levels.
