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Hiking Trails Under 5 km near San Tan Valley

The directory currently contains 11 quality-checked routes matching this guide near San Tan Valley. Their average mapped distance is 3.0 km and average recorded ascent is 189 m (620 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.7 km.

This subset represents 42% of the 26 quality-checked routes near San Tan Valley. Its average distance is 3.0 km, compared with 9.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 189 m (620 ft), versus 358 m (1,175 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (18%) 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

0.9 km

Prospectors Trail #57

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

15 m

Prospectors Trail #57

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

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
Moderate

Cave Trail #233

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
331 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Cave
Moderate

Bull Pass Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
104 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Treasure Loop

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
175 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
Moderate

Prospectors Trail #57

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
13 min
Moderate

Black Mesa Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
123 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
  • Forest
  • Desert
Moderate

Woodbury Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
288 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Terrapin Trail #234

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
150 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min

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
Picketpost Mountain Summit TrailArizona3.3 km52 m46 minModerateApril to October
Siphon Draw Trail #53Arizona1.9 km789 m1 hr 35 minModerateApril to October
Cave Trail #233Arizona2.9 km331 m1 hr 6 minModerateApril to October
Bull Pass TrailArizona2.5 km104 m41 minModerateApril to October
Treasure LoopArizona3.8 km175 m1 hr 3 minModerateApril to October
Prospectors Trail #57Arizona0.9 km15 m13 minModerateApril to October
Legends of Superior Loop TrailArizona2.3 km54 m34 minModerateApril to October
Black Mesa TrailArizona4.7 km123 m1 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Woodbury TrailArizona3.2 km288 m1 hr 6 minModerateApril to October
Hieroglyphics Trail #101Arizona2.4 km0 m30 minModerateApril to October

Picketpost Mountain Summit Trail, Siphon Draw Trail #53, Cave Trail #233 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.

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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.

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

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