Hikes in Arizona

The Red Basin-Clam Beds hike is a backcountry adventure in Arizona’s fascinating Petrified Forest National Park. This hike is best suited for the adventurous ones, as it’s not well-marked, requires some bushwhacking, and has some thorny footing to deal with. Little kids and dogs might not have the best time on this hike, but hikers who enjoy exercising their route-finding and getting away from busy trails will enjoy it. Expect light traffic.

The Brown's Ranch Perimeter Loop travels through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, looping around Granite Mountain and Brown’s Mountain. This entire loop is 22.5 km, but the intricate network of trails in this area allows you easily lengthen or shorten your hike. Speaking of hiking, this route can be enjoyed by hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. Make sure you share the trail!

You can see Balanced Rock and the Amphitheater on this hike. The saguaros, the mountains, and the rock formations make for great scenery, and the trail’s packed sand/gravelly footing is easy to cruise over. The junctions you’ll encounter are not always signed and there are lots of them, so having a GPS track on hand will make your adventures a bit easier. Expect moderate mixed traffic.

Soldier Pass Trail is a 7.2 km hike in Sedona, Arizona. This trail gets constant acclaim from the steady stream of hikers who explore it. With access to three main landmarks (Devil’s Kitchen. The Seven Sacred Pools, and the Soldier Pass Cave), it’s no wonder why! This trail is suitable for all ages and skill levels and is rated as moderate. You’re in for a hefty dose of classic red rock Sedona scenery on this awesome route.

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.

The Hawes Trail System is a well-developed mountain biking and hiking route collection near the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest. This loop makes use of several trails in the system to put together a hike with awesome desert and river scenery. You can even check out an old mine shaft from the region’s past mining days.

This trail system is mostly used by mountain bikers, so you’ll need to share the trail. Bring more water than you think you’ll need and avoid this trail in the summertime or heat of the day; some users report struggling with heat exhaustion. You can make this hike your own by using the connecting routes to shorten or lengthen it as you please.

Bobcat Ridge and Starr Pass is a great scenic hike near Tucson. This route is 6.6 km long and has some fun rocky sections and steep ledges with wide-open views. It might not be the best choice for those who are afraid of heights, but you’ve got enough room to maneuver that most should still feel comfortable on this route. You’ll look out at the tall saguaros, the mountains on the horizon, and Tucson beside you. This hike doesn’t get too busy, so it’s a good bet any time of the week.

Bring lots of water for this hike as there’s no shade. We also like to pack a picnic and take a seat near (not at the end of) the ledge to have lunch with a view.

Over 700 years ago, a pueblo community lived within Walnut Canyon. While the community is long gone, their structures still partly stand. Peer into the rooms of their dwellings as you explore this short, interesting historic trail. While the trail is rated as moderate, with about 185 feet of vertical drop, those not acclimatized to 2,134 m may wish to spend a day or two in Flagstaff before visiting.

Since this is a historic site, please remain on the trails, don’t touch the structures, and remember to leave dogs at home. If you’re visiting in the summertime, aim to plan your hike for the morning to avoid the common afternoon monsoon storms that come through the Flagstaff area.

Martha’s Butte is a hike in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park that reveals ancient petroglyphs and the moonlike landscape of this unique park. This region was inhabited about 650 years ago, and depictions of animals, people, and shapes are carefully preserved on rocks around Martha's Butte. The origin of the name, or who Martha was, is unknown. Expect light traffic on this route, which will require some route-finding.

The Upper Ranch and Brown's Ranch Road Trail travels through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, looping around Brown’s Summit. This route can be enjoyed by hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers since it’s not too rocky. It’s mostly flat but with some undulations to keep things interesting. Because of the mixed nature of the traffic on this route, make sure you share the trail!

The view of Cone Mountain is great on this route, and the obvious star of the show is Brown’s Summit. Since there are so many interconnecting trails in this preserve, it’s easy to lengthen or shorten your adventure as you please. The junctions you’ll encounter are not always signed and there are lots of them, so having a GPS track on hand will make your adventures a bit easier. Expect moderate mixed traffic.

Crescent Moon Ranch is a beautiful picnic park along Oak Creek. Locals and visitors come here to swim, snack, play games, and relax. The Crescent Moon Ranch to Red Rock Crossing hike is a short jaunt beside the creek that takes you to one of the best places to photograph Cathedral Rock, a place where the rock reflects in the glassy waters of the creek.

This hike is suitable for all skill levels, but note that you’ll need to cross the creek. There is no bridge, so you’ll need to cross the water, which can be knee-high depending on the recent rainfall. Bring wading shoes!

Blue Wash Trail is a scenic 4.5 km hike in the Tonto National Forest north of Phoenix. This route leads you through a wash to Camp Creek Falls. With rugged canyon scenery, a few viewpoints, and the flowing water to follow as you near the falls (depending on the time of year), this is an enjoyable hike for all skill levels. This trail is also popular with horseback riders, so remember to share the route.

We like this hike best when there’s been recent rain, but definitely wait until the rain has passed to hike it. There would be flash flooding danger on this trail during a monsoon. Wildlife like rattlesnakes have been spotted on this hike, so enjoy the critters you see from a safe distance.

Chiva Falls Trail is an 13.8 km hard hike near Tucson that is used by hikers and off-road drivers. The trail leads through the desert to a lovely waterfall. If you like to spot wildlife, this is a great trail! Users report seeing snakes, lizards, tarantulas, and more. Since the entire hike is out in the sun with no shade, it’s important that you bring more water than you think you’ll need and wear sun protection. We don’t recommend this during the heat of the day.

