Arizona
Arizona’s 10 best national park hikes offer peak Southwestern views
Arizona’s 3 national parks: Grand Canyon, Saguaro and Petrified Forest
Arizona’s national parks offer majestic views, a forest of towering saguaros and a look back into time with a preserved forest.
The Republic
An extraordinary array of national park units — 34 in all, which include national monuments and historic sites in addition to parks — blanket Arizona from border to border. This is where we keep our most exquisite scenery, our storied history and wide-open spaces. Parks range from the volcanic sprawl of stone hoodoos crowning Chiricahua National Monument to the gaudy badlands of Petrified Forest National Park to the miles of seductive shoreline at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. And there’s even a certain canyon known to steal hearts and alter lives.
Last year brought cutbacks to staff and funding, putting a strain on our national parks. Let’s show our support in 2026 by rediscovering these crown jewels. To get you started, here are 10 of the best hiking trails in Arizona’s national parks.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Victoria Mine Trail
Starting from the campground, this 2.2-mile trail rambles across a rolling desert plain to the foothills of the Sonoyta Mountains. The trail highlights the range of cactus species the park protects as it dips in and out of arroyos on its way to the remains of the Victoria Mine. Founded in the 1890s, the Victoria produced enough gold and silver to keep men digging for decades in this lonely place. Rusting equipment lies scattered about and the ruins of the company store still stand. Return the way you came for a 4.4-mile outing or continue on one of the other trails connecting here.
Details: Park admission: $25 per vehicle. 520-387-6849, www.nps.gov/orpi.
Tonto National Monument, Lower Cliff Dwelling
Even without the big payoff at the end, the hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling makes a gorgeous desert outing. The paved trail twists up the slope in a series of curves. Signs are posted along the path providing information on native plants and animals, and a good reason to pause and catch your breath. As you climb, the views across the basin widen. What starts as a slivered peek grows into a broad panorama with a bristling foreground of saguaros and a distant backdrop of mountains framing the blue of Roosevelt Lake. At the top of the trail, a rough stone house fills the eye socket of a cave. Built more than 700 years ago by people of the Salado Culture, it contains about 20 rooms. A docent is on hand to answer your questions.
Details: Park admission: $10 per person. 928-467-2241, www.nps.gov/tont.
Chiricahua National Monument, Heart of Rocks Loop
Hidden in the southeastern corner of the state, Chiricahua National Monument is a place of remarkable beauty, sheltering an array of sculpted stone. Massive columns, slender spires and impossibly balanced boulders loom above the timber. The skyline seems built from the splintered remains of ancient castles. An interconnected network of trails provides visitors with several options. The short loop through Heart of Rocks is the craggy core of the park, where you’ll find the most spectacular formations. Easiest route to reach Heart of Rocks is via a trio of trails: Ed Riggs, Mushroom Rock and Big Balanced Rock. The Heart of Rocks twists through a weird stone garden filled with formations like Thor’s Hammer, Duck on a Rock, Camel’s Head and Totem Pole. Mileage totals 7.3 miles round-trip.
Details: Park admission: Free. 520-824-3560, www.nps.gov/chir.
Saguaro National Park, Hugh Norris Trail
Unlike the cruel slog of most summit hikes, the Hugh Norris Trail (10 miles round-trip) is an airy jaunt that keeps your noggin on a swivel while you gawk at one sweeping view after another. There are some steep pitches but that only sweetens the deal, making it feel like you earn the expansive vistas, among the best in Tucson. Set in Saguaro National Park West, the trail carves a route through classic Sonoran landscape to the top of 4,687-foot-high Wasson Peak. The trail starts out on a cactus-studded bajada and switchbacks upwards to snag a rocky ridgeline. From there the trail angles towards Wasson, hugging first one side of the high shoulder and then the other.
Details: Park admission: $25 per vehicle. 520-733-5183, www.nps.gov/sagu.
Grand Canyon National Park, South Kaibab Trail
Screamingly steep, shade-less and sun-beaten may not sound like an endorsement but it’s what makes the South Kaibab astounding. Most canyon trails follow a fault line limiting range of vision. But Kaibab is a torpedo, launching from the South Rim and chasing a ridge down and out across the canyon. In just under a mile, the canyon cracks open wide at aptly named Ooh Aah Point. At 1.5 miles you reach a comfy plateau called Cedar Ridge, the most popular day hike option. Only the fittest hikers should continue to Skeleton Point atop the Redwall Limestone, offering your first glimpse of the Colorado River. This makes for a 6-mile strenuous round-trip.
Details: Park admission: $35. 928-638-7888,www.nps.gov/grca.
