Hikes in Arizona

Parker Creek Trail is a 10.3 km hike in the Tonto National Forest that sees little traffic. That’s part of the intrigue and challenge of this route. You’ll very likely have the place to yourself, but you’re going to need to be very bold to make it to the top and back. The views are excellent, but you’ll contend with downed trees, overgrowth, and a lack of signage. If you’re lucky enough to enjoy this trail after it’s been tended to, you’ll be able to cruise through right to the views. Bring pants, poles, good boots, and lots of water on this hike.

The Sears Kay Ruins Trail is an interesting hike suitable for all skill levels and ages. This quick trail has beautiful wildflowers to see in the spring, neat rock formations, and preserve ruins. It won’t take much time out of your day, so plan a picnic and a quick hike in the area if you’re going to be nearby. You’ll also love the views of the basin at the end of the hike.

The Palo Verde Trail hugs the shores of Bartlett Lake with SB Mountain looming overhead. This hike is moderate, with some inclines and some laid-back sections. With lots of little coves to stop into for a rest, it’s a good hike to take at a leisurely pace. We do recommend bringing a GPS route as the trail can become hard to find at times.

Gordon Creek Falls Trail is an enjoyable hike packed with cliff views and flowing water. When the waterfalls are running, they’re quite scenic. The hike isn’t too difficult and should be suitable for families and beginners. Watch for horned toads, squirrels, and rattlesnakes on this route. While the trail is quite straightforward, those who haven’t visited before might want the help of a GPS route to follow.

See Canyon Trail is a 12.2 km hard hike in the Tonto National Forest that takes you to the headwaters of the See Spring and through a gorgeous canyon. This hike is easier at first and gets harder as you go, so families or beginners can opt to hike as far as they comfortably can and turn back early if needed. Bring a GPS route on this hike as it’s not quite as easy to follow the further you get into the canyon.

The Red Rock Spring Trail is a 3.2 km adventure in the Tonto National Forest that takes you partway up the side of a mesa wall for great views of the surrounding landscape. The route is easy enough for all skill levels and for families. While it’s a bit rocky, you should be able to get to the viewpoint fairly easily and then cruise back down.

Enjoy the forested wilderness right on the fringes of Payson on the Houston Loop Trail, a moderate hike that’s easy to reach right from town. This hike offers a pleasant forest setting and no significant challenges to consider. It’s suitable for most skill levels and doesn’t take very long to complete, so add it to your list if you’ll be in the area.

Hike out to an old mine with lots of obsidian still stashed to find on the Apache Tears Mine hike. This trail is short, simple, and suitable for all ages and skill levels. See hieroglyphs, check out what rocks you can find, marvel at bit saguaros, find some shade by the creek-- there’s a bit of everything to find on this route.

Stroll underneath Table Mountain, North Mountain, and Red Mountain on the New River Trail, a scenic hike near New River, Arizona. Note that this is primarily an OHV trail, so while hikers are also welcome, you’re going to want to share the trail and watch for traffic. For this reason, we definitely recommend keeping dogs leashed. We don’t recommend this trail in the hot summer months. Bring lots of water!

Mount Ord Trail is a 23.2 km hike in the Tonto National Forest that takes you up to the summit of, you guessed it, Mount Ord. This is a hard hike both in terms of distance and elevation gain, making it a popular pick for hikers training for Rim to Rim. There are a few challenges of note on the trail, so this is a route best suited to adventurous, more experienced hikers.

The Cave Creek and Skunk Creek Loop is an interesting trail with, frankly, mixed reviews. Some hikers prefer the Skunk Creek side and would rather do that as an out and back, some feel the same about the Cave Creek Side, and some enjoy the entire loop. Come try it for yourself and see which team you’re on. This route sees moderate traffic.

The Houston Mesa Interpretive Trail is a very quick trip near Houston Mesa that is great for families with small kids or those who want a short, simple hike. The views are pretty and the trail is easy to find your way on. It’s also conveniently close to town. Expect moderate traffic on this route.

Prospector’s View Trail is a simple, easy hike in Lost Dutchman’s State Park that is rated as easy. This hike takes place over terrain mild enough for all skill levels and the views are all classic Arizona desert scenery. There are lots of additional trails nearby you can use to extend your adventure if you’d like. You can also check out the mining past of the area in Goldfield after your hike. Expect light traffic on this hike.

The Bartlett Reservoir Trail hugs the shores of Bartlett Lake with SB Mountain looming overhead. This hike is moderate with some inclines and some laid-back sections. With lots of little coves to stop into for a rest, it’s a good hike to take at a leisurely pace. We do recommend bringing a GPS route as the trail can become hard to find at times.

The Pine Creek and Ballantine Loop is a hike north of Mesa in the Tonto National Forest that takes you to appreciate The Boulders, an interesting mountain. This hike is moderately difficult and suitable for strong beginners and better. It can be overgrown, so long pants and a set of clippers are recommended. Bring plenty of water on this hike and avoid visiting in the hot summer months.

Picketpost Loop Trail is an 13.8 km loop hike that leads you around a dramatic, isolated butte in the Tonto National Forest. Previously used as a battleground in efforts by Geroge Stoneman to seize this land from the Yavapai, the butte is now an area for campers and hikers to appreciate Arizona’s rugged scenery. Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen and a hat, and avoid hiking this trail between June and August when the temperatures soar.

The Military Sinkhole Trail is a very scenic route in the Tonto National Forest that leads you through a forest on the edge of a mesa to a viewpoint. This hike is nice and shady and it’s at its absolute best during the fall when the trees come alive with color. There are lots of campgrounds just beyond the trail on the mesa if you want to make a weekend trip out of it. Expect moderate traffic on this route.

The Sixshooter Canyon Trail is an incredible hike that we’d venture to call an underrated gem. Despite its amazing scenery, this route doesn’t see very much traffic. It begins in the brushy desert and leads you up through a forest with an amazing variety of trees (excellent for birding)into a canyon that stretches up to Pinal Peak. The scenery is unreal, the hike is challenging, and you’ll likely encounter few fellow hikers as you soak up the views.

The Pine Strawberry Trail is a. 13.4 km point-to-point trail that starts in southeastern Pine, stretches south, and then climbs alongside Strawberry Mountain to Strawberry. With ever-changing scenery, this is a delightful trail to use for as long as you want. Hike a portion to get out with the kids and dogs or make a full day of it and do it as an out and back. Expect moderate traffic on this route.

The Bulldog Canyon hike is a fun trail that starts right from the city limits of Apache Junction, Arizona. The hike takes you beside Dome Mountain, Lone Mountain, and Pass Mountain. The views are awesome and the hike will get your legs working without being overly strenuous. This is a good pick if you want to feel like you’re in the mountains without having to actually climb one. This route is shared by vehicle and horse traffic. Additionally, you can hike just a portion of this route if a point-to-point doesn’t work for you.