Arizona offers
hundreds of hiking trails and trips to make sure your romantic getaway
takes a walk on the wild side! Find trails, locations, and a wide
variety of hiking information here. Find forest and mountain hikes
in the northern portions of the state and desert hiking in the south.
Phoenix, Arizona's largest city has many hiking opportunities in
its parks
Click on the state area for popular
hiking information
Northern
Arizona
Central Arizona
Southern Arizona
Urban Hiking Trails
Hiking
in Northern Arizona -
Among Sedona’s most impressive
hiking trails is the West Fork Oak Creek Trail.
This trail is beautiful in every season, and one of the most popular
in the Coconino National Forest. As you walk along this nearly level
and easy trail you are accompanied by a quiet stream which meanders
along at your feet adorning the base of the steep canyon walls that
rise up beside you. The path grows quite narrow in many places and
here the colorful abraded canyon walls twist and turn alongside
the stream. Tall pines and other high forest vegetation surround
the trail and provide homes for an extensive variety of wildlife.
Lizards, squirrels, birds, and butterflies are common creatures
here and easily spotted along the path.
Early in the hike, the canyon walls rise up hundreds of feet leaving
little room for much else besides the stream itself. The trail is
narrow in these spots and visitors are forced to cross the stream
several times. The stream can be crossed fairly easily by the use
of some conveniently placed stones and fallen logs in the creek
bed. Those less trusting of their footwork need not worry, as the
stream, during most seasons, is only a few inches deep in those
spots.
During wetter months the creek holds small pools with depths of
about 3 feet. These pools can be home to a few varieties of small
fish including trout. Mile markers are posted about every half-mile
making the trail easy to follow. However in the places where the
trail crosses the stream there are occasional spur trails running
on either side of the stream.
Although the stunning reds and oranges of the canyon walls remain
constant year round, the surrounding scenery changes depending on
the season. During the spring and early summer months (March –
June) the canyon and its surrounding scenery is in full bloom with
native wildflowers, songbirds, and hummingbirds providing a stark
contrast of color in various places. The high and magnificent canyon
walls shade the trail throughout most of the day thereby offering
visitors a refreshing break from the hot dry summer months (June
– August). In the Autumn months (September – November)
the foliage turns from deep greens to shades of red, pink, and gold
and sprinkles leaves along the trail. Winter months (December –
February) bring a blanket of white to the trail and, in places along
the canyon walls, icicles form.
Access to the West Fork Oak Creek Trail can be found just off US
Highway 89, which winds its way down from the higher elevations
and dense forests of Flagstaff into the red rock canyons of Sedona
and outer regions of the Arizona high desert. Look for the entrance
to the trailhead, and the Call O' The Canyon daypark and carpark,
half way between 385 and 384 mile markers on Highway 85. In high
tourist seasons parking spots can be almost impossible to find on
Highway 89 and the road is narrow and winding in many spots. Visitors
may just opt to purchase the $3 parking pass and park in the trailhead
Call O' The Canyon carpark. From the carpark a path follows Oak
Creek downstream past the remnants of an early 1900’s abandoned
settlement. The trail formally begins at the junction of West Fork
and several other trailheads, and continues on for three miles of
well-beaten and well-marked trail.
Allow 2-3 hours to complete the 6-mile round-trip excursion. For
those looking for a more extensive hiking experience, the trail
does continue on for an additional 11 miles into the Secret Mountain/Red
Rocks Wilderness, making it an excellent all-day trip. As the end
of the marked 3-mile portion of the hike concludes, the path becomes
steep, briefly leading visitors away from the creek, and then directing
them back down into the creek bed. From this point, those hikers
planning to continue on can expect to get their feet wet as they
hike down the creek. The longer hike rewards its visitor with much
of the same stunning natural beauty as the first 3 miles but also
with occasional waterfalls and deeper pools. Depending on the season
and water levels hikers should be prepared to wade and even swim
their way along the trail through pools as deep as 6 feet in some
places. Throughout the subsequent 11 miles protruding cliffs offer
shelter and places to build a fire and camp.
The only drawback to the West Fork Oak Creek Trail is its popularity.
During the summer months the trail is particularly crowded, making
it perhaps more attractive for the novice, in that they may feel
more secure having others nearby. Seasoned hikers looking for solitude
need not rule out this trail however, as the longer trail option
offers the seclusion and quiet that the first 3 miles of the trail
does not.
Note: No motorized vehicles are allowed here and during periods
of high fire danger this trail is closed. Please contact the local
Forest Ranger station at Red Rock Ranger District, P.O. Box 300,
Sedona AZ 86336, (928) 282-4119 for more information.
Hiking
in Central Arizona
Hiking
in Southern Arizona -
Hiking
in PhoenixArea -
In the heart of the Arizona desert lies Phoenix, a sprawling metropolis
of 1.3 million residents. Of course Phoenix provides all of the
expected activities and events that the average urbanite expects,
but Phoenix manages to give a special opportunity to those who love
exploring the outdoors. The sunshine filled skies of Phoenix offer
more to its residents and visitors than poolside tanning opportunities.
Local residents know that those same clear skies offer exciting
opportunities for outdoor exploration of Phoenix’s mountain
and desert preserves.
