It’s not always easy to call the desert “home,” but I fell in love with the Sonoran Desert through hiking. This list is a compilation of my favorite hiking trails within a day trip of the valley (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, etc.). I continuously update this post as I discover new trails, so be sure to check back later!
I wrote this guide for locals; these aren’t necessarily the trails I’d recommend to tourists with limited time in the valley. If you’re just visiting, check out the best Phoenix hikes for visitors.
When to hike in Phoenix:
DO NOT HIKE IN SUMMER. I absolutely do not endorse hiking in summer. However, since I know some of you will do it anyway, I wrote a guide to Summer Hiking in Arizona. If you insist on taking that risk, do it educated!
Even when it’s not summertime, there can be extreme heat in Phoenix. Last March, we had a few days over 100°F / 38°C. Determine your own limits by gradually increasing your heat exposure. Start with something easy like an early morning walk at the Desert Botanical Garden or Papago Park. The hikes on this list are not a walk in the park!
The desert has seasons, and some are greener than others. I’ve managed to capture some of these trails at their greenest, so don’t be disappointed if they’re not as vibrant as my photos!
The Sonoran Desert has the most colorful sunsets, and golden hour is so beautiful on the cacti. If you want to hike at sunset, check the trail hours, bring a headlamp, and read my guide to Phoenix’s Best Sunset Hikes.
Phoenix/Scottsdale Urban Hikes
These popular trails in Phoenix and Scottsdale are convenient for a quick hike, and I love watching the city lights come out at sunset. Although I prefer to seek out more secluded hikes, I’m grateful that these spaces exist within the city.
This section includes Phoenix Mountain Preserve and South Mountain Preserve. I live in Midtown, so you might notice I favor North Phoenix. (Read more about Phoenix’s nature preserves.)
Camelback Mountain
Via Cholla Trail: 3 miles, 1300 ft elevation
Via Echo Canyon Trail: 2.5 miles, 1500 ft elevation
Camelback is the most iconic (and busiest) hike in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. It’s also notorious for helicopter rescues, as inexperienced hikers underestimate the strenuous hike and desert heat. Camelback is a legit mountain, not a walk in the park!
Echo Canyon is more strenuous because it’s steeper. This trail is more popular, I think because it has more red rock.
Cholla Trail has an exposed ridgeline scramble, so don’t attempt it if you’re afraid of heights. I personally think this trail is more scenic; I love the ridgeline views!
Piestewa Peak
2 miles, 1100 ft elevation
Don’t underestimate how long a mile can feel with steep elevation gain. Inside Phoenix Mountain Preserve, this trail feels slightly more remote than Camelback while being close to the city center. This is many locals’ go-to hike, especially at sunset, but it’s a too crowded to earn a spot on my rotation.
Freedom Loop
4 miles, 1000 ft elevation
This trail is a loop around Piestewa Peak, and it’s a nice alternative because the backside of the loop is rarely crowded. It’s a great escape from the city without actually leaving the city. The trails in Phoenix Mountain Preserve are interweaving and confusing, but this loop is relatively well-marked.
North Mountain
1.5 miles, 700 ft elevation
This is a quick hike with a big reward. There are multiple routes up North Mountain; you can do it out-and-back or as a loop. The North Mountain National Trail is rocky until it connects with the paved service road up to the cell tower. The trail is very steep but easier than other peaks around the city (like Camelback and Piestewa).
Shaw Butte
3 miles, 800 ft elevation
Shaw Butte is North Mountain’s quieter neighbor. It’s my favorite post-work sunset hike. My distance tracked is out-and-back from Shaw Butte Trailhead, but there are numerous possible routes. Much of the trail is an unpaved service road.
Bursera Loop
3.5 miles, 800 ft elevation
This is my favorite hike in South Mountain Preserve (so far). The loop follows a gorgeous ridgeline, combining Bursera and Bursera Canyon trails. Hike counterclockwise, as I think it’s easier to go up Bursera and down Bursera Canyon. I highly recommend hiking at sunset. South Mountain Preserve glows golden, and the Sierra Estrella Mountains are blue on the horizon.
I don’t typically recommend South Mountain hikes, as I dislike the roads through the preserve. However, this area is quite serene.
