Hikes in Arizona

North Mountain Trail leads you to the top of 628 m North Mountain in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve north of Phoenix. With the preserve stretching east and southeast, the views on this hike perfectly combine the city and the mountains. It’s a fantastic in-between hike that can challenge strong beginners but still satisfy stronger hikers, too. This isn’t a great pick for young families because of the light scrambling required, but it’s great for hikers who want to ease into using their hands on a low-consequence trail.

If you can time your summit for sunset, you’ll be awash in a golden glow. It’s an amazing experience! Parts of this trail are paved, but the paving comes after a rocky section, so we can’t consider this trail stroller or wheelchair-friendly. Bring water with you and try to hike before or after the heat of the day.

The South Rim trail is easily the most popular hike in the park – it’s generally flat, connecting Grand Canyon Village with Hermits Rest Point and boasts fantastic views of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.

Bell Rock is one of Sedona’s most recognizable rock formations, and the hike there is a gorgeous, popular trek. Bell Rock can be reached via a quick 1.3 km trail, which this guide will follow. Longer loops can include Courthouse Butte, Baby Bell, and other nearby points of interest. This guide details the most direct route to Bell Rock beginning from Bell Rock Trailhead. This is an especially nice hike during sunrise and sunset.

This hike is family-friendly and short. You’ll need to be able to complete very short sections with hands-on climbing. The further you go up the rock, the more climbing you’ll need to do, but the views are still fantastic from the most accessible viewpoints of the trail. This route gets busy, so arrive early if you can.

The Verde Hot Springs hike takes you along an easy trail to a hot spring at an abandoned resort. Perched along the Verde River, the pools were constructed in the 1920s when this area was a tourist attraction. A fire in the 1960s destroyed the resort, but the foundation and pools survived. Abandoned ever since, the pools are open for public use and offer a unique spot to get a soak in.

The hike to the hot spring is quite easy. It’s about two and a half miles long with only about 61 m of elevation gain. There are concrete steps that lead down to the springs in the final few feet of the route. Hikers of all skill levels will be able to complete it. You will need a high-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead, though.

The Sweetwater Wetlands Loop leads you a short distance around one of the most important functional, environmental, and educational sites of the City of Tucson’s reclaimed water system. The Sweetwater Wetlands were constructed in 1996 to handle backwash water from the reclaimed water plant. Now, the site is a wetland that exclusively uses reclaimed water. The entire wetland has 4.0 km of trails, but this loop covers a quick 1.6 km section. Around 305 m of the wetland pathways are paved and ADA-approved for wheelchair users.

This quick little nature walk is suitable for all ages and all skill levels. It’s flat, either paved or on 3.4-inch gravel, and easy to navigate. Note that dogs, horses, and bikes are not allowed in this area.

Fatman’s Loop Trail is one of Flagstaff’s most popular trails. This moderate 3.9 km loop climbs along the eastern slopes of Elden Mountain, which is a main focal point from many parts of the city. The coolest parts of the trail are the rocks and trees, as you’ll see rocks with face-like caves in them. Along the route, you will climb between rocks tipped over towards each other, and make your way up smooth stone steps. It’s an interesting peek at the volcanic past of the Flagstaff area and lots of fun for kids and adults alike.

The trees on this route are excellent, with several different species displaying their individual quirks. Take the time to revel in your surroundings on this loop and you’ll find lots to appreciate. The hike itself is moderately difficult, but still suitable for most skill levels. We do advise bringing a downloaded GPS track to help at unmarked junctions.

Blue Forest Trail is one of the most popular and historic hikes in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. Originally constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the trail connects the main road near the Teepees to the also popular Blue Mesa Trail. The trail shows off the blue and white striped badlands and petrified wood with constantly evolving views. The park’s landscape is one of a kind, and this trail is an ideal one to experience it from.

This hike is moderately difficult and is suitable for most skill levels and ages. If you hike this route in the summer, bring plenty of water. Adventurous hikers can use this trail to connect to the Blue Mesa Loop for a longer hike. Expect moderate traffic.

Piestewa Peak is the second-tallest mountain in Phoenix after Camelback. From the top of this peak, you’ll have a jaw-dropping, expansive view of the city below and the mountains that surround it. The Piestewa Peak and Freedom Loop takes you to the top and then around the trail that encircles the mountain, which tends to be a bit less busy and quite scenic. You’ll do best on this hike if you embrace a sense of community, since this is a very popular hike.

There’s some interesting history behind the name of this mountain; read on to learn. To prepare for this hike, get an early start, stay out of the heat, bring water, and leave dogs and children at home. Expect a tough but beautiful adventure.

The Shoshone Point Trail is a fantastic less travelled easy hike to gain some much-needed solitude from the crowds of Hermits Rest and Grand Canyon Village. A mostly flat route leads you out to a magnificent viewpoint that you will most likely be sharing with under a dozen people!

Bell Rock is one of Sedona’s most recognizable rock formations, and the hike there is a gorgeous, popular trek. Right beside it is Courthouse Butte, a large formation dominating the landscape south of Gibraltar Rock. This loop hike takes you around both, giving you 6.4 km of incredible views and the chance to appreciate these landmarks from every angle.

This route is busy, so arrive early if you can. There are plenty of extensions that can be made using the huge network of trails in this area. You can hop up Bell Rock, scramble Baby Bell, or venture over to Gibraltar Rock. This trail is suitable for all skill levels and ages.

If you just want to see Bell Rock on a short, easy hike, check out our Bell Rock route guide.

