Beautiful warm and sunny days are made for hiking! Check out this guide to find out all about the hiking trails in Tempe and Arizona.
Papago Park
Papago Park is great for beginners since it offers several easy hikes. The trailhead just west of the parking lot at College and Curry is an easy hike that provides views of downtown Tempe and Tempe Town Lake from the summits. This trail is also home to Loma del Rio, a Hohokam ruin. Once you pass the summit of the next hill, you’ll see the ruin next to a Ramada.
Another popular trailhead is on the west side of Papago Park and you can access it by turning west into the parking lot just across Galvin Parkway from the entrance to the Phoenix Zoo. Here you can access the Double Butte Loop, a trail that is great for mountain bikers and hikers and which leads to the breathtaking red buttes.
Hole in the Rock is probably the most well-traveled path in Park because the view from the stop is just stunning. You can get to this trail by entering The Phoenix Zoo parking lot. Turn left once you enter the zoo and continue until you see an additional parking lot near the butte, next to the lagoon. The trail to Hole in the Rock is a quick hike, maybe 5 or 10 minutes.
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To conclude: Papago Park is great for hiking, biking and bringing your dog. Look at the trails here.
South Mountain Park
This country’s largest municipal park can be accessed from 48th Street, just north of Guadalupe Rd. You’ll find multiple trail options here, from from flat paths to challenging climbs that are popular for hikers and bikers.
National Trail to the Mormon Loop is about 6 miles round trip and the main trail head at this location, Pima Canyon, reopened in January 2018 after renovation work was completed.
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Check out the trails here.
Piestewa Peak
This hike is amazing leg workout for sure, but prepare to have a killer muscle inflammation the next day. When you get to the top, it’s worth it thought, the views of the valley from the tops are amazing.
There are numerous trailheads in this area, but the main one for the peak itself is located off of Lincoln Drive, just west of 24th Street. Turn east onto Squaw Peak Drive and look for the parking lot adjacent to the trail.
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Check out the trails here.
“A” Mountain
One of the most accessible hikes is “A” Mountain (aka Hayden Butte), located in Downtown Tempe. There are trailheads located behind Tempe Mission Palms Hotel off of Third and Fourth Street and Mill Avenue, behind the Hayden Flour Mill at Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway and behind the Tempe Transportation Center on Veterans Way and College Avenue.
Be sure to stay on the marked paths and to keep your eyes peeled for petroglyphs that were left by from Tempe’s first settlers, the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People.
The last part of the hike is steep, but the view makes it all worth it. There are restaurants and taverns along Mill Avenue where you can relax and restore your energy after the hike.
It’s not a trail for biking, but you can bring your dog and enjoy this sweet hike.
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Check out the trails here.
Camelback Mountain
This iconic landmark said to look like a camel’s back, offers two trailheads for Camelback Mountain, each with its own challenges. It’s not an easy climb, so come prepared with proper equipment. The Echo Canyon trailhead is located off of McDonald Drive, just east of Tatum Boulevard. There are a few very steep climbs on this trail and it’s not a hike for beginners. Going north on 44th Street past Camelback Road, the road will curve. Stay to the right and at the light at McDonald, continue east (right) and turn right on Echo Canyon Drive. There’s a parking lot at the end of the road.
The Cholla trailhead is located off of Invergordon Road, just north of Chaparral Road. Parking is located along Invergordon south of Cholla Lane (in between Chaparral and Jackrabbit Road.) The trailhead can be accessed by walking west on Cholla Lane. This trail has a few more switchbacks than the Echo Canyon trail, but there are fewer spots where you’ll have to use your arms to pull yourself up the hill. Both the Cholla trail and Echo Canyon trail end at the same place – a summit with a gorgeous 360 view of the metro area.
*Effective March 28, 2020, and until further notice, Camelback Mountain’s Cholla Trail will be temporarily closed for maintenance. Check here for more updates*
Dogs are no longer permitted on either trail.
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Check out the trails here.
Source: tempetourism.com