Petrified Forest National Park, Blue Mesa Trail
This 1-mile loop appears to wind its way through the suburbs of the moon. The path from the parking area starts out paved but switches to gravel as it makes a sharp descent into a small basin wrapped in an otherworldly array of bluish bentonite clay badlands. These are haunting hills streaked with a soft, mournful color palette. Sprinkled amid this lunar landscape is a colorful collection of petrified wood. Watch for pedestal logs, remnants of ancient trees perched atop a crumbly stand of thick clay as if on display. Numerous plant and animal fossils have been found in the layers of Blue Mesa.
Details: Park admission: $25 per vehicle. 928-524-6228, www.nps.gov/pefo.
Navajo National Monument, Betatakin
Tucked inside a cavernous arch, the ancient village of Betatakin is completely sheltered by the overhanging canyon wall. Approximately 120 rooms were built in the alcove, with some spilling outside. The only way to visit Betatakin is with ranger-led hikes generally offered Memorial Day through Labor Day. These strenuous 5-mile round-trip hikes climb into and out of a steep canyon with the trail dropping through a diverse forest (including a surprising aspen grove), fed by a perennial stream, and wrapped in towering sandstone cliffs. Reservations are not required. A signup sheet is posted in the visitor center and tours are first come, first served. The free tours generally last 3-5 hours.
Details: Park admission: Free. 928-672-2700, www.nps.gov/nava.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, River Trail
This short hike is a fascinating history lesson paired with enchanting scenery. The River Trail is located at Lees Ferry, a crossroads of western history. Starting at the launch ramp, the mile-long path follows an old wagon road past a collection of stone buildings in varying states of decline. Well-placed signs provide a detailed account of life on the frontier here that included Mormon pioneers and hopeful miners. All the while, the river shimmers in the sun, blue then green, then melancholy and moody as cloud shadows sweep overhead. Banks are fringed with grasses and scrubby trees, as colorful hills slant down to the water. The Spencer Trail branches off; an old pack mule route hacked from the cliffs. A brutal climb but it’s worth scrambling up just a level or two for the elevated vistas. The trail officially ends after 1 mile at the ruins of an old cabin.
Details: Park admission: $30 per vehicle. 928 608-6200, www.nps.gov/glca.
Walnut Canyon National Monument, Island Trail
Dozens of prehistoric cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people are tucked away in the contours of Walnut Canyon, east of Flagstaff. The Island Trail is the centerpiece of the park, dropping steeply 185 vertical feet. It allows visitors to experience a rare intimacy in this small, forested gorge with surprises tucked in every fold of the sloping walls. Ancient cliff dwellings line the path and soot-darkened rooms invite you inside. Interpretive signs tell the story of this resourceful culture. The staircase into the canyon consists of 273 stair steps that will be waiting on the way out. The loop portion of the trail includes another 190 stair steps. That means 736 stair steps if you’re keeping score. As the National Park Service emphasizes: Going down the Island Trail is optional. Returning is mandatory.
Details: Park admission: $25 per vehicle. 928-526-3367, www.nps.gov/waca.
Coronado National Memorial, Joe’s Canyon Trail
This lanky route traverses Montezuma Canyon gaining 1,000 feet of elevation in the first mile as it switchbacks up with lovely views. Out of the canyon, you’ll cross the slanted grasslands of Smuggler’s Ridge while peering deep into the green rolling hills of Sonora, Mexico. When you reach the junction with the Yaqui Ridge Trail, this is more than just two paths crossing. This is the beginning of the Arizona National Scenic Trail (another national park unit). The 800-mile-long iconic trail stretches the entire length of the state from Mexico to Utah, and Yaqui Ridge is the southern terminus. Joe’s Canyon Trail ends at the high saddle of Montezuma Pass. Return the way you came for a 6.2-mile round-trip hike. The park occasionally runs a hiker shuttle so that only a one-way hike is necessary.
Details: Park admission: Free. 520-366-5515, www.nps.gov/coro.
Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ.
Meet Roger Naylor
The Arizona Republic contributor and author, Roger Naylor, will be giving several book presentations over the coming weeks, including discussions of his book, Arizona National Parks and Monuments. All events are free, unless otherwise noted.
February 2 in Maricopa at the Maricopa Library & Cultural Center, 5 p.m. Topic: Route 66 Centennial. 18160 N. Maya Angelou Dr., 520-568-2926.
February 3 in Chandler at the Chandler Museum, 12 p.m. Topic: Route 66 Centennial. 300 S. Chandler Village Dr., 480-782-2717.
February 4 in Tucson/Oro Valley at the National Parks Store, 11 a.m. Topic: Route 66 Centennial. 12880 N. Vistoso Village Dr., 520-622-6014.
February 7 in Scottsdale at the Holland Center, 2 p.m. Topic: Route 66 Centennial. 34250 N. 60th St., Bldg. B, 480-488-1090. $10 admission to benefit Cave Creek Museum.
