Hiking trails in Arizona
51 trails across 7 state parks, national forests, and recreation areas — filtered by difficulty.
Hiking trails in Arizona span every kind of public land the state has to offer — state parks, national forests, recreation areas, county preserves, and a few NPS units. Trail Compass currently lists 51 trails across 7 parks in Arizona, organised by difficulty so you can land on the right route in a few clicks.
Browse by difficulty using the four filter cards directly below, or scroll to the full state trail table. Easy and moderate routes dominate near the population centers; hard and expert routes cluster in the higher, more remote corners of the desert southwest.
Best hiking season across Arizona is generally late October through early April; summer heat regularly exceeds 100°F and makes mid-day hiking genuinely dangerous. Shorter walks at lower elevations stay accessible longer than alpine routes — if you are hiking in a shoulder month, lean toward state-park trails near urban centers and save the high country for peak season.
Expect to share the trail with desert bighorn sheep, jackrabbits, roadrunners, collared lizards, and the occasional rattlesnake basking on warm rock. Carry bear spray where signage advises it, store food properly, and remember that the wildlife was here first.
Pick a difficulty tier from the filter cards below, or jump straight to a specific park.