★★★★☆ Easy / Carefree Area Follow a soft, sandy wash to a surprise waterfall, tucked between gently rolling hills. The Blue Wash Hiking Trail is a perfect family outing during early spring, when northern snow melt sends water southward, or after an ample monsoon. This easy trail serves up lots of small delights. TRAILHEAD: North Cave Creek Road, East of Carefree  •  DIFFICULTY: Mostly Easy  •  DISTANCE: 1.3 Mile (3.6 Miles rt) •  APPROX. TIME: 2-3 HOURs RT • Starting Elevation: 3,242′ • ELEVATION GAIN: -425 (-30 Stories)  •  APPROX. C ..read more

★★★★★ Difficult / Phoenix Hike to Camelback’s breathtaking summit on this challenging trail up the mountain’s eastern slope. The Cholla Hiking Trail differs greatly from Camelback’s western Echo Canyon Trail ascent. An extra 0.3 mile length lends some ease to the beginning of this popular central Phoenix hike. But the Cholla Trail ultimately morphs into a vertigo-inducing, rock scramble along a narrow ridgeline.  TRAILHEAD: 5150 North Invergordon Road, Paradise Valley (Opens at sunrise. Closes at sunset)  •  DIFFICULTY: Difficult  •   ..read more

★★★★☆ Moderate / Flagstaff Area A short, rocky hike leads to the base of a thundering, chocolate colored, waterfall. Grand Falls is a one of Arizona’s most incredible natural wonders. At 185′ tall, it is 18′ higher than Niagra Falls. During spring snowmelt, or after heavy monsoons, its roaring cascades are impressive to experience. TRAILHEAD: Route 70, Navajo Nation  •  DIFFICULTY: moderate  •  DISTANCE: 0.3 MILES (0.6 miles RT) •  APPROX. TIME: 0.5 HOURS rt •  ELEVATION GAIN: -180′  •  APPROX ..read more

★★★★☆ Moderate / Tucson This stunning loop hike brims with Saguaro laden hills and valleys. Fusing together some of Saguaro National Park West’s most iconic hiking trails (Hugh Norris, Sendero Esperanza, Dobe Wash and Bajada Wash) this loop serves up a pretty Sonoran hillside ascent and descent, and flat, sandy, arroyo-lined valleys. TRAILHEAD: Hohokam Rd., Tucson  •  DIFFICULTY: Moderate  •  DISTANCE: 6.6 Mile Loop •  APPROX. TIME: 3.5-4.5 HOURs • Starting Elevation: 2,580 • ELEVATION GAIN:&nbs ..read more

Whether you’re just getting started hiking, or looking for outdoor fun with family or guests, these easy Phoenix area hikes are just the ticket. With pathways alongside seasonal streams, ending at rainy-day waterfalls or up-close-and-personal with ancient hieroglyphics or wacky hoodoos, each trail provides a unique experience. Hike just a little ways, or go the distance, on the longer trails.   ★★★☆☆ Hieroglyphics Hiking Trail / Easy / Superstition Mountains / 1.2 miles Ancient hieroglyphics and pools of blue water sit before endless vistas, at the end of this easy hike. This uniquel ..read more

★★★☆☆ Easy / Phoenix Area Escape Phoenix’s northern ‘burbs on this family-friendly loop hike! The Ocotillo, Apache Wash, Sidewinder Loop Hike blends together short, easy portions of three Phoenix Sonoran Preserve hiking trails. The result is an easy meander through broad fields of Saguaro and Sage. As an added bonus, expect to see hot air balloons floating overhead during mornings and late afternoons, October through April. TRAILHEAD: 1600 East Sonoran Desert Drive, Phoenix  •  DIFFICULTY: EASY  •  DISTANCE: 1.95 MILE LOOP&n ..read more

★★★★☆ Difficult / Sedona Area Tucked into a stunning canyon, this short hike leads to a gorgeous high plateau. The North Wilson Hiking Trail is the shorter, shadier route up Wilson Mountain – more easily conquered than the mountain’s namesake trail. The canyon’s soaring vertical walls are jaw-droppingly beautiful. While the high plateau serves up seemingly endless hundred-mile views. TRAILHEAD: 89A Road, Oak Creek  •  DIFFICULTY: Difficult  •  DISTANCE: 2.4 Mile (4.8 Miles rt) •  APPROX. TIME: 2.5-3.5 HOURs RT • Startin ..read more

We’ve put together a curated list of 2021 best hiking gifts! From stocking stuffers to high-end technical gear, we’ve tested and researched to ID the gifts worth giving. Additionally, if you purchase these (or any other gift) by clicking a purple link below, a very small part of your purchase will go to keeping our site up and running (at absolutely no cost to you). Cheers. And happy gifting! Stocking Stuffers 1. Leatherman Wingman Multitool ($60) – Easy to stow and carry, this little tool comes to the rescue in so many situations! Includes pliers (perfect for extracting pesky cactus thor ..read more

★★★☆☆ Easy / Sedona This short, easy hike meanders through the base of an iconic red rock canyon. Its pine shaded path, flanked by soaring sandstone cliffs, makes the Fay Canyon Hiking Trail A-OK for hikers of all ages. TRAILHEAD: Boyton Canyon Road, Sedona  •  DIFFICULTY:  Easy  •  DISTANCE: 1.2 Mile (2.4 Miles rt) •  APPROX. TIME: 1-1.5 HOURs RT • Starting Elevation: 4592 • ELEVATION GAIN: 390′ (28 Stories)  •  APPROX. CALORIES BURNED: 312-360 •  BEST TIME OF YEAR: Year round&nb ..read more

★★★★☆ Easy / Grand Canyon North Rim See ancient ruins, upside down plants and a dripping spring on this pretty, easy hike. The Cliff Spring Hiking Trail gently descends an intimate ravine at the top of the Grand Canyon. Along the way a number of natural treasures are revealed … one-by-one. TRAILHEAD: Cape Royal Road, Grand Canyon North Rim  •  DIFFICULTY: mostly easy  •  DISTANCE: 0.75 Miles (1.5 Miles rt) •  APPROX. TIME: 0.5-1 HOUR RT • Starting Elevation: 7,759 • ELEVATION GAIN: -179′ (-13 stories) &nb ..read more