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Best Autumn Hikes in Arizona

There are 474 hikes in Arizona in our database that fit. They average 9.9 km and 266 m (873 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 472 km.

That is 78 percent of the 609 routes we map in Arizona. They are shorter than the local average, 9.9 km against 16.3 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 266 m (873 ft) against 393 m (1,289 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Autumn walking means cooler air, low light and, in the right forest, colour that makes a familiar route feel new. The mix is broad: 135 are rated easy and 79 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Rest stop Sunset Point along I-17 north of Phoenix, United States
Expert

Black Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
153 km
/ 94.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,892 m
Typical duration
40 hr
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Long-distance path
Mogollon Rim at the point where Forest Roads 321 and 321C intersect. Just beyond the ridge is a small community called Rim Trail Estates. Taken on 10-15-09 by Brady Smith. Credit: USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Expert

Highline Trail #31

Arizona · United States

Distance
93.2 km
/ 57.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,536 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
the beast.
Expert

Prescott Circle Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
88.8 km
/ 55.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,160 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
Mount Hayden – North Rim Vista North Rim Grand Canyon Ken Patrick Trial Arizona Smoke from the “Warm Fire” starts to fill the canyon, making for a hazy setting. To view this photo larger or view purchase information click here .
Expert

Hayduke Trail #11

Arizona · United States

Distance
58.6 km
/ 36.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,475 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
purse
Expert

Maricopa Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
472 km
/ 293 mi
Elevation gain
2,739 m
Typical duration
116 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Grand Canyon, Arizona View from Moran Point at the south rim, looking north, with Juniperus osteosperma tree at left.
Moderate

New Hance Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
261 m
Typical duration
2 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
This little pocket in the rock is supporting several types of plant life. It was a treat to be here in the spring, got to see lots of plant life in bloom From the west side of the Toroweap overlook. sw2 560
Moderate

Lava Falls Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Waterfall
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 45.
Expert

Mazatzal Divide Trail #23

Arizona · United States

Distance
49.4 km
/ 30.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,782 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Mountain
View of the Thunder River trail. North Kaibab Ranger District. 10-24-13. P1040030. Photo by Dyan Bone. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.
Hard

Thunder River Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
19.5 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
343 m
Typical duration
4 hr 43 min
  • River
  • Mountain
This mega beetle was standing right at the gas pump at Uncle Tom's Texaco station in Pine. I did not want to start any arguments. I'm sure loving the detail (and zoom and subject focus) of the iPhone 4 camera. This giant beetle was hanging
Hard

Pine Canyon Trail #26

Arizona · United States

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
852 m
Typical duration
4 hr 51 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Remains of Gird's Mill, an ore-processing facility in the ghost town of Millville, Arizona.
Expert

San Pedro Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
41.6 km
/ 25.8 mi
Elevation gain
253 m
Typical duration
9 hr 50 min
  • Waymarked route
Coronado National Memorial
Moderate

Coronado Peak Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
A raven in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.
Moderate

South Kaibab Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
338 m
Typical duration
2 hr 41 min
  • Mountain
Desert View Watchtower — viewed from the west. In the Desert View Watchtower Historic District, on the far eastern South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Moderate

Tanner Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.2 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
170 m
Typical duration
2 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
Bromus diandrus and Bromus tectorum — annual Mediterranean grasses. Invasive plant species (native to Europe) — in Grand Canyon National Park . Annual bromegrasses of Bromus sections Bromus and Genea often coexists in open dry settings that
Moderate

Bright Angel Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
12.6 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
264 m
Typical duration
3 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
This is the western terminus of Rim Drive. Reaching parts of the Grand Canyon further west requires hiking, often in rugged conditions. Hermits Rest is not named after a real hermit, but a man who maintained visitor accommodations in this a
Moderate

Hermit Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
375 m
Typical duration
3 hr 27 min
  • Mountain
Stipa comata is a more diminuitive bunchgrass compared to its close relative, Stipa neomexicana, which grows nearby but down in the canyon.
Moderate

South Bass Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.2 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
308 m
Typical duration
2 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Expert

West Divide Trail #289

Arizona · United States

Distance
41.7 km
/ 25.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,788 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Expert

East Divide Trail #287

Arizona · United States

Distance
62.2 km
/ 38.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,549 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
1-(just right of center) View south of Grand Canyon, South Rim. At right center is The Abyss, with a ridgeline east, called The Alligator (Grand Canyon). The ridgeline has a tail— to the west. 2-(from helicopter-(view south))--Viewing point
Expert

