Sustainability Storyteller in Beauty & Travel | Creator – “Right About the Earth” | Ex‑Oxfam, G20 at Wild Safari Quest
Answered a month ago
My single favorite hiking trail in Arizona is the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, because it drops you straight into the canyon along a high, exposed spine with views that never really let up. The day I hiked it, I started in the cold dark and watched sunrise peel across the rock layers, each one waking up a different color. By the time my legs started to complain about the steep downhill, the canyon had already done something subtle in my head: the scale of it made my everyday worries feel small, not erased, just right-sized. My one piece of advice: decide your turnaround point before you take the first step down. I choose a specific time, not a mood, and I stick to it even when I feel strong. Down there, the real test is not how far you can go, but whether you have the discipline to leave while you still feel good.
The Painted Desert Trail in Petrified Forest National Park turned out to be my favorite. I saw maybe three other people the entire time I was out there. Most visitors to Petrified Forest go through, stopping at the overlooks and leaving in an hour. They completely bypass the actual trails for hiking in the park because it is not well-advertised. The Painted Desert Trail is a 1.3-mile loop that takes you to the bottom of these color badlands that appear to have had paint run all over the landscape. You're walking on blue, purple, red and orange formations of clay which change color depending on the time of the day. It was unforgettable because of how quiet it was. No trail markers once you drop below the rim, no guardrails and no crowds taking selfies every 20 feet. You're just walking this alien terrain that looks nothing like typical Arizona desert. The formations are fragile though, so you have to watch where you are putting your foot on the clay slopes. My advice if you are thinking of going there is to take way more water than you think you need and get started early. I went in October of the previous year and I thought it was cooler so I didn't have to carry extra water with me. But I was wrong. The sun gets reflected off the clay and there's zero shade anywhere on the trail. That's why I finished off two liters in 90 minutes. If you're going in summer, go before 7 AM or wait until after 4 PM. The heat out there don't mess around.
My favorite hike in Arizona is the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. It looks easy at first because it's all downhill, then the scale hits you fast. The views change constantly, the light shifts through the canyon walls, and once you get past the busy sections it gets quiet in a good way. It never feels like the same hike twice. What sticks with you is how much the climb back up makes you respect the terrain. Your legs remind you pretty quickly who's in charge. One piece of advice is to plan for the hike out, not the hike in. Bring more water than you think you'll need, start early, and turn around before you're wiped out. People get into trouble by underestimating the climb back.
Of all the trails I've hiked in my travels within Arizona, Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon Trail in Phoenix is one of the best. This one is a challenge because it has a lot of steep and technical sections which you have to actually scramble. You're climbing 1,300 feet in just 1.2 miles and there are places where your are literally using metal handrails that are bolted into the rock to pull you up. What makes it unforgettable though is hitting the summit at sunrise. I did it once at 5:30 AM and watched the entire Phoenix valley light up below me. The city grid extended for miles and you could see all the way to the mountains on the horizon. That view after the climb made all those burning muscles worth it. My biggest piece of advice is to go before 6 AM if you're going between May and September. I tried once at 8AM in July and turned back halfway at the point where the exposed rock was already too hot to touch. The heat reflects off those granite faces and makes the trail an oven. So, go early or wait until winter.
Cathedral Rock Trail is my answer every time someone asks. I have done this climb at least nine times over the years, bringing different friends along each time to see their faces as they see the views from the saddle. What makes it unforgettable is winning that summit. You're scrambling over the actual rock faces in the final third using your hand to pull yourself up. What makes it unforgettable is winning that summit. You're scrambling over the actual rock faces in the final third using your hands to pull yourself up. No ropes or chains, just red sandstone and your own grip is all you have. The 360 degree views while sitting on the saddle give you an idea of why Sedona gets so much hype. My advice to anyone planning this hike is to bring work gloves or climbing gloves. The rock scrambling tears up your hands if you go barehanded. I forgot mine on my second attempt and spent the next week with scraped palms that made handshakes at client meetings pretty awkward.
