Looking for a spring break excursion or weekend getaway? Within an hour of Phoenix, there are a variety of hikes to enjoy, from those with waterfalls to hilly walks through the desert.
Keep an eye out for wildlife, and bring plenty of water and snacks along.
Here are a few top picks from reporter and avid hiker Hunter Hippel:
Go John Trail
Length: 6-mile round trip loop
Where: Desert Hills
The Go John is one of my go-to’s in the Valley when looking for something that isn’t very hard. It’s a wide-path, mostly flat trail that takes one through some of the most remote desert in the Phoenix area. It certainly has its hills to climb, but most sections are less than 250 feet in length. The nice part is that with the loop, you can simply turn around whenever and do the exact length back to your car.
As is with most hikes in the Phoenix area, you need to be on the lookout for wildlife. Since I have begun hiking in Arizona in 2018, I have had seven rattlesnake encounters. One of them was on this trail. Keep your eyes and ears peeled to the trail when exploring this one (On that same hike, I also came across a red coral snake, which is even more venomous than rattlers, but won’t ever strike unless you physically touch it).
Camp Creek Falls (via the Blue Wash Trail)
Length: 3 miles round trip
Where: Carefree
Waterfalls in and around Phoenix? I know what you’re thinking, but yes, some of them do exist.
That said, Camp Creek Falls is not exactly what comes to mind when one says waterfall. But after a good rain, it can be a cool spot to see some flowing water in the Valley. The trail is off the side of the Seven Springs Road, just before it turns to dirt. You simply pull over and park before following a ridge downhill. The trail will then empty out into a wide, sandy wash (hence the trail’s name) for about 0.7 miles. You then make a hard left turn at Camp Creek, and follow the trail up to where a small pond is.
Getting to the pond can be a bit tricky, especially when water is high. There is a lot of vegetation growth in the area due to the water, so you may have to push some plants to the side. My recommendation on the approach would be to stay to the right.
The falls are small – eight feet max. But when it’s flowing well, it’s a cool spot to hang out at. Additionally, the falls tend to run year-round. On my first visit in June 2019, flow was surprisingly high.
As is with the Go John Trail, Camp Creek Falls is located in remote desert. Another one of my seven rattlesnake encounters came on this trail – just a couple hundred feet from my car on the way back up. Extra attention should be paid when hiking in the wash area, as the sand can hide snakes quite well.
North Mountain
Where: Phoenix
Length: 1.7-mile round trip loop
North Mountain is a quick but effective jaunt up to a decent peak in the Valley. It’s versatile, too, because you can essentially customize your way up and down the mountain with various types and difficulty levels of trails.
Regardless, the way to the top will get you breathing heavily. The easiest route starts at the Maricopa Trailhead (or North Mountain Trail 44 on Google Maps) on the southeast side of the peak. You park and head straight up a 300-plus foot, boulder-filled switchbacking climb up a large chute. Don’t be alarmed, though – this isn’t Camelback Mountain. At the top, you’ll pop out on a paved path, which then leads you to the summit of the mountain, which is unfortunately tower-filled but still provides good views in almost every direction – especially north.
To get back down, you can return one of three ways: 1) the way you came 2) following the paved path all the way down to 7th Street, which will add a mile of sidewalk-like hitching back to your car or 3) the south side route, which is much more like the dirt route you took on the way up.
The mileage listed at the top is the third option: up the route at the trailhead linked above and down option No. 3. Regardless, each is a quick and relatively easy hike for those looking to catch some views and get a workout in.
Waterfall Trail, White Tank Mountain Park
Where: Waddell
Length: 2 miles round trip
The name can be misleading because, unlike Camp Creek Falls, the waterfall this trail in the White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix is named after is finicky when it comes to its flow. A good amount of rain, perhaps days’ worth, and not just some rain is needed to make this one flow.
That said, it’s still a cool area even when there is no flow at the falls. The box-like canyon that creates the falls is unlike any area you’ll see close to Phoenix, and the hike to get there is quick and easy. It’s a mile in and a mile out with limited elevation gain. There will be some hills, but it’s not the type of grade other Valley hikes have in that amount of distance.
Thunderbird Conservation Park Summit
Where: Glendale
Length: 3.6-mile round trip loop
Another quick and short hike that will get your blood flowing, this hike climbs a prominent, lumpy mountain in the northwest Valley that provides 360 views. Its summit is marked by a United States flag, so you’ll know easily when the flat mountain’s summit has been reached (and when your decline starts).
Park at the Thunderbird Parking Lot, as labeled on Google Maps, and choose which way you want to start your loop. I’ve only gone to the left/west initially, but I don’t believe there’s a heavy difference between either route in terms of difficulty. It’s really about whether you want to hear the traffic from Pinnacle Peak Road on your way back to your car or want to knock out the noise right away on your hike. Either way, it doesn’t affect the views you will get at the top.
Contact the reporter at hhippel@asu.edu.
Hunter Hippel is a senior double majoring in sports journalism and sports business at Arizona State University.
