Top Things to do in Central Arizona
Top Hotels in Central Arizona
- 1. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 2. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport
- 3. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Happy Valley
- 4. Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas
- 5. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 6. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
- 7. Gila River Resorts & Casinos - Wild Horse Pass
- 8. The McCormick Scottsdale
- 9. The Wigwam
- 10. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe
The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Central Arizona, Central Arizona
Home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and its more than 3.4 million residents, Central Arizona offers an amazing array of museums, cultural venues and outdoor adventures. The Valley of the Sun boasts hopping nightlife and a thrilling selection of restaurants, resorts and spas. Discover Old West and Native American history. Hike among the cactus in the Sonoran desert. Try your hand at ranching in Glendale. Drive the Superstition Mountains. Visit Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West in Scottsdale.
Restaurants in Central Arizona
1. Bear Mountain Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 249 reviews
Reviewed By rachelwY6652YZ
Love this hike. It's definitely difficult, with steep sections that require trail runners or hiking boots to do safely. Hiked in spring and recommend carrying 3.5L water because most of the trail is exposed. Views are stunning and worth the effort!
2. Tom's Thumb Trailhead
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 393 reviews
Reviewed By ca847
Beautiful scenery. Fun walk in the heat. Trails are marked very well. Be sure to bring plenty of water and proper shoes.
3. Broken Arrow Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,400 reviews
Reviewed By geridicola - Chicago, United States
We took the Broken Arrow trail to the High on the Hog, Hog Heaven to Hog Wash back to Broken Arrow it was about a four mile Hike that was absolutely amazing. bring water and a snack so you can stop and soak it all in.
4. Brin's Mesa Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By chickabeegrrl - Elk Grove, United States
This is a great hike if you start at Brins Mesa and walk clockwise towards Soldiers Pass then loop north and back onto Brins Mesa. You’ll have some amazing views and a stop at a sink hole and the seven sacred pools. I’d suggest that you arrive early since parking can be tough and drive to the end of the road but beware of deep holes in the ground that you’ll have to navigate around.
5. Black Mountain Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By 468evat - San Diego, United States
This short trail is in the very center of town. While the 2.2 mile round trip hike is nearly all vertical on the way up, it is lovely. The trail is well marked and wide enough. At the top there is monument to war veterans. It is lovely on top and the views every step of the way up are divine!
6. Siphon Draw Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By JWoo28 - Mission Viejo, United States
Ok. 62 years old. Hiked Peralta last week and thought wow, nice hike had some elevation so let's try FLAT IRON. Wholly smokes. First 1/3 ok. Moving and got a little sweat on. Second 1/3 steeper, ok got this. Last 1/3, I realized I'm not 20, 30, 40 or even 50. This will challenge you. 40 to 80 percent incline. Incredible views. Glad I did it but wont again. Oh. Now go down. Unsettling at times.
7. Oak Creek Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,381 reviews
Breathtaking in its red rock beauty, the Canyon is a spectacular 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls between sheer rock walls.
Reviewed By 51gloriab - Advance, United States
We hiked the West Fork trail and enjoyed the lush area with a well-defined trail for several miles. Our necks were stretched upward as we noted what we saw in the sandstone rock structures formed by wind over the centuries. At the start of the hike, it was a treat to learn about Mayhew Lodge that once was a retreat for politicians and movie stars. We saw squirrels, salamanders, butterflies, and hawks as they thrive in the riparian community.
8. Devil's Bridge Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,524 reviews
Reviewed By DistrictBrit - Washington DC, United States
The hike to Devil’s Bridge isn’t too strenuous, it’s roughly five-miles round-trip along a dirt road that leads into a more robust trail, with parts that require a bit of rock climbing up steep sections of the mountain. The higher you get the more narrow and rocky the hike becomes, it’s a 400 ft or so elevation climb in all but there are plenty of places to stop and take a break, or viewing areas to soak in the view should you not make it to the top. But if you make it to the top it’s awe-inspiring, and the opportunity to risk your life walking across the bridge for a photo is right there. Devil’s Bridge itself is a bridge to nowhere, it’s about a 50 feet drop should you fall, so don’t do that. At it’s narrowest it’s about five feet but if you’re good with heights then you’ll be fine.
9. Boynton Canyon Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 999 reviews
This popular hiking trail heads about three miles into a deep box canyon and includes ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins along the way.
Reviewed By Houston940 - Toronto, Canada
Great hike into the canyon, pretty flat with nice climb at the end to a scenic spot to sit and enjoy the beauty at the end of the canyon. Saw some wild pigs on the way which was fun
10. West Fork Oak Creek Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,253 reviews
Trail that follows a creek at the bottom of a 1,000-foot canyon.
Reviewed By 383brittj - Auburn, United States
Beautiful hike that is fairly flat and sandy. Great hike for Tevas so you can get wet. First sign says 4 miles round trip or two miles until the canyon ends (not true), but the trail just keeps going so you don’t really know when you are at this point. Second sign says 3.3 miles one way ( so 6.6 round trip)(also not true). Using my Apple Watch to track time and distance it took us 2 hours and 3.94 miles to get to the last photo which says trail ends ahead. If you go to this point you are looking at an 8 mile hike. Only took us 1:30 to get back since we weren’t stopping, so 3:30 for full 8 mile hike. Honestly, the ending was anticlimactic. You can continue walking in the stream into a canyon like area, but you have already passed many equally beautiful spots. I didn’t think the end was worth the extra distance and you have to hike up, over and down to the end. Great hike for a hot day. We didn’t have any issues parking but it is $11/vehicle and not a part of the red rock parking pass.