I spent a weekend out at the West Clear Creek Wilderness not too long ago and that place is a total hidden gem compared to the usual tourist tracks. The trail consists of constant wading through pools and climbing over slippery boulders which makes the whole thing feel like a real adventure. I kept track of our progress and we spent around 65.50% of the time in the water just trying to make it through the deep canyon walls. The red rock cliffs are going right up out of the creek bed so you get these narrow slots where the sun is only hitting the water for a couple hours at midday. It is a rugged place and the silence is only broken by the sound of the stream and the occasional hawk overhead. You need to swap out your normal leather hiking boots for a pair of dedicated water shoes with solid rubber grip. I saw a guy slip on a mossy rock because his stuff was not designed for submerged hiking and he nearly ended up with a broken ankle. My team and I used sticky soled approach boots and they made a world of difference while climbing out of the 5.75 foot deep pools. Make sure you dry your feet fully away during your lunch break to prevent blisters from the constant wetness. It is the smartest thing you can do to bring a waterproof dry bag for your phone and truck keys before you head into the canyon.
West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon (above) is a treasure in and of itself. With its red rock walls razoring up from the ground and trees of leafy green stretching to the sky, it's a calm respite from the desert heat. You'll cross thirteen shallow creek crossings that keep the going interesting. You will always remember the view of the canyon, which constricts to become an actual "subway" tunnel. You feel like you've walked into a secret world. Arrive at the trailhead prior to 08:00 A.M. The small parking lot is usually full, especially on weekends. Arrive early to avoid the crowds and savor the peaceful gurgle of the water.
My favorite trail in Arizona is the Peralta Trail leading up to Fremont Saddle in the Superstition Mountains. Most people flock to Camelback Mountain or Sedona's crowded trails but this one sits about 40 miles east of Phoenix and you'll rarely see more than a dozen hikers on an even weekend. I stumbled onto this trail during my second week in Arizona back in 2019 after a local Ophthalmologist I was shadowing told me about it as his go-to escape from the city. What makes this hike unforgettable is "the pay-off at the top." You reach Fremont Saddle after about 2.4 miles of steady climbing through saguaro-studded desert, and suddenly you're staring at Weaver's Needle, this huge spire of volcanic rock that shoots straight up out of the canyon floor. The formation has a very unreal appearance (like something in an old Western film) and during sunrise, the rock glows orange against the blue sky behind it. I've been on some more technical trails with higher elevation gains but none of them gave me that same jaw-dropping moment when the view opened up. The trail itself strikes a sweet spot for difficulty as well. You climb roughly 1,400 feet in those 2.4 miles, so you're working hard enough to feel accomplished without requiring the help of climbing equipment or advanced fitness. Anyone who hikes on a regular basis should handle it fine.
Honestly? The best hike in Arizona is Havasu Falls. I still remember turning a corner and seeing that water against the red rocks. The color doesn't look real, like someone spilled bright blue paint in the desert. My advice is get your permit way ahead of time and don't underestimate that 10-mile hike. It's longer than you think.
I spend years working on busy job sites but I often go out into the desert when I need a break. My favorite spot is the Bright Angel Trail because the sheer size of the landscape is something you cannot prepare for until you are standing on the dirt. I hired a local guide one last time and he told me that the real challenge is the 1,300 meter climb back up to the rim. Most people underestimate the heat and I saw many hikers struggle as they did not bring enough water for the trek. The views of the river at the bottom are amazing but the physical demand of it is what makes the experience stick.
West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon is my favorite hike in Arizona. It's unforgettable for the towering red rock walls, the repeated stream crossings, and the vivid fall colors that make the canyon feel both accessible and deeply peaceful. One tip: wear footwear that can get wet, since you'll be wading through the creek.
I think of the Bright Angel Trail as Arizona's jewel. It gives you a viewpoint you can't get at the rim. I love the way the color of the rock changes as you work your way down. The enormous cliffs have the quality of grand architecture. This is an unforgettable trail, which puts you right in a world class landscape. I recommend being there at sunrise to avoid the heat. Keep in mind that it takes twice as long to climb up as to walk down. I always have them packed, as well my salty snacks and extra water. It is easy enough to look at the grade, and all will be well.