The Southwest is a rambler’s paradise, showcasing scenery that satisfies every type of craving: mountain, riparian, desert, and red rock. Here are the seven best hiking trails in the Southwest, US.
Editor’s note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.
Grand Canyon Trails – Arizona
If you think the view from The Rim Trail is exhilarating, wait until you see how it appears while standing atop the Redwall or walking the Tonto Trail. Hikes vary from wheelchair-accessible paved paths to primitive, unmaintained treks that challenge backcountry experts. Each hiking option provides new perspectives on this complex landscape.
A brief stroll along the edge affords a better understanding of the canyon. As you walk, you might notice a tiny flower clinging to a cliff or discover a 450-million-year-old fossil embedded in the rocks. Relatively flat trails on the North Rim meander through meadows and pine forests, granting glimpses into secluded canyons, while the South Rim’s Rim Trail offers great panoramas and a slight challenge.
Zion National Park – Utah
This bold desert beauty spans 230 square miles and serves as a highlight of southern Utah. Hiking options range from trails traversing the ridgelines to river wading under steep canyon walls. While many seek thrilling canyoneering experiences, family-friendly hikes and scenic drives are also readily available.
For the most stunning entry, consider arriving from the east by following Hwy 9 west from Hwy 89. The route boasts jaw-dropping scenery, rolling through vibrant red rocks and a tunnel lined with colorful galleries before switchbacking 3.5 miles into the canyon.
Canyonlands – Utah
Canyonlands National Park, Utah’s largest park, spans 527 square miles of ancient earth, showcasing vast serpentine canyons edged with white cliffs towering above the Colorado and Green Rivers, with waters over 1000 feet below the rim. This terrain features skyward-jutting needles and spires, deep craters, blue-hued mesas, and majestic buttes.
The Colorado and Green Rivers create a Y-shape, dividing the park into four distinct districts, each inaccessible from one another within the park. At the top of this Y lies Island in the Sky, reachable in 30 miles, approximately 45 minutes from Moab. This area is the most developed and visited due to its accessibility, offering viewpoints overlooking the incredible canyons of The Needles and The Maze.
Bell Rock – Sedona
Explore energy vortexes and majestic red rocks at breathtaking Sedona, a New Age pilgrimage site.
The Bell Rock vortex is accessible via a 1.5-mile trail (round trip), allowing you to ascend as high as you feel safe. Alternatively, you can choose to hike or mountain bike along the Bell Rock Pathway, which meanders in front of the formation (3.5 miles round trip).
Sangre de Cristos – New Mexico
Some of the best hiking and backpacking opportunities in New Mexico are right outside of Santa Fe. The undeveloped Pecos Wilderness, nestled in the heart of the Santa Fe National Forest, provides nearly 1000 miles of trails that wind through spruce and aspen forests, across grassy alpine meadows, and ascend several peaks surpassing 12,000 feet.
To quickly ascend above the treeline, you can drive to the ski basin, hop on the Winsor Trail, and tackle the switchbacks. The most accessible hiking trails are located on the Dale Ball Trail System, just 3 miles east of downtown.
Piestewa Peak – Arizona
Surrounded by saguaros, ocotillos, and teddy bear cholla, this scenic summit in Phoenix was previously known as Squaw Peak. It was renamed to honor a local Native American soldier, Lori Piestewa, who was killed in Iraq in 2003, becoming the first Native American woman to be killed in combat on foreign soil.
However, the 1.1-mile trek to the 2608-foot peak is extremely challenging yet widely popular – the park tends to fill quickly on winter weekends.
Parking areas northeast of Lincoln Dr between 22nd and 24th Sts fill up early, and the peak is bordered by two recreation areas: Phoenix Mountains (2701 E Squaw Peak), where the Summit Trail begins (dogs not allowed), and Dreamy Draw (2421 E Northern Ave).
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area – Nevada
Red Rock’s breathtaking vistas are cherished by both Las Vegas locals and global visitors alike. Formed by extreme tectonic forces, the canyon’s 3000-foot red rock escarpment rose sharply from the valley floor approximately 65 million years ago.
A 13-mile, one-way scenic loop drive presents mesmerizing views of the canyon’s most striking features. Numerous hiking trails and rock climbing routes radiate from roadside parking areas, making it an accessible destination just 13 miles from the central Strip and three miles from Summerlin.
