Find: Phoenix Hiking Trails
Easy Hikes | Moderate
Hikes | Strenuous Hikes
The Phoenix area hiking information below is general
in nature. The city offers some very exciting parks and hiking
trails. There are over 200 miles of hiking trails to explore in
the Phoenix area. Visitors should be aware that hiking in the
desert poses some special challenges.
Daytime temperatures in the winter are usually very
comfortable, but expect bone chilling cold after sunset. Daytime
temperatures in the summer can reach 120º Fahrenheit. Always
carry a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day when hiking in
the Phoenix area. Watch out for rattlesnakes and do not
disturb them. Hiking distances in the chart below are
round-trip. Most opportunities for hiking in the Phoenix area are
in one of the city parks where camping is not allowed.
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We
recommend these guidebooks for hiking in the Phoenix area:
Arizona Day Hikes
100
Classic Hikes in Arizona
Bajada Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead - take the main road (do not make any turns) from the
Central Avenue entrance for two miles. Then, turn to the right following
the signs towards San Juan Valley. Turn left into a gravel parking area at
the 2.5 mile marker. The San Juan area closes at sunset. All vehicles
should be outside the area by that time, so plan your hike
accordingly. Hike is 4 miles roundtrip.
Deer Valley Rock Art Center - North Phoenix
3711 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Hike is .5 mile
roundtrip. This is the best place to view petroglyphs in the metro
area. The Hedgpeth Hill petroglyph site has more than 1,500 recorded
petroglyphs on almost 600 boulders.
Javelina Canyon Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead is located at Beverly Canyon parking lot, 46th Street (south
of Baseline road). Hike is 3.4 miles roundtrip.
Lost Dog Trail - McDowell Mountains
Trailhead - from Scottsdale, drive east on Shea to 124th
Street. Turn north (left) and continue to Cactus road. Turn east
(right) and go to 128th Street. Drive north on 128th street until
the road ends. There is a small parking area at the end of the
road. Hike is 6 miles roundtrip.
Margie's Cove West - Sonoran Desert National Monument
Trailhead - From Phoenix, take I-10 south to Maricopa Road.
At Maricopa Rd, turn right onto SR 238. Take SR 238 west for
approximately 30 miles. About 10 miles past the Mobile Elementary
School, turn right on dirt road with a BLM sign indicating the Sonoran
Desert National Monument, then continue several miles to the
trailhead. A 4WD vehicle is recommended. Hike is 18 miles
roundtrip through mostly level terrain. With a vehicle shuttle it
can be done as a 9 mile hike one-way.
Spring Valley Trail - Hell's Canyon Wilderness Area
Trailhead - Take I-17 N to Carefree Highway (SR 74) exit and
go left (west) towards Lake Pleasant Recreational Area. Take the Park
Access Road and turn left onto Castle Creek Road. Go past the Lake
Pleasant Recreational Area road (located on the right) and continue north
to a cattle guard. Park in the pull-out. Hike is 4.6 miles
roundtrip.
Squaw Peak Nature Trail #304 - Squaw Peak Recreation
Area
Trailhead is located at the Apache picnic area at the end of Squaw
Peak Drive in Squaw Peak recreation area. Hike is 3 miles roundtrip
with an elevation change of about 200 ft.
Telegraph Pass Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead is located at Desert Foothills Parkway (north of Chandler
Boulevard) and Sixth Street. Hike is 3.0 miles roundtrip, first 0.5
mile is paved. There are some steep sections toward the top.
Tortilla Creek Loop Trail - Superstition Mountains
Trailhead - From Apache Junction take SR 88 (Apache Trail) NW for
23.8 miles to FR 213. Drive south 3.2 miles to the trailhead.
4-wheel drive required on FR 213. Hike is 3.4 miles roundtrip.
West Park Loop Trail - Papago Park
Papago Park can be entered from Van Buren St or McDowell Rd near 52
St. Hike is wheelchair accessible and 4 miles roundtrip.
Beverly Canyon Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead is located by the parking lot, 8800 S. 46th Street (south of
Baseline road). This trail has some short, steep sections.
Hike is 3 miles roundtrip.
Black Mesa Loop Trail - Superstition Mountains
Trailhead - From Apache Junction, go NE on SR 88 approx 5.3 miles
to FR 78 (just past Lost Dutchman State Park). Turn right and continue 2.6
miles to parking at end of road. There is a $4.00 per day fee for
parking. Hike is 9 miles roundtrip.
Dreamy Draw Nature Trail - Squaw Peak Recreation Area
The trailhead is located just north of the parking lot in Dreamy
Draw recreation area near 19th Street and Northern Avenue. A large paved
parking lot, unpaved staging area with hitching racks, horse trough,
drinking water and restrooms. Hike is 3 miles roundtrip with an
elevation change of 200 ft. This is a multi-use trail.
