The One Magical Nighttime Hike In Arizona Everyone Needs On Their Bucket List

Hiking is generally considered a daytime activity, but have you ever stopped to question why? During the summertime, dusk is the only respite from the sweltering desert heat, which makes taking to the trails after dark a particularly pleasant experience. North Mountain National Trail is paved and easy to navigate, so it's perfectly acceptable for nighttime hikes in AZ. If you've never seen a birds-eye-view of Phoenix city lights illuminating the night, it's a bucket list-worthy sight.

Clocking in at 2.2 miles, North Mountain National Trail is a moderately difficult hike featuring beautiful flowers and majestic wildlife.

It's a great workout, especially if you're strapped for time and looking for a quick way to work up a sweat.

While the trail is popular during daylight hours, it's something of a hidden gem after dark.

Watching the sun make its descent behind the Estrella Mountains is a sight that belongs on everyone's bucket list.

You'll scale an elevation gain of over 600 feet, but the heart-pounding trek pays off tenfold upon reaching the summit.

You’ll be surrounded by four different towering peaks and the view can't be beaten.

The colorful clouds and amber skies that define summertime unabashedly make their presence known.

As evening fades into dusk, you can practically hear a pin drop in the stillness. A more meditative, healing experience truly doesn't exist anywhere else in the state.

City lights can be a nuisance when you look at them head-on, but an elevated view changes things entirely. Seeing Phoenix illuminate the darkness will give you a whole new appreciation for our capital city.

While the trail technically closes at 7 p.m., you can still take these night hikes in Phoenix until 11 p.m.

Take a quick daytime hike up the North Mountain National Trail in Phoenix in this video from Arizona Insider:

Have you ever hiked the North Mountain National Trail at night? Nighttime hikes in AZ give you a whole new perspective on this beautiful city. What other hikes in Arizona are even better after dark? Let us know your favorites!

In the meantime, check out these easy desert hikes in Arizona anyone can do that are perfect day or night.