Arizona
Nature|Hiking

This Primitive Hot Springs Trail In Arizona Is Everything You Need This Winter

Ringbolt Hot Springs Trail in Arizona offers free, accessible hot springs and stunning desert landscapes, making it a top winter hike.

Updated Nov 23, 2022

Written by 

Katie Lawrence

Arizona has its fair share of hot springs, but many are owned by fancy, expensive resorts. This hiking trail happens to have three of its own hot springs in Arizona that are free and accessible to the public. Not only can you warm up in a relaxing natural pool, but also marvel at the breathtaking desert landscape all around. Without a doubt, the Ringbolt Hot Springs Trail is one of the best winter hikes in Arizona.

The trail is a 5.9-mile loop and takes about four hours on average. Blue arrows create an easy-to-follow path that leads straight to the springs.

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Alltrails/Patrick Rogers

Late winter into early spring is an ideal time of year to complete the hike. Excessive heat during summer typically prompts the closure of the trail.

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Alltrails/Chris Tebbe

Split into two parts, the northern path leads to the hot spring. Along the way, you'll pass several unique rock formations that make great family photo backdrops.

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Alltrails/Dan Mosier

This ladder is all that stands between you and the water. Shimmy up, rung-by-rung, and immerse yourself in the relaxing pool of warm water.

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Alltrails/Crystal Ann

Take a breather and marvel at the majestic scenery all around. You're essentially floating in midair, with a thin rock shelf holding the spring up at an elevation of more than 800 feet.

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Alltrails/1tatdrn Vegas

Each of the three pools gets progressively hotter as you ascend the terrain. Try them all and pick your favorite before breaking out the food, drinks, and music for an ultimate hangout session.

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Alltrails/Alisa MacDonald

You'll also have an opportunity to take a dip in the gorgeous Colorado River. Much cooler than the springs, it'll bring your body temperature down enough to make the last leg of the hike more enjoyable.

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Alltrails/Luis Hidalgo

How refreshing does this look? It's amazing that we have water right here in Arizona reminiscent of an island paradise. Who wants to dive in?

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Alltrails/Beto Castillo

Have you ever hiked this trail? Do you agree that it's one of the best winter hikes in Arizona? What's your favorite hot spring in Arizona? Be sure to share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below -- we'd love to hear from you!

For more winter hikes, check out 9 Easy Hikes You Can Enjoy In Arizona This Winter.

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Nature|Hiking

Hike Picacho Peak State Park’s Sunset Vista Trail in Arizona for an Unforgettable Adventure

If you’re looking to conquer a trail rather than just enjoy a leisurely stroll, I strongly believe the Sunset Vista Trail at Picacho Peak State Park belongs on your hiking bucket list. It’s five miles long with an elevation gain of nearly 2,000 feet, promising to test your resolve in more ways than one.

Published Oct 4, 2024

Written by 

Katie Lawrence

Easy hikes in Arizona have their time and place, but if you’re looking to conquer a trail rather than just enjoy a leisurely stroll, I strongly believe the Sunset Vista Trail at Picacho Peak State Park belongs on your hiking bucket list. It’s five miles long with an elevation gain of nearly 2,000 feet, promising to test your resolve in more ways than one. Plus, as the trail’s name suggests, it offers breathtaking sunset views that will make you forget all about the grueling journey it took to witness them.

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Anthony Itzel-Montoya

The first two miles of the trail are relatively flat, traversing a gravel path on the desert floor. You’ll be surrounded by majestic Saguaro cacti as you make your way towards the mountain, where the real adventure begins. You’ll have some assistance (from cables) climbing the mountain, but you’ll still want to wear high-quality hiking shoes because there is a decent amount of rock scrambling involved.

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AllTrails Adam Hoyt

It’s recommended that you get started either early in the day (preferably at or just before sunrise) or in the late afternoon (this option is most realistic in the fall and winter) because the heat can get pretty intense. While there is some shade on the way up the mountain, the descent offers little to no reprieve from the desert sun. You should also bring lots of water (more than you think you need!) plus a few snacks and additional electrolytes.

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AllTrails Jaime Martinez

The views at the peak are, in my opinion, so worth the sweat and aching muscles it takes to get there. Like a painting, the panoramic scene before you features distinct layers that bleed into each other like watercolors. From the multihued sky above to the sprawling city with its perfect edges and utopian design to the rugged mountain landscape in the foreground, it’s almost too picturesque to be real. If you happen to visit at sunset, the views are even more impressive.

Visit AllTrails for more information about the Sunset Vista Trail. I also recommend signing up for AllTrails+ if you’re an avid hiker. Cell service can be spotty in the remote desert, so offline map access is always good to have. You can also visit the website for Picacho Peak State Park to learn more about the park as a whole.

Have you ever hiked the Sunset Vista Trail? If so, do you think it’s one of the best hikes in Arizona? Let us know in the comments!

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Nature|Hiking

The 1.3-Mile Hiking Trail in Arizona That Is a Fall Foliage Wonderland

To view fall foliage, take this short but sweet hiking trail in Arizona's Ramsey Canyon Preserve.

Published Sep 27, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

Well before we go walking in a winter wonderland, there are the months of fall, and with this season comes the foliage. For many, including myself, fall is the best season of all! The grueling heat of summer falls to the wayside allowing cooler air to settle over the Arizona landscape. Ice cream is traded in for apple cider donuts and other delectable autumnal goodies, days by the pool give way to days at the pumpkin patch, and many more residents emerge from summer hibernation to hit the trails in search of exercise and fall foliage. If you're someone who loves to view fall foliage, you must take this short but sweet hiking trail in Arizona's Ramsey Canyon Preserve.

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Ramsey Canyon Preserve sits in Southeastern Arizona close to the Mexican border. With its diverse landscapes of two deserts and two different mountain ranges coming together in the same area, you'll find a unique variety of plants, trees, and wildlife here.

ramsey canyon trail fall hike
Tamara Ponchahar/AllTrails

Among the trees in Ramsey Canyon are sycamores and maples which turn a kaleidoscope of hues like yellow, red, orange, and brown come fall. Needless to say, as far as fall foliage hikes go, a trip to Ramsey Canyon Preserve should be at the top of your list.

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Tamara Ponchahar/AllTrails

Take the Ramsey Canyon Trail, a short and sweet 1.3-mile hike. The trail is well-maintained and considered an easy trek. That being said, you'll be able to take the whole family for some leaf-peeping! However, leave the pups at home as they are not allowed on the trail.

Let the peace and calm of nature wash over you as you hike through the preserve. Notice the cooler fall air on your face, the colors of the foliage, and the way the fall light hits the leaves. This is such an incredible time of year, isn't it?

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Jessica Juarez/AllTrails

Ramsey Canyon Preserve is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the year along with Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, so keep that in mind when planning your trip here.

Are you planning to take a fall foliage trek along this hiking trail in Arizona's Ramsey Canyon Preserve this year? What are some of your favorite hiking trails for leaf-peeping in the state? Let us know! Visit AllTrails for a Ramsey Canyon Trail map and reviews. You should also download the incredibly handy AllTrails+ app so you can download offline maps.

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