The Best Hikes Near Phoenix | A Visitor’s Guide

September 5, 2023

For those who don’t know about my current situation, I’ve made it my mission to travel the around the country in my younger years. As a remote worker, I’m able to bounce around to a new city or location pretty frequently. I do my best to pick out the best and most strenuous hiking trails.

Last fall, my journey brought me to Phoenix, AZ or “The Valley” as some call it. I can honestly say it’s one of the best places I’ve traveled to. My friends and family will tell you how I absolutely rave about Phoenix and how I might move there after all of my ventures come to an end. Aside from Phoenix being and awesome city with plenty to do within it’s limits, the nature and hiking trails nearby are phenomenal. I didn’t realize how mountainous the entire area was. You can find awesome nature trails, strenuous even, within 10-15 minutes of the city. Not to mention if you were to drive 2 hours in any direction from Phoenix you’d find some of the most spectacular sites in the country.

Enough of my rambling, grab your hiking shoes and let’s dive into some of the best hikes near Phoenix. No particular order to this list, just some awesome trails you should check out if you ever make your way out to the Grand Canyon State.

QUICK LIST OF MY FAVORITE HIKES

Widforss Trail

This is a scenic trail in the north rim of the Grand Canyon that’s named after an artist, Gunnar Widforss. This was the first time I had visited the Grand Canyon and I was honestly shocked to see the great forests surrounding the area. When you think Grand Canyon, you think of a desert, arid environment. At least that’s what I thought. But nope, very green.

This is a pretty long hike, 9.3 miles out and back on the canyons north rim. You’ll start a little ways a way from the Grand Canyon visitor center and work your way out. Widforss is moderately difficult, it’s really pretty flat since you’re just trekking around the canyon. You’ll have plenty of different viewpoints plus it’s off the beaten path a bit so you’ll avoid a lot of traffic the park brings in.

I will advise to pack accordingly, even if you’re just visiting/hiking for a day. I actually set out on Widforss with my mom since she was visiting at the time in early October. We saw temperatures around 50 degrees which is fine for a hoodie and shorts. About half through the trail, I kid you not, it started snowing and hailing. Never in a million years I thought that would happen. We basically had to sprint back 4 miles because we were so underdressed!

Distance: 9.3 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate, mostly flat terrain
Trail Features: Multiple viewpoints, forests surrounding the Grand Canyon

Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trail

Just outside of Phoenix lies the iconic Camelback Mountain. Cholla Trail is in a neighborhood in Paradise Valley which is about 20 minutes from Phoenix. You can also check out Echo Canyon Trail which is another way up to the top. It’s a populated area so you definitely have to do this early in the morning, street parking fills up quick.

This is low-key a really hard hike but one of the best hikes in Phoenix. When I was doing my research it said only 3 miles which certainly is not a long hike. When I pick out hikes to do I usually type in “hardest hikes” where I’m headed for the day. When I saw 3 miles and a “hard” difficulty level, I was curious.

About 5 minutes into the hike I could see why it was listed as a difficult hike. It’s basically straight up to the top of the mountain. You’ll gain over 1,200 feet of elevation in just a mile and half, which is a super steep incline. There’s some brutal switchbacks and even some climbing you have to do towards the top, it’s certainly not for anyone who’s not in great shape. But if you’re able to do this, it’s super rewarding. You’ll be able to see the entire city of Phoenix from the viewpoint at the top along with the whole valley that the city is enclosed by.

Overall a very enjoyable hike. I went right before going to the gym in the morning. Certainly got my cardio in for the day.

Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: Over 1,200 feet in 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Features: Steep incline, switchbacks, some climbing required

Holbert Trail to Dobbins Lookout

Holbert Trail is another Phoenix hike that’s located in South Mountain Park. As a local favorite, you’ll definitely see some crowds here. I actually went with a few friends to this one and while we were on the incline there was a brigade of at least 40 trail runners. A little intimidating as we were taking our sweet time up to the lookout.

This was a pretty moderate hike, anyone can do this one. It’s a 4.2 mile out and back hike where you’ll gain just under 1,000 feet but certainly one of the best hikes in Phoenix.

