Posted in Arizona Hiking, Nature February 22, 2022 by

7 Cool And Calming Hikes To Take In Arizona To Help You Reflect On The Year Ahead

Most people don’t associate the beginning of a new year with hiking, but across much of Arizona, the cooler months are actually the best time to be outdoors! These seven laid-back, easy hikes in Arizona are perfect for kicking off a new year while the weather is nice, with just enough challenge to leave you invigorated without sacrificing any of the peace and serenity that accompanies a leisurely stroll.

1. Boynton Vista Trail (Sedona)
AllTrails/Chris Vinson
Sedona is known worldwide for its alleged energy vortexes located atop certain rock formations. You'll pass several of these metaphysical gyres along the Boynton Vista Trail, which is only about a mile long. Upon completion, the powerful energy field surrounding you will be impossible to ignore - so sit in it and emerge with a calm soul and purposeful spirit.
Boynton Canyon Trail, Boynton Cyn Trl, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
2. Blue Mesa Trail (Holbrook)
AllTrails/Janelle Lajeunesse
While the Petrified Forest spans many acres of undulating terrain, a mile-long walk is all it takes to see the primary focal points. Blue Mesa is a paved trail that leads right past actual pieces of petrified wood before descending into multicolored badlands. Everyone deserves to experience this truly extraterrestrial landscape.
Holbrook, AZ 86025, USA
3. Aspen Nature Loop (Flagstaff)
AllTrails/Laurie Jones
Variety might be the spice of life, but aspens will always have a special place in our hearts. This 1.5-mile hike takes you through ponderosa and aspen groves and is best visited during November, but beautiful any time of the year.
Flagstaff, AZ, USA
4. Tumamoc Hill (Tucson)
AllTrails/Mike Larson
Nothing quite compares to the sight of majestic Saguaros stretching endlessly into the distance, which is exactly what Tumamoc Hill provides. This hike is just over three miles round-trip and provides stunning panoramic views of Tucson. Visit at dawn or dusk for the most striking visuals - oh, and night hiking is allowed, as well!
Tumamoc Hill Hiking Trail, Tumamoc Hill Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA
5. Nature Trail at Piestewa Peak (Phoenix)
AllTrails/Lisa Hahn
Hiking up a mountain will never truly be easy, but this is a fair compromise. Piestewa Peak's Nature Trail is two miles long and ascends the mountain's eastern face. The landscape is rocky and a bit steep, but there are benches placed along the route in case you need to rest. Informative plaques offer tidbits about native plants and animals you'll encounter along the way, so bring the kids and make learning fun! Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the park's many tables when you're all finished.
Piestewa Peak, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
6. Robber's Roost Trail (Sedona)
AllTrails/Dhananjay Pandit
The 3.6-mile Robbers Roost Trail is accessible year-round and suitable for all skill levels. It's very lightly trafficked, so there's a good chance you'll be the only one hiking at any given time. The main attraction is a large, open cave assumed to have inspired the trail's name. It's easy to imagine outlaws using it as a vantage point from which to plan their next move. Our state is full of breathtaking views, but this has to be among the best. You can practically see all of Arizona from up here!
Robbers Roost Trail, Arizona 86336, USA
7. White Tank Waterfall Trail (Waddell)
AllTrails/Persephone Figueroa
While the waterfall on this highly popular trail only flows after heavy rain, there are plenty of equally worthwhile reasons to visit. The hike is just under two miles long and features some incredibly well-preserved Native American petroglyphs that can't be found anywhere else in Arizona. Feel free to bring along your leashed pup or embark on a leisurely mountain bike ride. The trail is largely exposed with almost no shade, so this trail is best suited for use between November and April when the weather is cooler.
Waterfall Canyon Trail, Buckeye, AZ, USA

How many of the best hikes in Arizona have you embarked on? Did we miss your favorite? Let us know!

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Hikes in Arizona

February 27, 2022
Tori Jane

What are some of the best, easy hikes in Arizona?  

Arizona is a hikers’ paradise, and with more than 3,000 awesome trails to choose from, there are many for those who are new to hiking or who prefer an easier trip. Some of our favorite easy hikes in Arizona include the amazing Horseshoe Bend Trail, which is great for all ages (see more on that below) and leads to one of the most amazing, iconic places in the entire southwestern United States. It’s short, too, at just a mile and a half long. We also love the Fay Canyon Trail, which can be found within the Coconino National Forest, which is 2.3 miles long and very scenic. If you’re in the Phoenix metro area and would like a short, sweet, easy hike with awesome views, check out Hole in the Rock Trail, at Papago Park, which features awesome views of the entire city unlike any other in the whole state. Then, west of Phoenix, there’s the awesome White Tank Waterfall Trail, which is 1.8 miles long and features – yep – a waterfall. Check this article out for some awesome cave hikes in Arizona!  

What are some great kid-friendly hikes around Arizona?  

For this purpose, we’ll define a “kid-friendly” hike as one that’s not only easy but also less than one mile in length. Luckily for those who want to bring the kids hiking, there are seriously more than 900 trails in Arizona that fit this description. Some of our favorite kid-friendly hikes around Arizona include gems like the amazing Antelope Canyon trail, located at Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. It is just over a half-mile long, and it features the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the southwest. The above-mentioned Hole in the Rock trail near Phoenix is short, too, at just 0.3 miles long, and if you’re ever in Sedona and want to hike with the little ones be sure to look into the Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Secret Slick Rock Trail, and the nearby Yavapai Vista Trail. The Discovery Trail at Lost Dutchman State Park is a truly amazing, one-mile-long adventure, and we also love the Puerco Pueblo Trail at Petrified Forest National Park.