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Best Mountain Hikes near Phoenix

The directory currently contains 10 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Phoenix. Their average mapped distance is 55.3 km and average recorded ascent is 575 m (1,886 ft); the longest route in the set is 472 km.

This subset represents 10% of the 96 quality-checked routes near Phoenix. Its average distance is 55.3 km, compared with 8.2 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 575 m (1,886 ft), versus 124 m (407 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, 2 routes (20%) are rated easy, 2 (20%) are rated hard or expert, and 3 (30%) 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

1.8 km

Summit Trail 300

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

199 m

Quartz Ridge Trail 8A

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

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

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

Maricopa Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
472 km
/ 293 mi
Elevation gain
2,739 m
Typical duration
116 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
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
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
Pass Mountain, Usery Mountain Regional Park, March 2015
Moderate

Pass Mountain Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.7 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
325 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Quartz Ridge Trail 8A

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
199 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Dixie Peak Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
313 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Peak Spur

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Mountain

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
Maricopa TrailArizona472 km2,739 m116 hrExpertApril to October
Summit Trail 300Arizona1.8 km418 m1 hrModerateApril to October
Siphon Draw Trail #53Arizona1.9 km789 m1 hr 35 minModerateApril to October
Pass Mountain TrailArizona11.7 km325 m2 hr 56 minModerateApril to October
Estrella Mountain Regional ParkArizona56.7 km849 m14 hrExpertApril to October
Quartz Ridge Trail 8AArizona2.8 km199 m53 minModerateApril to October
Dixie Peak TrailArizona2.3 km313 m57 minModerateApril to October
Mountain Vista Park Walking PathArizona2.0 km0 m25 minEasyApril to October
Peak SpurArizona0.6 km86 m15 minModerateApril to October
North Mountain Park Walking PathArizona1.3 km28 m19 minEasyApril to October

Maricopa Trail, Summit Trail 300, Siphon Draw Trail #53 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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