The state of Arizona contains hundreds of state parks and preserves
and nearly 26,000 acres of them are within Phoenix’s city
limits. The city of is home to 6 mountain parks/preserves containing
more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Phoenix’s residents and visitors have the opportunity to explore
the mountains, rivers, and desert valleys of the Sonoran desert,
without ever leaving the city.
Before venturing out to any of Phoenix’s 6 parks, keep in
mind that this is the desert. That means that it is a dry and usually
warm climate and being prepared with plenty of water is extremely
important. Each year Phoenix Park officials respond to hikers who
find themselves weakened from hydration and unable to make their
way back. Some suffer even worse consequences by sudden falls and
injuries brought on by lack of water. Also remember that some of
the desert wildlife can be inhospitable to guests. Rattlesnakes,
scorpions and coyotes are not an uncommon site in many of these
parks; so make an effort to stay aware at all times. Park officials
request that all visitors use courtesy on the trails and be respectful
of all plant and wildlife.
North Mountain Park
10600 N. Seventh Street (between Peoria and Thunderbird Roads)
North Mountain Park contains 5 self-guided hiking trails; the Penny
Howe, Shaw Butte, Maxin Lakin, North Mountain, and Charles M. Christiansen
Memorial. These five trails range in level of difficulty from easy
to difficult, traverse over 20 miles of desert terrain, and accommodate
hiking, biking and horseback riding. Along these trails, North Mountain
and Shaw Butte reach heights of just over 2,100 feet and provide
spectacular panoramic views of Phoenix. Guided bird-watching hikes
are available depending on the season. Inquire locally for dates
and times. Paved parking, picnic areas, and restrooms are also available.
Papago Park
Van Buren Street and Galvin Parkway
What makes Papago Park unique is its red-rock. The red-rock (iron
oxide-hematite) formed somewhere between 6 and 15 million years
ago and creates strange red buttes that seem otherworldly to visitors
of the park. Through erosion, holes in the red-rock buttes, called
tafoni, formed to make the scenery even more dramatic. At some places,
the tafoni are so large that they allow visitors to sit inside and
gaze out over the park from within the butte itself. The park’s
easy trails meander across more than 5 miles of this unique terrain
making it ideal for new hikers and families. Parking, picnic, horse
stables, and restroom facilities are available.
South Mountain Park and Preserve
10919 S. Central Avenue (south of Dobbins Road)
Phoenix’s South Mountain Park/Preserve is not only the largest
of Phoenix’s parks but it is the largest urban park in the
United States. It is composed of over 16,000 acres inlcuding 58
miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Trails vary in difficulty from easy to difficult and reach peaks
of over 2,300 feet. Mount Suppoa is nearly 2,700 feet but is not
accessible via public trails. The park attracts nearly 3 million
visitors each year who come to view the 300+ species of plant and
animal life and explore the park’s three mountain ranges;
The Ma Ha Tauk, The Gila, and The Guadalupe. Parking, picnic, horse
stables, and restroom facilities are available.
Piestewa Peak / Dreamy Draw
2701 E. Squaw Peak Lane / 2421 E. Northern Avenue
The Dreamy Draw Area Park and Preserve lies beneath the shadow
of Piestewa Peak’s 2,600-foot summit. Of the seven self-guided
trails in the park, three are rated moderate to difficult climbs.
The remaining four are easy to moderate hikes. All trails are multi-use
meaning there are available for hiking, biking and horseback riding
with the exception of the Summit Trail. Hikers on Summit Trail will
climb more than 1,200 feet in elevation and reach the summit of
Piestewa Peak. Biking and horseback riding are restricted on this
trail and even Fido is required to stay away. Fido is welcome on
any of the other six trails in the park though, and there are beautiful
valleys and washes to enjoy along these trails. Parking, restrooms,
and picnic areas are available.
Camelback Mountain
McDonald Drive and Tatum Blvd. (off Echo Canyon Parkway)
There is no mystery how Camelback Mountain got its name. Its distinctive
“hump” and read sandstone attracts thousands of hikers
each year to its four, short, but often steep, trails. The Summit
and Cholla Trails are rated strenuous to difficult, and recommended
for experienced hikers only. Bobby’s Rock and the Ramada Loop
Trails are better suited for beginners. The popularity of this park
makes parking, which is already in short supply, difficult, and
on weekends there is often a wait for a space. A few of the mountain’s
neighboring resorts offer guided hiking and biking treks up the
mountain. There are no restroom or picnic facilities available.
Reach 11 Recreation Area
North of the Central Arizona Canal between Cave Creek and Scottsdale
Roads
Reach 11 Recreation Area was designed with the equestrian in mind.
Within its 1,500 acres of desert visitors will find the Arizona’s
Horse Lovers Park, a 90-acre world-class equestrian facility. The
Horse Lover’s Park includes four lighted arenas, water troughs,
wash racks, tie stations, and a practice paddock. These facilities
are available for rental and special event functions. If you’re
not the riding type there is still plenty to see and explore here.
The park, which is 7 miles long and less than a half mile wide,
includes 18 miles of wide, multi use trails. Guided bird-watching
hikes are available depending on the season. Inquire locally for
dates and times. All facilities including restrooms, picnic areas
and parking are available
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