Our 5 Favorite Hiking Trails in Arizona
The holidays are upon us! No doubt, you will be tempted to consume more calories than normal. Bearing that in mind, you should consider burning more calories than usual. The holiday season in Phoenix falls during the best time of year for hiking. The sun is not too hot, the weather is just beautiful, typically 60-70 degrees. We love to take advantage of our gorgeous winters and be outdoors as much as possible. Whether it is just our little family of three and we are hiking with Sophia in the Ergo Baby or we have friends and family in town, we always make time to be active and get out in nature. Living in Arizona has a lot of perks, our favorite being all the amazing mountains and trails that surround us. We have compiled a list of our 5 Favorite Hiking Trails in Arizona. We want to encourage you to get out and get active this holiday season!
1) Pinnacle Peak Trail
Located at Alma School and Jomax in North Scottsdale
3.9 miles out and back
1095 ft elevation change
Moderate difficulty
No dogs allowed on the trail.
Whether you are a walker or a runner, this is a great trail. Unlike other trails we will tell you about, this one is fairly smooth (not many lose or jagged rocks to roll your ankle).
We love this trail because it is close to the house and offers amazing views of the valley and Tonto National Forest to the Northeast. It is a great cardio workout as you have 4 steep climbs and lots of flat to downhills to recover. It can be crowded on weekends but well worth it. Whether you are an early riser or looking for a sunset hike, Pinnacle Peak is just beautiful.
Tips: There is a bathroom at the trailhead (visitors center) so be sure to use it before you hit the trail. Also, there are no shortcuts to getting back to the trailhead so keep in mind whatever distance you hike in, you have to hike the same distance back out.
2) Hidden Valley Trail Via Mormon Trail
Located at 24th Street, South of Baseline in Phoenix
3.6 mile loop
965 ft elevation change
Moderate difficulty
Dogs are allowed on the trail.
This hike offers beautiful views of the city and then takes you to what seems like the deep wilderness even though you are right in the heart of the city. It also offers you the reward of strolling through Fat Man's Pass and the Hidden Valley. It is called Fat Man's Pass because during the hike you reach a point of passage that is about a foot wide and 20 feet long that you have to shimmy through boulders. This is a heavily hiked trail and as a result, a lot of the granite is very smooth, enough so that there are natural slides built into the rocks. If you are looking for a hike that is great for children (9-13), this is it. You can easily spend a couple hours scrambling over and under the massive boulders. So, if you want to make a day out of it, plan on packing a lunch or some healthy snacks to bring with you. Also, you may encounter quite a few dogs on this trail so bear that in mind when deciding whether to bring your dog along.
We love this trail and it always seems to be a favorite when we hike it with friends and family who come in town. It takes us about 35 minutes to get there from North Scottsdale.
Tips: There are no bathrooms at the trailhead or on the loop so be prepared. There are gas stations you will pass close to the trail so take advantage of those facilities.
3) Gateway Loop Trail
Located at Thompson Peak Pkwy and Windgate Ranch Road in North Scottsdale
4.3 mile loop
752 ft elevation change
Moderate difficulty
Dogs are allowed on the trail (even has a doggy water fountain at the trailhead).
This hike offers really pretty views of the valley and is a nice hike to do at sunset. The climb is more gradual so it is not until you reach the Gateway Saddle (kind of the half way point) that you encounter the best views. This trail is great because you get the climb out of the way in the beginning and it is all down hill from there. Before we had the baby, we loved to run this trail. However, you really have to be careful with this trail since there are a lot of loose and sharp rocks. So, focus is a must. Especially when running!
We love this trail because it is super close to the house and it is in the McDowell Mountains which are so beautiful at sunset.
Tips: There is a bathroom at the trailhead (visitors center) so be sure to use it before you hit the trail. Often times, there are volunteers present who are eager to help guide you to a great hike.
4) Tom's Thumb
Located at 120th Street and Ranch Gate Rd in North Scottsdale
4.0 miles out and back
1353 ft elevation change
Difficult
Dogs are allowed on the trail.
This hike will get your heart pumping with it's 1353 ft climb right out of the gate. The views and unique topography at the summit are well worth the effort. Seeing the "Tom's Thumb" up close is a must for any Phoenix hiker. You might even see a rock climber or two scaling its face.
We love this trail because it offers a great workout and the views....amazing!!
Tips: There is a bathroom at the trailhead (visitors center) so be sure to use it before you hit the trail. Pay attention to the signs as it can get slightly confusing at the top and taking the wrong trail can add quite a bit of time and distance to your hike. Also, be careful with your momentum on the way down as it can get slippery.
5) Go John Trail
Located in Cave Creek Regional Park - Carefree Hwy, just west of Cave Creek Rd
5.9 mile loop
953 ft elevation change
Moderate difficulty
Dogs are allowed on the trail.
This is one of the longer hikes we do. It is suitable for walkers or runners, definitely some challenging uphills but a very pretty hike. You may also encounter a deer or two. Anytime we have done this trail, we rarely see anyone else on it. Often times you feel like you have this beautiful trail and amazing views all to yourself. You may run into a small group of horseback riders from time to time.
This trail is great to do in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming!
Tips: There is a bathroom at the trailhead (visitors center) so be sure to use it before you hit the trail.
Whenever you are hiking a trail, it is important to wear the right shoes and stay hydrated. Be sure to drink water before the hike and pack one to bring with you. There is nothing like a good trail shoe, so invest in your health and get a pair that will give you great support. For us, our favorite shoes for hiking are Salomon!
You can do anyone of these hikes on any day and burn a lot of calories while enjoying our beautiful state and encountering friendly, likeminded nature enthusiasts. Ever run into someone in a bad mood on a hiking trail? We haven't! In fact, we love how friendly all the hikers are and enjoy greeting everyone with a "good morning" along the way.
Happy Hiking and Healthy Holidays!