Tonto Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
147 km
/ 91.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,732 m
Typical duration
37 hr
  • Long-distance path
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 44.
Hard

Gardner Canyon Trail #67

Arizona · United States

Distance
10.0 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,297 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Grand Canyon
Moderate

Boucher Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.7 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
503 m
Typical duration
3 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
The main portion of Grand Canyon. Whenever flying between Los Angeles and points east, the Grand Canyon is the eye candy on most flights. Seen from United 83 heading from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles. N848UA, Airbus A319-100
Hard

Royal Arch Route

Arizona · United States

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
416 m
Typical duration
5 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
Snowmelt from a series winter storms in late January 2017 followed by rain and warm weather in February had dry creekbeds running and many of Arizona's reservoirs filled and overflowing. Dry Beaver Creek in Woods Canyon was no exception. Wo
Moderate

Woods Canyon #93

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.4 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
228 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Show Low is a city in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It lies on the Mogollon Rim in east central Arizona, at an elevation of 6,345 feet (1,934 m). The city was established in 1870 and incorporated in 1953. According to the 2010 cens
Expert

Maverick OHV Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
78.1 km
/ 48.5 mi
Elevation gain
422 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Long-distance path
View of Arizona taken during ISS Expedition 21.
Moderate

Bassett Peak Trail #287C

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.6 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
353 m
Typical duration
2 hr 31 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Moderate

South Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.1 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
395 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
View of midtown Phoenix, Arizona from the Phoenix Mountain Preserve at 32nd St. and Lincoln Dr.
Moderate

Summit Trail 300

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
418 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
2014, Bus Stop, Hualapai Canyon, Mile 4.2 South, half way to Supai
Hard

Havasupai Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
16.6 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
290 m
Typical duration
3 hr 57 min
  • Mountain
Superstiton Mt. at Spring Time
Moderate

Siphon Draw Trail #53

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
789 m
Typical duration
1 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 52.
Hard

Hot Loop #40

Arizona · United States

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
172 m
Typical duration
4 hr 6 min
  • Mountain
(1 in a multiple picture set) Most of the pictures in this set were scanned from slides. The lenses on my camera back then were not as refined as we have today, so the sharpness is not in this picture. But it still gives you a sense of the
Moderate

Wilson Mountain #10

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
2 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
Summit of Mt. Wrightson
Hard

Walker Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
24.4 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
536 m
Typical duration
6 hr 10 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Cave Creek Town Hall located at 37622 N. Cave Creek Rd.
Easy

DFLT Seitts

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
This part of Arizona is surprisingly like California. Pictured: Arctostaphylos pungens (to the right of trail), Yucca elata (left).
Moderate

Bear Mountain #54

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
695 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
Cylindropuntia fulgida . King Canyon Trail, Tucson Mountains, Saguaro National Park West, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Moderate

King Canyon / Gould Mine Loop

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
627 m
Typical duration
3 hr 26 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Loy Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Loy Canyon #5

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
603 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Schinia arcigera . Coronado National Memorial, Cochise County, Arizona, USA.
Moderate

Joe's Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
497 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Woodland Reservoir Pine Trees
Easy

Woodland Lake Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Typical duration
22 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
Approaching Sedona, 2013
Hard

Lime Kiln #82

Arizona · United States

Distance
24.3 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
480 m
Typical duration
6 hr 3 min
Long Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Long Canyon #122

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
1 hr 14 min
  • Canyon and gorge

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Black Canyon National Recreation TrailArizona162 km2,443 m41 hrExpertApril to October
Black Canyon TrailArizona153 km2,892 m40 hrExpertApril to October
Highline Trail #31Arizona93.2 km1,536 m24 hrExpertJune to October
Prescott Circle TrailArizona88.8 km1,160 m22 hrExpertJune to October
Hayduke Trail #11Arizona58.6 km2,475 m17 hrExpertJune to October
Maricopa TrailArizona472 km2,739 m116 hrExpertApril to October
New Hance TrailArizona9.4 km261 m2 hr 21 minModerateJune to October
Lava Falls TrailArizona2.3 km52 m33 minModerateApril to October
Arizona Trail #3 Canelo Hills WastArizona26.1 km251 m6 hr 10 minHardJune to October
Mazatzal Divide Trail #23Arizona49.4 km1,782 m14 hrExpertJune to October

If you only have time for one, start with Black Canyon Trail, Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, Highline Trail #31. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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