Fat Man's Pass - South Mountain Park
Trailhead is located at Pima Canyon, 24th Street and Valley View
Avenue (south of Baseline Road). Fat Man's Pass is a section of the
Mormon Trail between the National Trail and Hidden Valley. Hike is
2.2 miles roundtrip with an elevation change of 1,000 ft.
Go John Loop Trail - Cave Creek Recreation Area
Trailhead - from Phoenix take Cave Creek Road north to left on
Carefree Highway. Turn right on 32nd Street and continue into Cave Creek
Recreational Area. There is a $3 fee required to enter the park. Continue
along the main park road to the Go John Trailhead on the left. Hike
is 4.8 miles roundtrip.
Kiwanis Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead - turn left at the dip in the road (Central Avenue entrance),
go straight at the next intersection. Follow the road back to a split rail
fenced gravel parking area. Hike is 2 miles roundtrip with steep
sections near the top.
Little Saddle Mountain Trail #244 - Mazatzal Mountains
Trailhead - from Phoenix, drive north on SR 87 through the town of
Sunflower. Watch for high tension power lines that cross the
highway. Park on east side of SR 87 just before crossing under the power
lines. The trailhead is directly across from the pull out.
Hike is 7 miles roundtrip.
Mormon Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead is located at 24th Street and Valley View Avenue (south of
Baseline Road). Hike is 2.2 miles roundtrip with an elevation change
of 1,000 ft.
Pass Mountain Trail - Usery Mountain Recreation Area
Trailhead - take I-10 east to US 60. Continue east on US 60 to
Ellsworth exit. Go North on Ellsworth 7.5 miles to the Usery Mountain
Recreation Area. There is a $5.00 admittance fee. Follow the road to the
Wind Cave trailhead. Hike is 7.1 miles roundtrip with an
elevation change of 750 ft., but the trail crosses many washes.
Pine Creek Loop Trail - Mazatzal Mountains
Trailhead - from Mesa go north on AZ 87 to mile marker 210.7 (the
Ballentine Trailhead is 8 miles south of Sunflower). Trailhead is well
marked just off the highway. Hike is 3 miles roundtrip.
Ranger Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead - turn left at the one mile marker (one mile in on the
main road of the Central Avenue entrance). Hike is 2.8 miles
roundtrip, with steep switchbacks toward the top end.
Reavis Canyon Trail - Superstition Mountains
Trailhead - from Phoenix go east on US 60 toward Superior.
Just before you get to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, turn left on Hewitt
Canyon Rd, then an right onto FR 8. Go 1 mile to the junction with
FR 650. Follow FR 650 for 4 miles to an old barn and corral and hike
one mile up the creek to the trailhead. Hike is 12 miles roundtrip.
Squaw Peak Circumference Trail #302 - Squaw Peak
Recreation Area
Trailhead is located off Squaw Peak Drive. Turn left to enter the
Recreation Area and drive to parking area at end of the road near the
Apache Ramada. Hike is 6 miles roundtrip.
Alta Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead - take the main road (do not make any turns) from the
Central Avenue entrance until nearly two miles in. Then, turn to the right
following the signs towards San Juan Valley. Turn left into a gravel
parking area at the 2.5 mile marker. The San Juan area closes at sunset.
All vehicles should be outside the area by that time, so plan your hike
accordingly Hike is 9 miles roundtrip, with very steep sections on
both ends.
Camelback Summit Trail - Echo Canyon Recreation Area
Trailhead located at Echo Canyon Parkway just of McDonald
Dr. This is a very strenuous trail recommended only for
experienced hikers. The trail ascends through some spectacular sandstone
rock formations and offers unparalleled views from the summit of the
greater Phoenix area. Hike is 2.4 mi. roundtrip with an elevation
change of 1,264 ft.
Cholla Trail - Camelback Mountain
Parking is available on Invergordon/64th Street near Cholla Lane. There
is no trailhead parking and street parking is very limited. Hikers must
park on Invergordon and walk up the south side of Cholla Lane. Dropping
off hikers on Cholla Lane is prohibited. Hike is is 3 miles
roundtrip with an elevation change of 1,200 ft.
Holbert Trail - South Mountain Park
Trailhead is located at Activity Complex (first left turn immediately
after entering the park on Central Avenue) passes near by Mystery
Castle. Hike is 5 miles roundtrip with fairly long steep sections.
Squaw Peak Summit Trail #300 - Squaw Peak Recreation
Area
Trailhead is located in the parking lot at the first driveway on
the left in Squaw Peak Park. To reach Squaw Peak, turn east on Squaw Peak
Drive from Lincoln Drive between 22nd and 24th streets. Hike is 2.4
miles with an elevation change of 1,200 ft.
This page last updated:
05/07/06
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