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Best Mountain Hikes in Arizona

The directory currently contains 174 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Arizona. Their average mapped distance is 43.9 km and average recorded ascent is 917 m (3,009 ft); the longest route in the set is 1259 km.

This subset represents 29% of the 593 quality-checked routes in Arizona. Its average distance is 43.9 km, compared with 16.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 917 m (3,009 ft), versus 403 m (1,322 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 5 routes (3%) are rated easy, 78 (45%) are rated hard or expert, and 12 (7%) 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

37.5 km

Eagle National Recreation Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

1,987 m

Eagle 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.

Trails

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
Picketpost Mountain near Superior, Pinal County, Arizona. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!"
Expert

Arizona Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
1259 km
/ 782 mi
Elevation gain
10,884 m
Typical duration
315 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Grand Enchantment Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
1225 km
/ 761 mi
Elevation gain
15,002 m
Typical duration
314 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Great Western Trail - Arizona

Arizona · United States

Distance
309 km
/ 192 mi
Elevation gain
2,575 m
Typical duration
77 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Crest Trail #103

Arizona · United States

Distance
16.8 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
677 m
Typical duration
4 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Hayduke Trail #12

Arizona · United States

Distance
214 km
/ 133 mi
Elevation gain
3,631 m
Typical duration
56 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sky Islands Traverse

Arizona · United States

Distance
842 km
/ 523 mi
Elevation gain
13,348 m
Typical duration
220 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Doyle Peak and Fremont Peak in the San Francisco Peak of Arizona. I hiked from Lockett Meadow on the Inner Basin Trail to the Weatherford Trail to Humphrey's Summit in the San Francisco Peaks Wilderness north of Flagstaff Arizona. Looking s
Moderate

Humphreys Summit Trail #151

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
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
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Hayduke Trail #10

Arizona · United States

Distance
119 km
/ 74.1 mi
Elevation gain
926 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Hayduke Trail #9

Arizona · United States

Distance
112 km
/ 69.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,367 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
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
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 39,843. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864 Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona T
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
Moderate

Carr Peak Trail #107

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
620 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Hayduke Trail #11

Arizona · United States

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

Maricopa Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
472 km
/ 293 mi
Elevation gain
2,739 m
Typical duration
116 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
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
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Huachuca Mountains, Arizona.
Moderate

Hamburg Trail #122

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
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
Parker Canyon Lake is located southwest of Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Moderate

Parker Canyon Lakeshore Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.7 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
137 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Lava Falls Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Waterfall
  • Mountain
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
Approaching the Monument walking east along the Tonto Trail from Hermit Camp. NPS Photo by Michael Quinn. The Monument in Monument Creek is along the Tonto Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. Just west of Mohave Point, in the side canyon f
Expert

Tonto Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
147 km
/ 91.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,732 m
Typical duration
37 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Maverick OHV Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
78.1 km
/ 48.5 mi
Elevation gain
422 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
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
  • Forest
Hard

Gibson Canyon Trail #308

Arizona · United States

Distance
14.1 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,908 m
Typical duration
5 hr 47 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
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
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Looking west over Flagstaff from Mt. Elden Lookout. Taken 7-17-13 by Brady Smith. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

Elden Lookout Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
764 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
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
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
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
Expert

Snake Gulch Trail #59

Arizona · United States

Distance
83.5 km
/ 51.9 mi
Elevation gain
687 m
Typical duration
20 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
Hard

South Fork Trail #243

Arizona · United States

Distance
22.2 km
/ 13.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,060 m
Typical duration
6 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Had some excellent views of the canyon rim just after sunrise, it was the start of another great day. North Kaibab trail, Grand Canyon National Park gc 272
Expert

North Kaibab Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
23.1 km
/ 14.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,109 m
Typical duration
8 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Yaqui Ridge Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
198 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

Nankoweap Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
20.1 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
798 m
Typical duration
5 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
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
Moderate

Tanner Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.2 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
170 m
Typical duration
2 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
Bright Angel Trail above Indian Garden in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona on December 10, 2013.
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
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
Moderate

Miller Canyon Trail #106

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
862 m
Typical duration
2 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint

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
Arizona TrailArizona1259 km10,884 m315 hrExpertJuly to September
Grand Enchantment TrailArizona1225 km15,002 m314 hrExpertJuly to September
Great Western Trail - ArizonaArizona309 km2,575 m77 hrExpertJuly to September
Eagle National Recreation TrailArizona37.5 km1,987 m11 hrExpertJuly to September
Arizona Trail #1 Huachuca MountainsArizona32.6 km1,290 m9 hr 16 minExpertJuly to September
Crest Trail #103Arizona16.8 km677 m4 hr 35 minHardJuly to September
Hayduke Trail #12Arizona214 km3,631 m56 hrExpertJuly to September
Sky Islands TraverseArizona842 km13,348 m220 hrExpertJuly to September

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 →

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