Dankworth Pond - Exploring more of Safford,AZ.

I recently posted about a little getaway spot in Safford,Arizona called Roper Lake that is great for a weekend camping/fishing trip at a lake, but that isn't the only spot to stop for an adventure in the area. Ten minutes down the road from Roper Lake is another small state park called Dankworth Pond. The day use pass is valid for both parks. We arrived early in the morning on a Sunday, so there were only three other cars in the parking lot, otherwise the park was open and free to explore while still social distancing. 

Dankworth Pond used to be a small fish hatchery, however it has turned into a recreational area for fishing, picnicking, hiking and exploring nature. There are several shaded picnic tables, BBQ grills and a fishing dock along with bathrooms. Further back on one of the hiking trails you'll also find a covered amphitheater (there is vault toilet near here for if you need to go on the trail). 

We stopped by Dankworth the morning we arrived in Safford prior to exploring Roper Lake, so we didn't plan on fishing (the poles were buried in the trunk). Our plan for the day was to visit the hiking trail and see the small replica Indian village they have set up.

The hiking trail they have here features a variety of desert landscapes and a gorgeous view of Mt. Graham. Everything is marked properly, most of the path is pretty straight forward and different areas have a rock path on each side showing you where to walk. We also found several different benches along the way where you can sit and rest or enjoy the views. 

One of the trails they have is called the Dos Arroyos trail which leads back to Dankworth Village, which is an area where they have a replica Indian Village that you are able to see and explore. From the small bit of information I read on the state parks website we were pretty excited to see this. Now granted, it wasn't quite what we had pictured, but it was still a lot of fun to see. Reading or hearing the word "village" you picture almost a small North Pole type village like they have at winter attractions, with several buildings, paths and more. 

When we arrived to the back area we found a gated off area of the park that had a gate you could open and walk into this area. They have a grinding stone set up and there are three different types of building structures that were used over the years. The trails in this particular area felt a little all over the place, but we stuck on the paths as much as we could to get to each of the three structures since they are a bit spaced out. I highly suggest visiting this park and the replica village in the fall/winter or spring months when it is cooler as there is no shading. 

The structures are completely open, however they are very dark inside. I didn't see any signs stating you shouldn't enter them, but I found it a little too creepy due to the thoughts of creepy critters lurking in the shadows. The trail in total is a 1.75 mile loop, we found the trail easy to navigate and the terrain was pretty level making this a great trail for even a beginner to go on a hike. 

The views are gorgeous, you'll find a wide variety of plants, birds and wildlife along the trail and off in the distance you can see a perfect view of Mt. Graham. During our trip the mountain was covered in snow, quite breathtaking to see. We saw a number of ducks, a heron and lots of small birds along the way. There is one section of the trail that has a small stream that runs under a bridge and it is surrounded by tress which makes a great photo opportunity spot.

If you are looking for a great spot to fish there are a few benches around the pond, and there is a fishing dock you can fish off of. You are also allowed to kayak, or launch a small non motorized boat to take around the pond. The park is open from 6am until 10pm, you can pack a lunch and have a picnic, bring your dogs for a walk. We thought this was a lovely spot to spend the morning and if we are in the area again we will stop back through. The location of this park is Dankworth Pond, Swift Trail Junction, AZ 85546 which is only a few miles South of Roper Lake State Park.