hiking trails to visit in the Phoenix Metro area during Super Bowl week in Arizona

PHOENIX – Looking for a way to see the full beauty of the Arizona desert? Check out this list of different hiking trails in the valley and see what each one entails.

• Before you go, be sure to bring plenty of water. The City of Phoenix recommends returning to the trailhead before drinking half of your water.

Hole in the Rock Trail – Papago Park

KNXV

• WHY GO? It has a great view for pictures and is a short, easy trail. It is northeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor, near Loop 202 Red Mountain.
• WHAT: “The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail is a very short natural field and stepped trail that winds around Hole-in-the-Rock Butte to a large lookout hole in the butte. This short trail goes around Hole-in-the-Rock. the-Rock Butte to a large wind-eroded hole. This very popular hiking trail takes users to a large hole in the butte where visitors can look out over the Phoenix metropolitan area,” according to the City of Phoenix’s website.
• The trail is rated “easy” at just 0.2 miles and 200 feet of elevation gain.
• Parking/entry times:
  • East of Galvin Pkwy: 5:00am to 7:00pm
  • West of Galvin Pkwy: sunrise to sunset
  • Trail times: 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m
• Admission is free.
• Look at the park map.

Waterfall Trail – White Tank Mountain Regional Park

• WHY GO? It’s a family-friendly trail, the first half of which is wheelchair or stroller accessible. It’s an opportunity to see petroglyphs and if you can go after rain you might be able to see water cascading down the waterfall. It is located in the West Valley, just west of Loop 303.
• WHAT: A self-guided walking itinerary is available, filled with information about the petroglyphs, plants, and wildlife to see along the way. The guide also provides more information about the waterfall itself: “The waterfall you see is actually fed by two other waterfalls above it. These are strictly forbidden, as the signs say. The pools in the above cases are twice the size of the one you are standing in, so it takes a lot of rain over a long period of time to fill these pools for the water to overflow the edge. That’s why the waterfall rarely flows.”
• The trail is rated “easiest” at 0.9 miles (1.8 miles round trip).
• Parking times:
  • May 1st to October 31st – daily 5am to 9pm.
  • 1 November to 30 April – daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Admission is $7 per vehicle or $2 per pedestrian or person entering by bike or horse.
• Look at the park map.

Wind Cave Trail – Usery Mountain Regional Park

KNXV

• WHY GO? It’s a difficult trail for those looking for a little more challenge, complete with a cave at the end of the trail. It’s east of Mesa, near Loop 202.
• WHAT: “The trail is in fair condition but is quite rocky and steep which makes for a strenuous climb. After a rain, traveling can be even more difficult. The trail alternates between steep sections and sections of decomposed granite. Both require caution, keep an eye on the stand,” the US Forest Service website said.
• The trail is rated “difficult” at 1.5 miles (3 miles round trip).
• Parking times:
  • May 1st to October 31st – daily 5am to 9pm.
  • 1 November to 30 April – daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Admission is $7 per vehicle or $2 per pedestrian or person entering by bike or horse.
• Look at the park map.

camelback mountain

• WHY GO? For those looking for a challenge, Camelback Mountain offers two of the most difficult trails in Maricopa County: Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon Trail. It is northwest of Old Town Scottsdale.
• WHAT: The Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon Trail join at the top of the mountain. The Cholla Trail is said to be less strenuous than the Echo Canyon Trail but longer and still very difficult. Both trails are very steep and rocky. “The Echo Canyon Trail is one of Phoenix’s premier hiking destinations and is consistently named a top national destination for both avid and experienced hikers,” according to the city of Phoenix’s website.
  • Because of the difficulty of the trails, the city emphasizes the importance of being prepared before setting out on the trail. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Phoenix guidelines “Take A Hike. Do it Right”.
• Both trails are rated “extremely difficult”.
  • The Cholla Trail is 1.5 miles (3 miles return) with an elevation gain of 1,420 feet.
  • The Echo Canyon Trail is 1.14 miles (2.28 miles return) with an elevation gain of 1,400 feet.
• Park hours: sunrise to sunset.
• Admission is free.
• Look at the park map.

East and West Pass Rimsza Paseo – Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

• WHY GO? It is a paved trail that is family friendly and wheelchair accessible. It is located in north Phoenix, north of the intersection of Interstate 17 and Loop 101.
• WHAT: “This trail is great for families and the elderly because it has a very gradual incline that isn’t even noticeable and offers good views of the area,” according to the City of Phoenix’s website. Although they are marked as two different paths, both eventually meet.
• Both trails are rated “easiest”.
  • East Skip Rimsza Paseo is 1.9 miles (3.8 miles return) with an elevation gain of 37 feet.
  • West Skip Rimsza Paseo is 3.1 miles (6.2 miles return) with an elevation gain of 15 feet.
• Park and entry times: 5am – 7pm Trail hours: 5am – 11pm
• Admission is free.
• Look at the park map.

Pipeline Canyon Trail – Lake Pleasant Regional Park

KNXV

• WHY GO? It is a lakeside trail with camping facilities in the park, northwest of Phoenix off SR 74.
• WHAT: Located on the west side of the park, the trail is complete with a view of the lake. The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation website states that a floating bridge has been installed to connect the trail during high tides.
• The trail is rated “moderate” at 2 miles (4 miles round trip).
• Parking times:
  • May 1st to October 31st – daily 5am to 9pm
  • 1 November to 30 April – daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m
• Admission is $7 per vehicle, $4 per motorized watercraft, and $2 per non-motorized watercraft. Click here to learn more about camping fees.
• Look at the park map.

Hidden Valley Trail via Mormon Trail – South Mountain Preserve and Park

KNXV

• WHY GO? It is a trail that is moderately difficult but has many unique features. The hotel is located in southern Phoenix, just south of Sky Harbor International Airport.
• WHAT: “At the west end of Hidden Valley there is a ‘Fat Man’s Pass’ and a naturally smooth rock slide. Follow the wash path to a small bluff and turn left to rejoin the National Trail after a “natural tunnel,” according to the city of Phoenix’s website. There are also some petroglyphs along the Mormon Trail.
• The trail is rated “Moderate/Difficult” at 2.2 miles.
• Parking/entrance: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., cross-country trails open until 11 p.m
  • South Mountain also has an event called “Silent Sundays” where Summit Road is closed to motor vehicles and the road is reserved for non-motorized activities.
    • The event takes place every fourth Sunday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m
    • The event takes place every other Sunday of the month from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m
• Admission is free.
• Look at the park map.

Maricopa Trail System

• WHY GO? Can’t decide? This trail system gives you opportunities all over the county!
• WHAT: “Maricopa County’s Regional Trail System includes over 300 miles of existing hiking trails that circle the county … The trail system connects to all of Maricopa County’s regional parks by traversing 15 separate communities,” according to the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation website . The Sun Circle Trail is a smaller loop that runs through Phoenix and the surrounding cities. A portion of the Sun Circle Trail overlaps with the Maricopa Trail.
• Segments located in regional parks are subject to park hours and entrance fees.
• An interactive map provides information about the difficulty and distance of the individual sections of the route.