The Treasure Trail and Siphon Draw Loop is a 4.8 km hike in Tonto National Forest with amazing desert scenery. This route takes you through a dramatic basin lined by low granite mountains, and you can also use this route to climb The Flatiron. Even if you want to stay on the easier paths, this is a hike with incredible scenery. It offers a lot without being too difficult or demanding.

There are lots of trails in this area aside from this loop, so we recommend consulting a map if you’re unfamiliar with the network of routes to avoid getting lost. The good thing is that hikers who want to extend their adventures can make use of these trails to keep hiking.

The Sabino Tram Road through the Sabino Canyon is a stellar hike. This 11.9 km moderately difficult trail is located on the north side of Saddleback and Thimble Peak in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness on the northeast edge of Tucson. This hike is excellent for its ease of access from the city and for its diverse, beautiful terrain. You’ll hike next to towering saguaros and prickly pears, witness the area’s astounding bird population fly by, and be able to appreciate the scenic canyon.

This canyon can reach scorching temperatures in the middle of the day. Start your hike early, bring plenty of water, and avoid hiking this route in the summertime if at all possible. Since this is such a popular hike, midweek visits are recommended if possible.

The Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Loop leads you through a gorgeous basin in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness underneath some of Arizona’s tallest mountains–Humphreys Peak, Aubineau Peak, and Rees Peak. With those kinds of mountains surrounding you, the views have to be good. This route leads you through a meadow that’s easily accessible from the Lockett Meadow Campground, making it a perfect trip for campers.

This route is moderately difficult, but we’d say it’s on the easier side of moderate. Hikers of most skill levels and ages will be able to complete this route. It’s especially brilliant in the fall when the aspens at the start of the route are alive with bright color. The drive to the trailhead might be the most intimidating part of the whole trip; buses, trailers, and RVs are not recommended up here.

The Old Jasper Forest Road is an off-the-beaten-path hike in Petrified Forest National Park. It shows off the petrified wood fossils this park is known for in addition to the interesting mesas and rugged desert landscapes that define this park. This hike is easy and good for all skill levels, but you’ll want to have a downloaded route available to you to help with navigation.

Lookout Mountain is an isolated peak in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, located north of the city. The mountain offers an excellent view of the other peaks of the preserve, which are just south of it, and the city and its suburbs sprawling in all directions. The hike to the top of Lookout Mountain is a short one, but it’s no-nonsense, requiring a bit of light scrambling over rocky sections. It’s a good pick for beginners who want to try out a more adventurous trail that’s still forgiving.

This hike is dog-friendly, but it might be tough for pups to get all the way to the top on those rocky sections. Make sure you bring lots of water with you and plan your hike outside the heat of the day. Might we suggest sunrise or sunset?

This popular trail leads from the North Rim Visitors Centre to the scenic Bright Angel Point over a paved path with minimal elevation gain. This is a perfect short trip for all levels of hikers, offering spectacular panoramic views.

The Seven Sacred Pools in Sedona are a set of trickling blue pools amid the vibrant red rock between the Oak Creek Mountains and Sedona’s desert. Deep green juniper trees frame the site, reminding you just how much the landscape can change the closer you are to water. The pools provide an important water source for local wildlife and a spiritual scene for visitors and locals. Take Soldier Pass Trail to access the pools via a 1.8 km easy hike. This trail is suitable for all ages and skill levels.

We recommend downloading your GPS track ahead of time as the trail can become a touch confusing where there isn’t clear signage. This area is shared by Jeep traffic, so hike with your eyes and ears open. Note that the parking for this trail is closed from 6 PM until 8 AM each day and there is no alternate parking during that time.

Horton Creek Trail is a 13.8 km route in the Tonto National Forest that sees heavy traffic. This is a popular hike with everyone from families to solo hikers to those with dogs. The trail follows along Horton Creek, taking you past waterfalls, small pools, and through trees.

This is a very relaxing hike, and despite the elevation gain and distance, it feels fairly gradual until a bigger climb at the end of the trail, which can be skipped in favor of an easier trip. The atmosphere is so serene and the natural beauty so apparent that you won’t notice how far you’re hiking or how you’re climbing.

We like this route on warm days when you can dip your feet in the creek to cool off. This is also a fun hike for those with dogs who love water.

The Sentinel Peak hike near Tucson is a quick win, offering panoramic views of Tucson and the surrounding mountains on an easy 2.7 km loop. This hike is ideal if you want a quick leg-stretcher, are taking the kids out, or if you want some time outside but can’t go far or be gone for too long. The elevation gain is mostly gentle and the route is paved and easy to follow.

Sentinel Peak is a prominent landmark. It’s also known as “A” Mountain for its University of Arizona logo on the mountain, which was built by students in 1916. Most days, the mountain sees hundreds of hikers and bikers making their way up the road that encircles the mountain’s peak.

The Lockett Meadow Inner Basin is one of the top hikes near Flagstaff. The Inner Basin Trail leads you through a stunning aspen forest to a basin in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. The basin is tucked underneath some of Arizona’s tallest mountains–Humphreys Peak, Aubineau Peak, and Rees Peak. This route leads you through a meadow that’s accessible from the Lockett Meadow Campground, making it a perfect trip for campers. Take note that this approach is an out-and-back, and is shorter and more direct than the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Loop, which you can take if you want a longer hike with a different return trip.

This route is moderate, but it’s definitely on the easier end of moderate. Most skill levels and ages will be able to complete this route without difficulty. This is a very popular hike in the fall when the aspens at the beginning of the hike are in their full fall colors. The drive to the trailhead might be the most intimidating part of the whole trip; buses, trailers, and RVs are not recommended up here.