My Favorite Hikes in Arizona

There are plenty of ways to explore Arizona but my favorite is always on foot. You can hike through saguaros in the desert or ponderosa pines in the mountains, depending on where your travels take you.

Check out a few of my favorite local hikes in Phoenix, as well as two non-local at the Grand Canyon & Sedona.

Enjoy Arizona's diverse landscape! Please share your photos & tag me on Instagram @lindsaywingrealestate

1. Camelback Mountain (Paradise Valley, AZ/Local Hike)

Trailhead: Echo Canyon

Level: Moderate/Hard

Distance: Varies. Lots of climbing so it could take you 30-45 min to get to the top. Elevation 2,704 feet

Highlights: Quick hike and is located in the middle of the Phoenix Valley with great views. This is a very popular hike with many tourists so I would advise to go on a Monday-Thursday

*Rescues are made here frequently so please know your limits. You will need both your hands for climbing so don't bring a water bottle. Wearing a water pack on your back is a must. No dogs allowed.

2. Piestewa Peak (Local/Phoenix)

Trailhead: Piestewa Peak Park (Squaw Peak Dr)

Level: Moderate/Hard

Distance: 2.2 miles out and back

Highlights: Hikers, walkers, sightseers and runners alike flock to this prominent peak like moths to a flame, drawn here in part because of it proximity to the city of Phoenix. Despite the crowds this mountain can still be a lot of fun, offering a short but taxing climb and many great views along the short route.

3. Bright Angel Trail

Trailhead: South Rim of the Grand Canyon

Level: Moderate/Hard

Distance: 1-12 miles

Highlights: One of Arizona's most renowned hikes. If you have a fear of hikes you might want to skip this hike. The trail is steep and hugs the canyon wall, with huge drop-offs on the outer edge. Best time to visit generally is the Spring and Fall.

4. Devils Bridge Trail (Sedona, AZ)

Trailhead: Dry Creek Road- From the parking area off of the unpaved portion of Dry Creek Road, follow the trailmarker for Devil's Bridge Trail. About 3/4 of a mile from the parking area the trail will come to a fork and you will go left. Here you'll end up at the base of the bridge. You will then continue up a natural rock staircase from which there are beautiful views. You will reach another level of stairs which will take you up to the bridge. You might lose cell service so print this out for reference.

Level: Moderate

Distance: 4.2 miles out & back

Highlights: It is a steep but short hike. The official trailhead starts off the unpaved portion of Dry Creek Road and requires a high clearance vehicle to access. If you only have a low clearance vehicle, you can park at the Dry Creek Road trailhead at the paved section, approximately 1 mile from trailhead, or at the Mescal Trailhead located on Long Canyon Road. Depending on where you park you have a few routes to choose from to access Devils Bridge Trail, including the unpaved portion of Dry Creek Road, Chuckwagon Trail, or Mescal to Chuckwagon Trail.

5. Papago Park

Trailhead: The trails in Papago Park are typically smooth with little elevation gain, providing easy access for walking, hiking, mountain biking or trail running. The park is split into east and west sides by Galvin Parkway.

Level: Easy

Distance: Varies

Highlights: HOLE-IN-THE-ROCK

This intriguing formation on the park's east side features a main chamber that looks out over nearby lagoons and the distant downtown skyline, and is great for views (especially at sunset). The trail to the chamber consists of steps that rise 200 feet in just a short 1/10 of a mile. The formation is thought to have been used by the ancient Hohokam civilization to track the position of the sun through a hole in the rock "ceiling."

6.Tom's Thumb Trail (Local/Scottsdale)

Trailhead: 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Level: Moderate

Distance: 4 miles

Highlights: Tom's Thumb Trail is a 4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Scottsdale, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It's called Tom's Thumb Trail. Named after a local rock climber, Tom Kreuser, this famous trail near Scottsdale got hikers' attention because it's heavily trafficked, has great rock formations, and has an unusually smooth surface