Since traffic is shared on this route, we recommend keeping open ears as you hike.

Additionally, dogs should be kept on leash to keep them safe in the presence of mountain bikes and ATV and vehicle traffic. Try to plan this hike in the spring or after heavy rain to see the falls in action. While this is a hiking guide, drivers should know that this route is only recommended for experienced off-roaders.

The Sunset Trail leads you up and across some of the most visible mountains in Flagstaff’s skyline, heading up Little Elden Mountain to the top of T-V Hill, next to Elden Mountain’s summit lookout. This route is used by hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers and is enjoyed for its lovely views, especially when the fall colors start to paint the mountainsides. Expect light to moderate traffic on this route.

This route is moderately difficult, with undulating elevation gain providing lots of chances to catch your breath. You can do this route as-is or choose to go just a few steps past its end to reach the top of Elden Mountain, where you’ll have an excellent view of Flagstaff.

The Hieroglyphic Trail is a 4.5 km hike at the base of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains that leads to the opening of a canyon decorated with petroglyphs. These images date back over 1,500 years when the Hohokam tribe lived here. Not only is the canyon base a living artifact, but your perch here gives you a stellar view of the Gold Canyon, Gila River Plain, and the upper peaks of the Superstition Mountains over 610 m above you.

This hike is moderately difficult and is suitable for most skill levels and ages. It requires very light scrambling to get into the canyon. Dogs are not permitted on this trail. Note that this hike gets very busy, so you’ll want to visit midweek or early in the morning if you’re able to.

Cathedral Rock is undoubtedly one of Sedona’s top hikes, if not even the top hike in the area. It’s no wonder why: you’ll climb through an unbelievable landscape of red earth, cacti, and layered sandstone buttes to one of the most recognizable geological formations in Sedona. Cathedral Rock is incredible to explore, especially this close. This hike pairs a classic trek to Cathedral Rock with a walk down to Red Rock Crossing, a waterside area where the rock reflects in the calm waters of Oak Creek.

This hike is suitable for most skill levels but might be difficult for small children. We recommend bringing plenty of water as this hike lacks shade.

Lone Mountain, also known as EJ Peak by locals, is a 853 m mountain in the Usery Range just outside of Phoenix. The trail up the mountain and back is only 3.7 km roundtrip, making this one of the easier summits you can bag. From the top, enjoy a fantastic view of Pass Mountain, Brown’s Peaks, McDowell Peak, and the rest of the Goldfield and Usery Mountains in the distance.

While the route is short, it’s fairly steep. Small kids might struggle with this one, but active older children should have no problem. Since this hike is out in the sun for the entirety of the trail, you’ll definitely want sunscreen, a hat, and lots of water. We recommend leaving this trail for the fall, winter, and early spring to avoid the worst of the heat.

The Valley View Overlook Trail is a quick and easy route in Saguaro National Park West lined with gorgeous tall cactus and rolling desert hills. This route is great for families with young kids or beginner hikers who want to get out and enjoy the outdoors on a simple, forgiving trail. Saguaro National Park West is known for its amazing saguaros and relaxed hiking trails, so this is a great way to introduce yourself to the park and enjoy its scenery.

While this is a short trail, you’ll still want to bring water for the hike. It can get very hot on this route, so sunscreen and a hat are also good ideas.

Some hikes are just made for quiet mornings, and Tunnel Spring is one of them. This is a relaxing route through the forest that leads you to the top of Observatory Mesa. While the views aren’t the most far-reaching around, this hike amongst the trees is very pleasant. It’s a steady climb up, but once you’re on the mesa you can stroll quite a ways along its flat top. Expect moderate traffic on this route.

This hike crosses the train tracks, and if your kids like trains, there’s a good chance you might spot one or two. While train tracks near a nature hike might seem like an unlikely combo, it’s a fun feature and watching the trains cruise by can be enjoyable. Once you’re on the mesa, you’ll feel far away from the city.

Bluff Springs and Cave via Peralta Trail is an adventurous 8.5 km loop hike in the Superstition Wilderness near Phoenix. This hike is diverse, interesting, and rewarding. You’ll need to do some route-finding thanks to its lack of signage, but you’ll find a cave, fantastic desert mountain scenery, and a perfect view of Weavers Needle. It’s definitely worth the navigational work you might need to do.

We like this loop best going clockwise since there are boulders on the return trip that are easier to navigate this way. Kids should be able to complete this trail, but little ones might struggle with the light technicality of the trail. Bigger, adventurous kids have successfully done the hike. Get this one done before the heat of the day!

Crescent Moon Ranch is a beautiful picnic park along Oak Creek. Locals and visitors come here to swim, snack, play games, and relax. If you’re hanging out here and you want to take a walk, try the Oak Creek Trail. The Oak Creek Trail is a short jaunt beside the creek that takes you to the Red Rock Crossing vortex. See if you can feel the energy! You can also admire the view of Cathedral Rock in the water of Oak Creek, a spot where the rock is very commonly photographed from.

The West Clear Creek Trail is an 14.0 kmhike near Camp Verde, Arizona. This is a popular trail with both hikers and backpackers thanks to its campsites and backcountry camping space. It’s a great way to appreciate Arizona’s unique scenery, with a few oddities along the way… Like the old farmhouse with a cactus growing on its roof.

This route is heavily trafficked but, thanks to its hour or so of separation from Sedona, it’s not nearly as busy as some of the top trails in the area. We recommend bringing lots of water since this hike is out in the sun for most of the way. We also recommend packing wading shoes to help with the multiple creek crossings.