February 26 – Scottsdale at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 6 p.m. Topic: Arizona National Parks and Monuments. $10 admission. 3830 N. Marshall Way, 480-686-9539. Register at: https://westernspirit.org/project/arizona-national-parks-and-monuments-with-roger-naylor/
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office says a bobcat believed to have been involved in multiple attacks in the Prescott area was killed by a dog Monday morning.
On Sunday evening, deputies responded to an attack involving a bobcat in the Inscription Canyon area. A man suffered “significant injuries” and was taken to a hospital for treatment, but the bobcat was not located.
On Monday morning, deputies and animal control officers responded to another incident in which a bobcat reportedly attacked a woman. This attack was more than 7 miles away from the first incident.
A third attack was reported a short time later by a person who was walking in an area nearby. The walker’s German Shepherd dog “heroically intervened, successfully fending off and killing the bobcat,” the sheriff’s office says.
Officials say the dog was injured during the attack and is receiving care from a veterinarian.
Another dog was reportedly attacked by a bobcat, marking the fourth known incident in this string of attacks. Officials are now looking for any other possible victims or pets that may have been attacked.
All three people who were attacked are getting treatment for cuts and bites, and it’s believed that the same bobcat was involved in all of the attacks due to the extreme rarity of these occurrences. However, officials are asking the public to remain cautious.
Anyone with information or additional incident reports, including pets, is asked to contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department. You should seek immediate veterinary care if your animal was attacked, the sheriff’s office says.
PHOENIX — A new proposal from Arizona and other Southwestern states aims to keep the Colorado River system from reaching a critical breaking point.
After more than a year of stalled negotiations, Arizona, California and Nevada are now voluntarily proposing deeper water cuts to help stabilize the river and protect water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
“This proposal reflects the creativity and commitment of water users across the Lower Basin who continue to step forward with solutions that support the river,” said Tom Buschatzke, Arizona’s Colorado River negotiator. “We have shown that collaborative, voluntary efforts and reductions that are certain can produce meaningful water savings.”
But even as states step in, experts warn nature may ultimately determine whether those efforts are enough.
“This conflict, this time we’re in, is something that truly will be in history books,” Kyle Rodrick with the Great Basin Water Network said. “This is a moment, a flashpoint.”
State leaders are calling the proposal a short-term “bridge” as they work toward a long-term agreement on how to share the Colorado River. The plan would save more than 3.2 million acre-feet of water through 2028. That’s enough water to cover nearly the entire state of Connecticut one foot deep.
Those voluntary cuts build on earlier reductions and come as water levels in key reservoirs continue to drop after a historically dry winter.
“If we had had a huge winter with huge snowpacks all throughout the basin, we probably wouldn’t be seeing this,” said Kyle Roerink of the Great Basin Water Network.
The goal of the proposal is to keep water levels high enough at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the country, which are critical for delivering water and power across the Southwest. Experts say the stakes are especially high at Lake Powell.
“Lake Powell will be falling to the lowest point since it began filling in the 1960s,” said Eric Balken of the Glen Canyon Institute. “Without intervention it would fall below minimum power pool later this year.”
If water levels drop below that threshold, the dam would no longer be able to generate hydropower, and it could threaten the ability to move water downstream to Arizona and other states.
The future of the Colorado River system now largely rests with the federal government. Negotiations among the seven basin states over a long-term water-sharing agreement have stalled, and the Bureau of Reclamation is working on a new plan that could reshape how the river is managed moving forward.
https://www.abc15.com/news/state/new-federal-plan-could-shape-what-happens-next-with-colorado-river-water
Some experts say the divide between states remains a major hurdle.
“I think the lower basin states came to the table willing to make very serious contributions,” Balken said. “I don’t feel the upper basin came with the same level of commitment.”
While the proposed cuts could help stabilize water levels in the short term, it may only buy time. Long-term stability of the Colorado River system will still depend heavily on future snowpack and precipitation.
“If we have a similar winter next winter, it will be brutal,” Roerink said. “The actions water managers have to take will make today’s news look like a cakewalk.”
Any new plan would need to be in place by October 1, the start of the next water year.
-
New Jersey48 seconds agoChaos at Maple Shade carnival forces early shutdown, cancels final night
-
New Mexico7 minutes agoBreezier winds and wetter weather moves into New Mexico through midweek
-
North Carolina13 minutes ago
NC Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for May 4, 2026
-
North Dakota19 minutes ago7 Stunning Small Towns In North Dakota
-
Ohio25 minutes agoWill a new bill help bring Ohio’s public service delivery into the 21st century?
-
Oklahoma31 minutes agoThis Day in Oklahoma History: F.D. Moon born in 1896
-
Oregon37 minutes agoDoggie Dash 2026 fundraiser supports Oregon Humane’s work with shelter animals
-
Pennsylvania43 minutes agoPine-Richland board reverses controversial library book policy in final reading