When you reach the top you’ll see a nice little park area with a pavilion. This is another viewpoint where you can see the entire city of Phoenix along with whole valley. They do a nice job marking everything too. The vista identifies Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, and downtown Phoenix. You can also see Camelback Mountain pretty easily from the top here as well.

Distance: 4.2 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: Just under 1,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Features: City views, park area with a pavilion at the top, identified landmarks

Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail

Located in Lost Dutchman State Park in the Superstition Mountains lies the most challenging hike I’ve ever done. Seriously, this hike wrecked me and not just because I had leg day in the gym the day before.

It was about 30 minutes away from where I was staying in Scottsdale and I had anticipated having a nice morning hike that’d take a couple hours, nothing too crazy since I saw that it was only 5.5 miles out and back. What I didn’t realize is that it’s 2,627 feet in elevation gain in just 2.5 miles. Which if you’re an experienced hiker, you know that is basically straight up.

I’d recommend hiking this trail with someone who has done it before. The trail isn’t that well-marked, basically because you’re rock climbing a good mile and half and it’s hard to pay attention to any of the markings. My best advice to anyone doin this hike alone is to stay left. I accidentally went right and ended up in no mans land basically up on a side of a cliff. I had to scramble all the way back down and find some people who had done this one before.

Despite this being a very strenuous hike, it’s one of the best hikes near Phoenix. The rock formations are amazing and the viewpoint at the top is incredibly rewarding. Definitely take your time up there, going back down is just as tough as going up.

Distance: 5.5 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 2,627 feet in 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Trail Features: Rock formations, viewpoint at the top, requires rock climbing

Bear Mountain Trail

If you venture north of Phoenix, you’ll find Sedona just a couple hours away. Sedona is arguably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Plus it’s home to some awesome hiking opportunities. Bear Mountain was one of those trails where I typed “hardest trails in Sedona” and it was the first to pop up.

It’s a 5 mile out and back hike that felt like it was about 10 miles long. This was a super challenging hike gaining just over 2,000 in elevation. Luckily there isn’t any rock climbing on this one. This is another hike that’s off the beaten path a bit which is really nice. I only saw a handful of people throughout the trail and had the top of the mountain to myself for a good 30 minutes which was awesome. You have a panoramic view of Sedona’s red rocks and can see a lot of the cool formations that Sedona has to offer in the distance. I would definitely say this one is a hidden gem compared to the more popular hikes in the Sedona area making it one of the best hikes near Phoenix

Distance: 5 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: Just over 2,000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Features: Panoramic views of Sedona’s red rocks, less crowded

Wasson Peak via Sendero Esperanza and Hugh Norris Trail

In the Sonoran Desert you have Saguaro National Park which contains the Hugh Norris Trail. Saguaro National Park is pretty close to Tucson and about an hour and half away from Phoenix.

Saguaro National Park isn’t the most impressive park out there, but if you’re looking for some awesome hiking opportunities without the typical crowds, this is a great place to go. I hiked the entire 12.7 miles up to Wasson Peak and I maybe saw 5 people the whole time. It was pure bliss out in the cacti forest.

This is another pretty tough hike. The length is what’ll get you, the elevation gain isn’t horrible for such a long hike at 2,155 total elevation gain. You’ll just think you’re almost that the top of the peak for a good 2 or 3 miles before you actually make it. But you’re rewarded with some awesome panoramic views of the desert and seeing some saguaro cacti that are over 70 feet tall is breathtaking. Making it one of the best hikes near Phoenix in my opinion.

Distance: 12.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,155 feet
Difficulty: Hard due to length
Trail Features: Panoramic desert views, towering saguaro cacti

While these are some of my favorite and some of the best hikes near Phoenix, the region has even more to offer. I’m sure I’ll be back soon for more hikes and exploration.

Planning your next adventure in the southwest? Don’t forget to add these trails to your list. Happy exploring! And if you loved these insights and want more adventure updates, follow me on social media @wandering.weights!