Spending quality-time, getting outdoors on family hikes, is a fantastic way to unplug, create long-term memories, and deepen connections. Arizona has a phenomenal array of hikes perfect for exploring with kids. Some family-friendly features include: a huge cave that drips icy water, a maze of ancient cinder cones, hidden waterfalls and stone tunnels. Mileage noted below, is one way.

Scroll down to explore Arizona’s family hikes by region. Click names for more detail.


Phoenix Area Family Hikes

 

Family, Fisherman, Boat, Cove, Reeds, Saguaro Lake, Arizona, Butcher Jones Hiking Trail. Moderate Hikes. Phoenix Area Hikes. Family Friendly Hikes. Pet Friendly Hikes.★★★★★ Butcher Jones Hiking Trail / Moderate / Saguaro Lake / 2.4 miles

Skirting Saguaro Lake, a stunningly beautiful desert gem, this trail crosses a sandy beach, intimate reed lined coves and high pinnacles with breathtaking views.

 

Girl, Hiker, Mini Slot Canyon, Phoenix, Arizona, Mormon Hiking Trail, Hidden Valley, South Mountain, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★★☆ Hidden Valley via Mormon Hiking Trail / Moderate / South Mountain / 1.95 miles

A kid-friendly slot canyon and long stone tunnel are oh-so-fun to explore! Accessible via the Mormon Hiking Trail, Hidden Valley’s wonders will have kids smiling ear-to-ear as they squish through and race beneath rock formations.

 

Hikers, Hieroglyphics Hiking Trail, Superstition Mountains, Phoenix, Arizona, View, Pool of Water Canyon, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Hieroglyphics Hiking Trail / Easy / Superstition Mountains / 1.2 miles

Ancient hieroglyphics and pools of blue water sit before endless vistas, at the end of this easy hike. This uniquely beautiful spot, at the base of a vast canyon, is magical for families to explore.

 

Hole in the Rock Hiking Trail; Papago Park; Phoenix; Arizona; Phoenix Area Hikes; Easy Hikes; Hikers; Rock Formation; View; Copyright azutopia.com; No use without permission★★☆☆☆ Hole in the Rock Hiking Trail Loop, Papago Park/ Easy / 0.31 miles

A super-short hike to a huge hole, in a huge rock, is perfect family fun! At just over a quarter mile long, this loop trail is both easy and surprisingly scenic.

 

Landscape, View, Kids, Hikers, Boulders, Pond, Jewel of the Creek Hiking Trail, Jewel of the Creek Preserve, Cave Creek, Arizona, Phoenix Area, Family Hikes★★★★☆ Jewel of the Creek & Dragonfly Hiking Trail Loop / Easy / Jewel of the Creek Preserve / 2 mile loop

Dragonflies by a pond, wood-plank creek crossings and a kid-sized cave are some of the fun features on this easy, hike around the lush green banks of Cave Creek.

 

Large Rock Formations; McDowell Mountain Preserve; Phoenix; Arizona; Marcus Landslide Hiking Trail; Boulders; Hill; Mountains. Copyright azutopia.com. No use without permission.★★★★☆ Marcus Landslide Hiking Trail / Easy / McDowell Mountain Preserve / 1.85 miles

Easy, but dramatically beautiful… this hike’s otherworldly rock formations and intriguing geology are custom-made for a mellow day of outdoor exploring!

 

Bartlett Lake, Central, Arizona, Water, Beach, Rattlesnake Cove, Dock, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★☆☆☆ Palo Verde Hiking Trail / Moderate / Bartlett Lake / 3.8 miles

For a perfect day at the lake, picnicking, sunbathing and hiking this lakeside trail can’t be beat. Families will enjoy it’s water views, gentle hills, abundant bird life and Springtime flowers.

 

Mom, Boy, Fishing,Floating Bridge, Lake Pleasant, Lake, Pipeline Canyon HIking Trail, Phoenix Area, Phoenix, Arizona, Cove, Hikers, Family Hikes, Water Hikes★★★★☆ Pipeline Canyon Hiking Trail / Easy to Moderate / Lake Pleasant / 2 miles

A floating bridge crosses crystal clear water, in one of Lake Pleasant’s intimate coves. Rambling along quiet hillsides this hike leads to a special location where wild burros and ducks might be spotted.

 

Arizona, Cave Creek, Quartz Hiking Trail, Quartz Outcropping, Saguaro, Dessert , Landscape, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Quartz Hiking Trail Loop / Moderate / Cave Creek Recreational Area / 4 mile loop

Glittering white quartz is scattered like oversized breadcrumbs over and around this moderate trail. As a bonus, a jaw-droppingly large outcropping is sure to delight!

 

Hiker, Boy Playing, Aqua Fria River, Horseshoe Bar, Black Canyon Hiking Trail, Rock Spring Spur Trail, Black Canyon City, Arizona, Canyon, Phoenix Area Hikes, Water Feature Hikes,★★★☆☆ Rock Springs Spur Trail to Aqua Fria River Crossing/ Moderate / Black Canyon City / 1.4 miles

Wade in a gentle creek, or relax on a wide stone beach, outside Black Canyon City. This trail leads to a bend in the refreshingly cool Aqua Fria River, perfect for splashing in or across.

