Home › Arizona
Running trails in Arizona
522 trails across 58 cities in Arizona, with the most in Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa — including 107 natural surface, 141 loops, 101 shaded, and 41 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Arizona trails below.
Cities in Arizona
Every city and town in Arizona with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Phoenix
- Tucson
- Mesa
- Scottsdale
- Flagstaff
- Chandler
- Prescott
- Peoria
- Buckeye
- Glendale
- Yuma
- Oro Valley
- Gilbert
- Lake Havasu City
- Payson
- Tempe
- Casa Grande
- Kingman
- Apache Junction
- Cottonwood
- Goodyear
- Marana
- Queen Creek
- Sierra Vista
- Surprise
- Fountain Hills
- Sahuarita
- Show Low
- Lakeside
- Prescott Valley
- Bullhead City
- Camp Verde
- Green Valley
- Hereford
- Safford
- Maricopa
- Waddell
- Chino Valley
- Nogales
- El Mirage
- Paradise Valley
- Coolidge
- Morristown
- Picacho
- Rimrock
- Tolleson
- Catalina
- Douglas
- Florence
- Fort Huachuca
- Fort McDowell
- Golden Valley
- Litchfield Park
- Martinez Lake
- Pine
- Pinetop
- Sedona
- Vail
Notable running trails in Arizona
The Arizona trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Arizona ranking →
Papago Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 12,935 reviews
Expansive hiking & picnicking area that includes the Phoenix Zoo & famed Hole-in-the-Rock formation.
South Mountain Park and Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 10,106 reviews
16,000-acre area with many trails, wildlife & a drivable road to a lookout with sweeping city views.
Tempe Beach Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 10,435 reviews
Local landmark features a splash playground, boating, a baseball diamond & other athletic fields.
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
4.8 ★★★★★ 7,547 reviews
Expansive natural area with 7 ponds & hiking trails, plus an observatory.& dinosaur-bone dig site.
Hole in the Rock
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,273 reviews
Landmark rock formation with multiple cavelike holes in the sandstone created by erosion.
Prescott National Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,241 reviews
Vast wilderness area offering nearly 950 miles of trails, campgrounds & sites for fishing & boating.
Fountain Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 6,318 reviews
Town park with a lake & fountain, 18-hole disc golf course, playground & picnic areas on 64-acres.
Phoenix Mountains Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 6,204 reviews
Group of parks with mountain & desert hiking trails, plus an abundance of cacti & native wildlife.
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,457 reviews
This vast national forest area offers hiking trails & tram rides through picturesque desert canyons.
Lake Havasu State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,096 reviews
Home of the original London Bridge with lake beaches, campsites, trails & a garden with wildlife.
Freestone District Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,485 reviews
A community park on 88 acres with a rec center, fields, mini amusement park, a skate park & fishing.
Sahuaro Ranch Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,388 reviews
Set on old ranch grounds, this park features wandering fowl, a historic house museum & play areas.
Kiwanis Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 4,324 reviews
Park with a lake & a 54,000-sq.-ft. complex with an indoor wave pool & a 15-court tennis center.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,067 reviews
Park built around the natural travertine bridge found in the 1800s for hikes, picnics & day trips.
Usery Mountain Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,921 reviews
A 3,648-acre park offering camping, archery & 29 miles of multi-use trails plus scenic wind caves.
Fort Tuthill County Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,775 reviews
Sprawling area with archery & equestrian facilities plus trails, fairgrounds & an adventure course.
Surprise Community Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,570 reviews
Popular park with a fishing pond, gazebos & BBQ grills, plus a playground & paved walking path.
Desert Breeze Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,526 reviews
This large public park offers a lake, splash pad, sport courts & fields, paths & a playground.
Rio Salado Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,338 reviews
This former industrial area is now a desert river habitat with hiking trails & 200+ bird species.
Chaparral Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,135 reviews
This 100-acre public park has a swimming pool & fishing lake, plus sports courts & a playground.
Red Mountain Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,147 reviews
Green space housing facilities for sports from baseball to volleyball, plus picnicking sites.
London Bridge Beach
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,076 reviews
Park featuring waterfront picnic/BBQ areas, athletic fields, walking trails & swimming.
Echo Canyon Recreation Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,966 reviews
Sizable park housing Camelback Mountain & its 3 hiking trails, free parking & recreation area.
Piestewa Peak Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,928 reviews
Park with miles of trails & a scenic 2,608-foot summit which is a popular destination for hikers.
Watson Lake Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,907 reviews
Recreational lake for fishing, kayaking, canoeing & hiking, with camping & picnic facilities.
Echo Canyon Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 2,830 reviews
Trailhead featuring a parking lot, restrooms & the start of a trail leading up Camelback Mountain.
North Mountain Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,761 reviews
Hiking trails of varying difficulty lead to 2 summits for scenic views, plus a visitor center.
Bullhead City Community Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,889 reviews
Quaint lakefront park featuring a boat launch, playground, athletic fields & a dog run.
West Wetlands Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,692 reviews
Sprawling riverfront park featuring playgrounds, multi-use trails, grassy areas for sports & a pond.
San Tan Mountain Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,553 reviews
Over 10,000 acres of desert with hiking/biking trails & a visitor's center with wildlife exhibits.
No trails match those filters.
Arizona trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Arizona
- Best running trails in Arizona — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 141 in Arizona come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 41 in Arizona are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 101 in Arizona keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 55 in Arizona have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 240 in Arizona, and 114 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 301 in Arizona have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 182 in Arizona you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 115 in Arizona are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 349 in Arizona runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Arizona
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Trails with Restrooms
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Shaded Running Trails
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Trails with Mile Markers
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)