How many long-distance hikes are listed in Arizona?

18 routes currently meet both this guide’s filter and the directory quality gate. Each submitted route has a traceable source, mapped geometry and sampled elevation data.

What is the average distance and ascent?

The average mapped distance is 311 km with 3,652 m (11,982 ft) of recorded ascent. The longest route in this set is 1259 km.

How are the routes ordered?

Black Canyon National Recreation Trail currently ranks first. Ordering uses the directory score and route-data completeness; it is not a claim that editors have field-tested every route.

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

No route in this set is currently rated easy. In every category, verify surface, exposure, access and current conditions independently.

Best Long-Distance Hikes in Arizona

The directory currently contains 18 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Arizona. Their average mapped distance is 311 km and average recorded ascent is 3,652 m (11,982 ft); the longest route in the set is 1259 km.

This subset represents 3% of the 593 quality-checked routes in Arizona. Its average distance is 311 km, compared with 16.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 3,652 m (11,982 ft), versus 403 m (1,322 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the long-distance tag. Total distance is shown for comparison; stage planning and accommodation require separate research. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 18 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 1 (6%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

153 km

Black Canyon Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

2,443 m

Black Canyon National Recreation Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Expert

Black Canyon National Recreation Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 162 km
Elevation gain: 2,443 m
Typical duration: 41 hr

Mountain
Canyon and gorge
Long-distance path

Expert

Black Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 153 km
Elevation gain: 2,892 m
Typical duration: 40 hr

Mountain
Canyon and gorge
Long-distance path

Expert

Arizona Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 1259 km
Elevation gain: 10,884 m
Typical duration: 315 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Grand Enchantment Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 1225 km
Elevation gain: 15,002 m
Typical duration: 314 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Great Western Trail - Arizona

Arizona · United States

Distance: 309 km
Elevation gain: 2,575 m
Typical duration: 77 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Hayduke Trail #12

Arizona · United States

Distance: 214 km
Elevation gain: 3,631 m
Typical duration: 56 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Sky Islands Traverse

Arizona · United States

Distance: 842 km
Elevation gain: 13,348 m
Typical duration: 220 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Hayduke Trail #10

Arizona · United States

Distance: 119 km
Elevation gain: 926 m
Typical duration: 29 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Hayduke Trail #9

Arizona · United States

Distance: 112 km
Elevation gain: 1,367 m
Typical duration: 28 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Highline Trail #31

Arizona · United States

Distance: 93.2 km
Elevation gain: 1,536 m
Typical duration: 24 hr

Mountain
Forest
Long-distance path

Expert

Prescott Circle Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 88.8 km
Elevation gain: 1,160 m
Typical duration: 22 hr

Mountain
Forest
Long-distance path

Expert

Maricopa Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 472 km
Elevation gain: 2,739 m
Typical duration: 116 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Tonto Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 147 km
Elevation gain: 1,732 m
Typical duration: 37 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Maverick OHV Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 78.1 km
Elevation gain: 422 m
Typical duration: 18 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

East Divide Trail #287

Arizona · United States

Distance: 62.2 km
Elevation gain: 2,549 m
Typical duration: 18 hr

Mountain
Forest
Long-distance path

Expert

Snake Gulch Trail #59

Arizona · United States

Distance: 83.5 km
Elevation gain: 687 m
Typical duration: 20 hr

Mountain
Forest
Long-distance path

Expert

Tuckup Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance: 112 km
Elevation gain: 980 m
Typical duration: 27 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Flagstaff Urban Trail System

Arizona · United States

Distance: 73.5 km
Elevation gain: 861 m
Typical duration: 18 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

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
Route	Distance	Ascent	Time	Difficulty	Best season
Black Canyon National Recreation TrailArizona	162 km	2,443 m	41 hr	Expert	April to October
Black Canyon TrailArizona	153 km	2,892 m	40 hr	Expert	April to October
Arizona TrailArizona	1259 km	10,884 m	315 hr	Expert	July to September
Grand Enchantment TrailArizona	1225 km	15,002 m	314 hr	Expert	July to September
Great Western Trail - ArizonaArizona	309 km	2,575 m	77 hr	Expert	July to September
Hayduke Trail #12Arizona	214 km	3,631 m	56 hr	Expert	July to September
Sky Islands TraverseArizona	842 km	13,348 m	220 hr	Expert	July to September
Hayduke Trail #10Arizona	119 km	926 m	29 hr	Expert	July to September
Hayduke Trail #9Arizona	112 km	1,367 m	28 hr	Expert	July to September
Highline Trail #31Arizona	93.2 km	1,536 m	24 hr	Expert	June to October

Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, Black Canyon Trail, Arizona Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

How do these routes differ?

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

Return logistics

Trails

The shortlist, side by side

Frequently asked questions

How many long-distance hikes are listed in Arizona?

What is the average distance and ascent?

How are the routes ordered?

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

Plan with more confidence

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Related guides

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