When hikers ask which trails in Arizona are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in Arizona by total mapped distance, drawing from the 9,083 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
Arizona ranges from the Sonoran Desert's saguaro forests at 1,000 feet to the alpine spruce-fir of the San Francisco Peaks at over 12,000 feet, with the Grand Canyon as the dominant geological feature. The Arizona Trail runs 800 miles from Mexico to Utah and contributes many of the state's longest mapped segments. Low desert (Phoenix, Tucson) is best November-March; high country (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon rim) is best May-October.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 9,083 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Arizona — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Arizona Trail Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass
At 0.80 mi, Arizona Trail Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass tops the list — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.80 mi on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Arizona Trail Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Yaqui Ridge Trail
Yaqui Ridge Trail earns the #2 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect 6,512 ft of gain, dirt surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Yaqui Ridge Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. A.B. Young No. 100
A.B. Young No. 100 earns the #3 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect 2,001 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the A.B. Young No. 100 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Grand Enchantment Trail Segment 6 Alternative: Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Bypass
Grand Enchantment Trail Segment 6 Alternative: Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Bypass earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Tagged easy in OpenStreetMap. Compared to similar trails in Arizona, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Grand Enchantment Trail Segment 6 Alternative: Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Bypass trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Grand Enchantment Trail Segment 7 Alternative: Aravaipa Canyon Bypass North
Grand Enchantment Trail Segment 7 Alternative: Aravaipa Canyon Bypass North earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Tagged easy in OpenStreetMap. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Grand Enchantment Trail Segment 7 Alternative: Aravaipa Canyon Bypass North trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Walkway
Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Walkway earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect concrete surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Walkway trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail Access
Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail Access earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail Access trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Plaza
Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Plaza earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect concrete surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Plaza trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Walkway
Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Walkway earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect concrete surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Arizona, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Walkway trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Apple Blossom Trail #373 / Hidden Valley Trail #374
Apple Blossom Trail #373 / Hidden Valley Trail #374 earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Apple Blossom Trail #373 / Hidden Valley Trail #374 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Arizona trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Arizona. Low desert (Phoenix, Tucson) is best November-March; high country (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon rim) is best May-October. Heat is the #1 killer here — exposed desert trails routinely exceed 110°F in summer, and Grand Canyon rescue stats reflect underestimated water needs.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Arizona hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Arizona coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in Arizona — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in Arizona — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Arizona — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Arizona — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Arizona — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Arizona — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Arizona — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Arizona last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