North & Northeast
If my commute wasn’t a factor, I would want to live northeast of Phoenix: Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, or North Scottsdale. McDowell Sonoran Preserve is my favorite park/preserve in the Greater Phoenix Area, and I love the views of the Four Peaks. The landscape is greener (usually gets more rain) and has more variation in trails.
Tom’s Thumb
4 miles, 1200 ft elevation
This trail was my first recommendation to my parents when they visited. It’s well-maintained and beautiful. The boulder landscape atop the ridge is unique to this area and glows red at sunset. It reminds me of Joshua Tree National Park.
If you’re hiking at sunset, note that the trail closes at sundown! They usually give a little grace period for hikers to exit safely, but the posted signs say you’re trespassing.
Pinnacle Peak
4 miles, 1000 ft elevation
Pinnacle Peak Trail is maintained as pristinely as the North Scottsdale golf courses it overlooks. It doesn’t have a rugged or remote feel, but it’s still a lovely slice of nature, especially with the golden evening sun hitting the rocks. The high point is in the middle of the trail, so you may want to turn back before descending the switchbacks for a 3-mile roundtrip.
Black Mountain
2.5 miles, 1200 ft elevation
Black Mountain is like Camelback’s more scenic sister; they’re similar in difficulty, though Black Mountain has slightly less scrambling. This trail was uncrowded and beautiful (even without the stunning sunset pictured). Black Mountain is between Cave Creek and Carefree, and I could hear Buffalo Chip Saloon from halfway up the mountain.
The trailhead is in a residential area, so my distance tracked includes an extra quarter-mile to where I parked. Turn left on Military Rd as you approach the trailhead, and there’s a gravel shoulder where you may park.
Thompson Peak
10 miles, 2000 ft elevation
I started at the Dixie Mine trailhead, which requires a walk through a gated neighborhood to access (included in my distance tracked). Dixie Mine Trail connects to the Thompson Peak service road, which is unpaved until the last mile where it gets insanely steep. I was the only person on the trail on a beautiful Saturday evening, so it seems this is a hidden gem—or perhaps too strenuous for the average hiker.
Gateway Loop
4.5 miles, 700 ft elevation
As an easier alternative to Thompson Peak, Gateway Loop Trail has great views of the McDowell peaks. For an extended option, I loved the 10-mile loop from Windgate Pass to Bell Pass. It circles McDowell Peak and has views of the Four Peaks on the backside.
Palo Verde
8.5 miles, 800 ft elevation
Palo Verde Trail follows the shoreline of Bartlett Lake (a.k.a. Bartlett Reservoir). There were a few people fishing along the first half mile of the trail at Rattlesnake Cove, but I had the rest of the trail to myself on a Saturday afternoon. I explored little beaches and encountered many hummingbirds on this early spring day.
East (Superstitions & the Salt River)
When I want to go deep into the wilderness, I head east. The beautiful Superstition Mountains, including Lost Dutchman State Park, are just past Mesa. This mountain range is rugged with dramatic cliffs, making it especially appealing to adventurous hikers like me. The Salt River meanders alongside the Superstitions, nourishing the desert and carving stunning river bluffs.
Read my full guide to hiking the Superstition Mountains for even more trails!
Flatiron
5.5 miles, 2600 ft elevation
Flatiron is my idea of a good time—lots of scrambling. This peak is iconic with locals, so the trail stays moderately busy despite being difficult. For the most part, the scrambling is comparable to Camelback with less exposure, but there’s a small section at the top nicknamed “the wall” that’s slightly more technical.
Boulder Canyon & Lower La Barge Box
10 miles, 2000 elevation ft gain
This trail was an unexpected favorite! I hiked it after heavy rain, so the lower canyon water level was up to my waist in some spots. (Note: the river is the Lower La Barge Box trail, but usually just a collection of puddles.) I hiked it as a loop around Battleship Mountain, going counter-clockwise to save the river wading for last. The trail is not well-marked around the backside of Battleship, so I recommend downloading a satellite map.
As a less intense option, there’s a beautiful viewpoint on Boulder Canyon Trail around mile 2.5 (5 miles roundtrip) pictured above, just before the descent into the canyon.
Battleship Mountain
12 miles, 2000 ft elevation
Battleship Mountain scramble is tougher and more exposed than Flatiron, so don’t attempt it until you’ve gotten experience on other scrambling routes! It’s an iconic Superstitions landmark with incredible views, if you’re not afraid of heights.
