If Arizona doesn’t immediately come to mind for some of the best hiking trails in the US, it should. Within Arizona, there are national parks, national forests, and some incredible trails.
When you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Arizona, don’t forget to consider who will be hiking with you and how long you want to be out. Many trails offer limited routes but might be more challenging than what you want. But with so many good trails, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs.
Hiking Trails in Arizona
When looking for the perfect trail for yourself or the whole family, you have an excellent selection in Arizona. And choosing the perfect trail isn’t as hard as you think. There are lots of resources available to help you pick hiking trails in Arizona that work for you, just like this list.
Let’s dive into the best trails.
1. Antelope Canyon
Antelope canyon tops the list for being beautiful and incredibly easy. This is one of the kid-friendly hiking trails in Arizona and offers some wonderful sites for the whole family. The hike is done with a guide, but you can move at your own pace, and it is about half a mile in total.
2. Bright Angel Trail
This is a Grand Canyon trail that goes by the southern rim. This is a long trail with a lot of points of entry, so you can choose if you want to do half a mile or if you’re more in the mood for a good 12-mile hike. Going alongside the Grand Canyon down into it is a great hike and allows you to fully see and appreciate this national park.
3. Echo Canyon Trail
This trail is found in the Chiricahua National Park in an independent mountain range area dubbed Sky Island for the rock tower structures that have formed. The Echo Canyon Trail is one of the best hiking trails in Arizona and for that area offering a 3.5-mile hike in a loop.
4. Seven Falls Trail
This hike found close to Tuscon is a great choice for a hot day. You can hike 5 to 10 miles and end at a clear waterfall-fed pool. You might not immediately think hiking trails with waterfalls are in Arizona, but this is excellent evidence to the contrary.
5. Doe Mountain Trail
This hike near Sedona is a great choice if you’re looking to work up a sweat in a quick hike. It’s not terribly long, but the switchbacks will keep you working while you climb to the top of Doe Mountain, which ends in a flat plateau area.
6. Lava Flow Trail
This is one of many trails you’ll find in the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and is a good beginner choice at only a mile long. You can see a lot of the sites the area has to offer and find other longer hikes to try next.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
There are so many more amazing hiking trails in Arizona that it feels impossible to list them all. Many of these lead to more good trails or are in areas that contain multiple routes for you to try.
No matter what you’re looking for in a hiking trail, you’re sure to find it in Arizona. And if this list helped you find what you were searching for, check out the rest of our website for even more great tips for your next trip.