Best Hikes Near Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix has a problem that most American cities would envy: two very different national forests within two hours of downtown. Drive north toward Sedona and you're in Coconino National Forest, with red rock canyons and creek-carved slot walls. Continue to Flagstaff and you're in the high country, including the San Francisco Peaks and Arizona's highest summit. Tonto National Forest starts at the edge of the metro area. Here are the hikes worth your time.
The Short List
West Fork of Oak Creek is the essential Sedona hike, full stop. Humphreys Peak is the right objective if you want a genuine summit day and can handle 9 miles and 3,333 feet of climbing. Boynton Canyon is the best moderate option in Sedona. Wilson Mountain is for hikers who want the dominant mesa view and don't mind earning it.
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon (2 hours from Phoenix)
Sedona sits in Coconino National Forest, and the canyon country here is some of the most visually striking terrain in North America. Plan your timing carefully: summer temperatures in Sedona regularly exceed 100 degrees F, and canyon hikes amplify the heat. October through May is the right window.
West Fork of Oak Creek
6.2 miles out-and-back, 200 ft elevation gain, easy
The best canyon hike in Arizona. The trail follows Oak Creek through a narrow sandstone slot canyon with cottonwood canopy, creek crossings, and walls rising hundreds of feet above you. The first 3 miles are on maintained trail; beyond that it becomes a scramble and wading route. Most day hikers turn around at the 3-mile mark and see everything worth seeing. A day-use fee applies at the Call of the Canyon trailhead on SR-89A north of Sedona. Best from October through May. Avoid summer: the canyon floor traps heat and afternoon shade arrives late.
Read the full West Fork trail guide
Wilson Mountain via North Wilson Trail
10.6 miles out-and-back, 2,800 ft elevation gain, strenuous
Wilson Mountain is the dominant mesa above Sedona and the most physically demanding hike in the immediate area. The North Wilson Trail climbs through chaparral and pinyon-juniper onto the mesa rim, which sits at 6,355 feet with views of the entire Sedona basin. The climb is relentless and exposed in the upper section. Bring more water than you think you need. Start before 7 AM in spring and fall. Avoid entirely in summer. Best from October through May.
Read the full Wilson Mountain trail guide
Boynton Canyon
6.0 miles out-and-back, 800 ft elevation gain, moderate
A classic Sedona hike through a wide red rock canyon with towering walls, juniper forest, and good views at the canyon head. The trail passes a small cliff dwelling ruin and ends at the back of the canyon below an imposing butte. This is one of the more balanced hikes in Sedona: enough terrain variety to stay interesting, not so demanding that you suffer for it. The trailhead is off Boynton Pass Road west of Sedona. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking ($5/day or $15 for 7 days). See our guide on national forest permits and passes for details on what covers what. Best from October through May.
Read the full Boynton Canyon trail guide
Vultee Arch
3.8 miles out-and-back, 400 ft elevation gain, easy-moderate
One of the better-kept secrets in the Sedona area. The Sterling Pass trailhead is just off SR-89A in Oak Creek Canyon, and the trail climbs through pine forest before reaching a large natural arch framing a slice of red rock sky. Far less crowded than the Sedona basin trailheads. No Red Rock Pass required at this trailhead. Best from October through May, though the forested approach makes it more manageable in light summer conditions than the exposed canyon hikes.
Coconino Wilderness (2 hours from Phoenix)
Beyond the Sedona canyon corridors, Coconino National Forest holds some quieter terrain that rewards hikers willing to go a little further from the main trailheads.
Secret Mountain Trail
9.0 miles out-and-back, 1,200 ft elevation gain, moderate
A long but relatively gradual route into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. The trail crosses exposed sandstone slabs and ends at the rim of Secret Mountain with sweeping views of the canyon system below. The trailhead is reached via Boynton Pass Road and a short stretch of dirt road. Best from October through May. Bring a full water supply: there is no reliable water source on the trail.
Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks (2 hours from Phoenix)
Flagstaff sits at 6,900 feet and the San Francisco Peaks rise above it to 12,633 feet. In summer, when Phoenix is at 110 degrees, Flagstaff is in the 70s and the peaks are a genuine alpine environment.
Humphreys Peak
9.0 miles out-and-back, 3,333 ft elevation gain, strenuous
Arizona's highest point. The Humphreys Peak Trail starts at the Arizona Snowbowl ski area at 9,300 feet and climbs through aspen and spruce-fir forest onto the exposed ridgeline above treeline, ending at the 12,633-foot summit. The views cover four states on a clear day. This is a serious mountain hike: the upper ridge is above 11,000 feet, temperatures drop quickly, and afternoon thunderstorms can develop fast in monsoon season (July and August). Start early and carry layers regardless of the forecast. Best from June through October. Snow can appear any month above 10,000 feet. July and August are popular because Flagstaff offers a genuine escape from Phoenix summer heat, but watch the weather closely.
When to Hike Near Phoenix
October through May is the primary season for Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon hikes. Canyon floors trap heat; temperatures that feel manageable at the trailhead become punishing mid-canyon in summer.
June through October is the window for Humphreys Peak and Flagstaff-area trails. The high country is cool when Phoenix is brutal. Monsoon season runs July through September and brings afternoon lightning to exposed ridges, including the Humphreys summit, so morning starts are non-negotiable.
Summer (June through August) in Sedona: avoid it for anything beyond a short early-morning walk. West Fork and Boynton Canyon are dangerous in afternoon summer heat. The red rock holds and radiates heat in ways that come as a genuine shock to first-time visitors.
Winter is excellent for Sedona and Oak Creek trails. December through February sees mild daytime temperatures and no crowds by comparison to spring. Snow is possible but rare below 5,000 feet. Always check conditions on the Flagstaff trails, where winter snow is the norm above 7,000 feet.
Phoenix's hiking options divide cleanly by season: Sedona in winter and spring, Flagstaff peaks in summer and early fall. Follow the Leave No Trace principles at every trailhead, as the desert and red rock environments are especially fragile. For two additional Sedona trails worth adding to a longer visit, see the Cathedral Rock and Bear Mountain trail guides. Plan accordingly and you'll have outstanding hiking year-round without ever dealing with the heat that shuts most visitors down.