The easiest approach is from First Water Trailhead, which is unpaved but navigable in most passenger vehicles. If you’re up for a challenge, it can be combined with the Boulder Canyon & Lower La Barge Box Trail above.
Wave Cave
3 miles, 800 ft elevation
What a little gem of a trail! I sat in the back of the cave with a snack, and there was a small window during which I had the cave all to myself on a Saturday. (PLEASE do not sit in the middle of the view!) The trailhead is down a dirt road, but it’s well-maintained and my low-clearance Toyota Camry made the drive just fine!
Peralta Canyon to Weaver’s Needle Overlook
5 miles, 1300 ft elevation
The view of Weaver’s Needle from Fremont Saddle is fantastic! It’s not visible until you reach the top, so it’s quite the grand reveal. However, there are still plenty of great views overlooking It has been cloudy every time I’ve hiked this trail, but I highly recommend trying to see Weaver’s Needle at sunrise. This trailhead is further down the dirt road mentioned in Wave Cave.
Broadway Cave
4 miles, 800 ft elevation
Broadway Cave is the trail’s main attraction, but the morning light on the Superstitions was my favorite part. The trail was crowded on a Saturday morning, but I caught a lull between the sunrise and late morning hikers and had the cave all to myself. The Broadway Trailhead parking lot is small, and there were a dozen cars with parking tickets on my return. Pay attention to the parking signs, and don’t park along the curved part of the road immediately surrounding the trailhead parking.
Pass Mountain
8 miles, 1000 ft elevation
This trail is in Usery Mountain Park, just outside the Superstition Mountains. It’s a loop trail around Pass Mountain, and I recommend hiking it clockwise for the best views. It’s a classic desert hike with plentiful saguaro, orange rock, and gorgeous valley views. Spring is arriving early to the Sonoran, and there were wildflowers on my hike in late January! The trail is not too rocky, making it popular with trail runners.
Picketpost Mountain
4.5 miles, 2000 elevation
There is a lot of scrambling and loose rock on the trail, so proceed with caution. Even following my AllTrails satellite map, it was easy to lose the trail and find myself in a sketchy spot on the cliff bands. However, it was well-worth the challenge; I loved going through the letters and assorted items in the mailbox at the top. (Picketpost is technically a freestanding mountain not considered part of the Superstitions.)
Picketpost Mountain is right by Boyce Thompson Arboretum, which I recommend visiting while you’re in the area! The fall colors usually peak at the end of November/ beginning of December.
Butcher Jones
6 miles, 600 ft elevation
This trail meanders along Saguaro Lake on the Salt River with gorgeous views of the Four Peaks. The trail splits off to two equally lovely end points: Butcher Jones viewpoint and a trail down to the shoreline. My distance tracked includes both!
Vineyard Trail
7 miles, 1800 ft elevation
This trailhead is a two-hour drive from central Phoenix, beginning at Theodore Roosevelt Lake and heading into the Four Peaks area. The beginning of the trail overlooks Theodore Roosevelt Lake, including the iconic bridge and dam, ascending Vineyard Peak to overlook the Salt River Valley (pictured above at mile 2). You could turn back here for a 4-mile roundtrip, but my suggested distance is mile 3.5 (7 miles roundtrip) for more incredible Salt River Valley and Four Peaks views.
There was a harsh glare on the river at midday that disappeared by my return in the evening, so I definitely recommend an evening hike!
West (White Tank Mountains)
The White Tanks are West of Phoenix, and the best hiking trails are in White Tank Regional Park, which charges $10 per vehicle for entry. These mountains are less severe than the Superstitions, so the hiking is similarly less scramble-y/intense. The trails are well-maintained through winding mountain valleys.
Mesquite Canyon and Willow Canyon Loop
8.5 miles, 1500 ft elevation
This is a loop that combines Mesquite Canyon and Willow Canyon trails. I also highly recommend taking a half-mile detour down the Goat Camp trail, as it ascends out of the canyons to a ridge with fantastic views. This was my first White Tanks hike, and it surpassed my expectations!
I know many of you are here from TikTok—thanks for checking out my blog! If you post a TikTok about a hike you found here, tag me @LatitudesWithLucy and I might repost it 🙂
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