Phoenix Area Day Hikes
"Break on through to the other side." - The DoorsYou might be surprised what you can do in just one day in Arizona: scale a mountain, overlook a sprawling cityscape or even venture into ancient ruins. The Southwest is ripe with adventure, and we've mapped it all out - from our backyards to the backwoods.
Day hiking provides a snapshot of some of Arizona's most sought-after destinations like the Grand Canyon or White Mountains. We can take you through the touristy hotspots or primitive trails known to few - but well worth the hike.
Our expert guides can help you select the perfect trip for you or your group - and we'll provide all the transportation, food and gear. Let us show you what's possible in just one day:
Hieroglyphics Canyon – Superstition Mountains
The trail is the perfect hike for children and almost all levels of fitness. You can opt for an easy 3 mile round trip hike to one of the best Native American petroglyph sites in the area or you can choose to go beyond the trail and to the ridgeline of Superstition Mountain for amazing views of Weaver’s Needle and the surrounding area.
Distance: 3 to 6.5 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 570 to 2,270 ft
Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous
Trip Cost/Person
| half day per person | full day per person |
| $79 | $109 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
South Mountain – Phoenix (Temporarily Unavailable)
South Mountain Preserve is the largest city park in the nation with miles of trails for all levels of hiking ability. Since the park is close to Phoenix, we offer half day as well as full day hike options. Our favorite is hiking to Hidden Valley on the top of the mountain where we will find petroglyphs and the potential of getting a bird’s eye view of the Phoenix metro area.
Distance: 3 to 8 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 200 to 1,100 ft
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trip Cost/Person
| half day per person | full day per person |
| $79 | $109 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
Pass Mountain – East Mesa
The trails around this peak in the Goldfield Mountains are not far from the city and just a stones through away from the hustle and bustle. Options range from easy desert hikes to an off trail trek to the top of the mountain. Depending on the hike, there are expansive views of the area as well colorful wild flowers in the spring.
Distance: 4 to 8 miles round trip
Elevation Change: from 500 ft to 1,300 ft
Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous
Trip Cost/Person
| per person |
| $129 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
Peralta Trail – Superstition Mountains
This day hike is only a short drive from the metro Phoenix area and will take you to the middle of the desert. The Superstition Mountains are rugged and mysterious and this trail offers a taste of what these mountains have to offer – scenic panoramics, majestic Saguaro cacti and lush vegetation – especially in Spring. This out and back hike heads up to Fremont Saddle where there is an outstanding view of Weaver’s Needle, the most prominent geologic feature in the Superstitions.
Distance: 4.6 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1,350 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Cost/Person
| per person |
| $129 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
Cave Creek – Phoenix
This region of the Sonoran Desert north of Phoenix has a mix in vegetation from Giant Saguaro cacti to riparian areas with towering Sycamore trees. Much of this hike is in the shade and in the spring there are wildflowers in bloom along the path. On this out and back hike we turn around at a small swimming hole that is a perfect spot for eating lunch.
Distance: 5.5 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 300 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Trip Cost/Person
| per person |
| $129 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
Roger’s Canyon – Superstition Mountains
The Salado Indians inhabited the Superstitions over 800 years ago and the cliff dwellings in Rogers Canyon are some of the best preserved examples of their homes. The drive to the trailhead alone is an adventure, travelling through the desert on dirt roads which need a high clearance vehicle to negotiate. The trail winds its way along a creek into a narrow canyon to where we find the dwellings.
Distance: 9 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1,133 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Cost/Person
| per person |
| $159 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
Romero Canyon – Southern Arizona
Tucked away in the lower reaches of the Santa Catalina Mountains outside Tucson, Romero Pools is an amazing oasis that offers a great place for hikers to cool off on a warm day. On the way to the pools, the trail winds through many species of cacti before reaching areas of shrub oak and agave. The trail offers fantastic views of Oro Valley and the western peaks of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Distance: 5.6 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1,100 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Cost/Person
| per person |
| $159 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
Horton Creek – Payson
This Arizona high country hike follows a well used trail through a forest of ponderosa pines and Manzanita. The scenery is not what most people expect when travelling to Arizona and this hike is a great way to escape the heat in the hotter months of the year. This trail follows the Horton Creek and eventually makes it way to the spring where the creek is fed.
Distance: 8 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1,350 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Price: $159 per person
Trip Cost/Person
| per person |
| $159 |
Round trip transportation from your hotel, water, snacks, lunch (on full day hikes), necessary gear and a trained guide. Tips for your awesome guides are not included but greatly appreciated.
