Running trails in Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix has 40 trails in the directory — 5 paved and 11 on crushed gravel or dirt, 16 loops that return to the trailhead, 15 with a stated distance, 2 shaded, and 1 open 24 hours. 33 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 62,516 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
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.
Hole in the Rock
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,273 reviews
Landmark rock formation with multiple cavelike holes in the sandstone created by erosion.
Phoenix Mountains Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 6,204 reviews
Group of parks with mountain & desert hiking trails, plus an abundance of cacti & native wildlife.
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.
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.
Pima Canyon Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,034 reviews
There is a trail running up this canyon that rises from 880m above sea level to 1940m in elevation.
Mormon Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,803 reviews
Rugged, uphill hiking spot with desert scenery & picturesque views of the city.
Sonoran Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,799 reviews
Open desert park with miles of hiking & biking trails through lush, green plains of cactus.
Dreamy Draw Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,038 reviews
Expansive public park with miles of hiking & biking trails winding through rocky desert terrain.
Deem Hills Recreation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 804 reviews
Sprawling park featuring athletic areas, kids' play equipment & hiking trails with mountain views.
Lookout Mountain Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 782 reviews
Park featuring hiking & biking trails & sweeping views from the top of Lookout Mountain.
Piestewa Peak Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 725 reviews
Trio of trails, boasting panoramic views, desert foliage, and steep rock formations for all fitness levels.
Phoenix Mountain Preserve - 40th St. Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 706 reviews
Moderate hiking area (kid-friendly, too) offering a range of paths that vary in altitude and difficulty.
Lookout Mountain Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 678 reviews
Family-friendly destination with mountain views featuring volleyball and tennis courts.
Corona de Loma Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 295 reviews
Casual network of trails for hiking and mountain biking with moderate to easy options.
Piestewa Peak Trails
4.8 ★★★★★ 280 reviews
Hiking area with trails through picturesque desert scenery & striking views of the city skyline.
Fat Man's Pass
4.7 ★★★★★ 284 reviews
Rugged, narrow passage running between 2 large boulders along the Hidden Valley Trail.
Camelback Hike
4.8 ★★★★★ 262 reviews
Popular mountain hike featuring challenging terrain and scenic vistas, including city panoramas.
North Mountain - Trail 44
4.8 ★★★★★ 247 reviews
Rocky uphill area featuring a paved path up to a radio tower at the top.
Apache Wash Trail Head
4.8 ★★★★★ 184 reviews
Public area offering a variety of hiking trails with scenic views for all skill levels, plus mountain biking.
Hidden Valley Natural Tunnel
4.9 ★★★★★ 160 reviews
Scenic destination featuring a trail through boulders and shade, and a natural tunnel.
Old Crosscut Canal
4.5 ★★★★★ 163 reviews
Canal-side trail for walking, running and cycling plus a scenic urban greenbelt.
Quartz Ridge Trailhead (#8A) Phoenix Mountain Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 141 reviews
Peak with scenic trails popular for hiking.
Piestewa Peak
4.8 ★★★★★ 128 reviews
Short hike offering panoramic views of the Phoenix skyline.
Thondum Wihom Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 121 reviews
Hikers and bikers traverse this canyon trail, which is known for its views.
Reach 11 Recreation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 120 reviews
Equestrians, hikers & dog-walkers frequent this simple desert park with a trail.
Shadow Mountain
4.6 ★★★★★ 107 reviews
Small mountain peak with a trailhead & hiking trail leading to 360-degree city views.
Shaw Butte Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 88 reviews
Hiking area with a trail leading to the top of a mountain for views of the city and desert.
Rio Salado Trail
4.4 ★★★★☆ 82 reviews
Scenic reserve featuring a network of trails for hiking and biking as well as birdwatching.
Mountain Park Ranch Hiking Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 63 reviews
Area with multiple hiking paths and mountain bike routes, along with pond views.
Ridgeline Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 53 reviews
Hiking area featuring a trail with elevation gain and expansive views of Phoenix.
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Phoenix
- Match the surface to your legs. Phoenix gives you a choice: 11 natural surface, 8 mixed, and 5 paved. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More natural surface trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 16 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Phoenix is Lookout Mountain Park at 200 mi. 13 trails are long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 1 trail in Phoenix is open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 33 of the 40 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 10 are lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 39 have trailhead parking, 25 have restrooms, and 17 have a water fountain in Phoenix. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 2 shaded, 3 with mile markers, 13 that runners describe as quiet, 13 dog-friendly, and 36 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Phoenix trails by type
- Natural surface trails
- Mixed trails
- Paved trails
- Loop trails
- Long-run trails (5+ mi)
- Shaded trails
- Lit for early & night runs
- Flat & fast
- Hilly trails
- Scenic trails
- Trails with restrooms
- Trails with water fountains
- Trailhead parking
- Trails with mile markers
- Quiet, uncrowded trails
- Dog-friendly
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible
Running trails near Phoenix
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.