 

Purple Lupine Flowers; Ruins; Stones; Blue Sky; Spring; Sears Kay Hiking Trail; Cave Creek; Arizona; Copyright azutopia.com; no use without permission.★★★☆☆ Sears Kay Ruins Hiking Trail Loop / Moderate / Cave Creek / 1.1 mile loop

Ancient Hohokum ruins, and long Bartlett Lake views, grace the top of a windswept bluff on this short loop hike. Expect lots of pretty wildflowers in spring.

 

Family of Hikers; Treasure Trail Hiking Loop; Lost Dutchman State Park; Superstition Mountains; Arizona; Cliffs; Rock Formations; Brush and Saguaros; Copyright azutopia.com. No use without permission.★★★★☆ Treasure Loop Trail/ Moderate / Superstition Mts / 2.4 miles

This short, family-friendly loop winds around the huge rock formations at the base of the Superstition Mtns. Ginormous boulders at the top are a blast to explore.

 

Arizona, Phoenix, Wadell, White Tank Mountains, Hiking, Kids, Playing, Pool of Water, Canyon, Waterfall Trail, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Waterfall Hiking Trail / Easy / White Tank Mountains / 0.9 miles

Abundant Native American hieroglyphics and a hidden waterfall are just two of the awesome, squeal-inducing features of this easy, educational trail. Under a mile long, this one of the more perfect family hikes for young kids.

 

Wild Burro Hiking Trail; Wild Flowers; Kayak; Globemallow; Lake Pleasant; Phoenix; Arizona; Phoenix Area Hikes; Easy Hikes; Views; Lake; Copyright azutopia.com; No use without permission★★★☆☆ Wild Burro Hiking Trail / Easy / Lake Pleasant / 2 miles

Enjoy a scenic stroll around Lake Pleasant’s intimate, blue coves. This hike teems with Spring wildflowers & views of boats frolicking on the water year round. Possibility of a wild burro sighting are high!

 

Family, Hikers, Nook, Wind Cave Hiking Trail, Lichen, Cliffs, Pass Mountain, Mesa, Arizona, Usery Park, Phoenix, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Wind Cave Hiking Trail / Moderate / Usery Mountain / 1.5 miles

A sky-high cave rests atop neon-greens cliffs at the top of this moderate desert trail. Concave mini-caves, along the base of towering cliff walls, make for entertaining resting spots on the upwards hike.


Flagstaff Area Family Hikes

 

Young Hiker, Rocks, Flagstaff, Arizona, Fatmans Loop Trail, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★★☆ Fatmans Loop Hiking Trail / Easy / Flagstaff / 2.5 mile loop

Oversized rock-formations and fun-filled nooks-and-crannies beg to be explored. Kids will have a blast scooching between the immense boulders of Fatmans Pass or climbing into large recesses on trailside boulders.

 

Girls, Hikers, Granite, Canyon, Flagstaff, Arizona, Kachina Trail, San Francisco Mountains, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★★★ Kachina Hiking Trail / Easy / San Francisco Mountains / 5.4 miles

Almost overwhelming in its beauty, this family hike envelopes moms, dads and kids in acres-wide meadows of fragrant wildflowers and plush fern-gullies during Spring and Summer, or golden Aspens in Fall.

 

A family standing on the boulders outside the opening of the Lava River Tube, on the Lava River Tube Trail, near Flagstaff, Arizona. Easy Arizona hiking trails. Flagstaff area hiking trails. Arizona family friendly hiking trails. Copyright azutopia. No use without permission.★★★★☆ Lava River Tube Trail / Easy / North of Flagstaff / 1 mile

Headlamps required – on this naturally refrigerated hike through a short underground tunnel. Turn off the lights for an extra thrill.

 

Landscape, Family, Hikers, Flagstaff, Arizona, Red Mountain Hiking Trail, Red Rock Mountain, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★★★ Red Mountain Hiking Trail / Easy / North of Flagstaff / 1.5 miles

Hiking through this maze of colossal cones is kind of a-mazing (hee hee). Surrounded by thousands of sky-high Cinder Cones, this fun trail will make families feel like ants in a sprawling city of hyper-high anthills.

 

Hiker, Arizona Hiking Trail, Tall Cliffs, Flagstaff, Arizona, Walnut Canyon, Sandys Canyon Hiking Trail, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Sandys Canyon Hiking Trail to Walnut Canyon / Easy / South of Flagstaff / 2.7 miles

“Twisted” cliffs, punctuated with small caves, make hiking Walnut Canyon almost surreal. Kids of all ages will have fun skipping through this Dali-esque canyon and exploring the shallow cave beneath 100′ tall Fisher Point.

 

Veit Hiking Trail; Flagstaff; Arizona; Spring; Historical Structure; Mountain; Northern Arizona Hiking Trails; Easy Hiking Trails; Family Friendly Hiking Trails; Dog Friendly Hiking Trails. Copyright azutopia. No use without permission.★★★☆☆ Veit Springs Loop / Easy / North of Flagstaff / 1.7 miles

This short little hike is loaded with history and is a blast to explore. It passes Native American pictographs, early pioneer structures and a babbling spring.

 


Pine & Payson Area Family Hikes

 

Landscape, Teens, Fossil Creek, Waterfall, Arizona, Coconino Forest, Fossil Creek Waterfall Trail★★★☆☆ Fossil Creek Hiking Trail / Easy / Camp Verde / 1.2 miles

Blink your eyes on this short hike and you’ll have arrived in paradise! A 20′ gushing waterfall, turquoise blue pools and creekside hideaways are perfect for spending a day outdoors. Permit required.

 

Landscape, View. Young Hiker Overlook, Payson, Arizona, Mogollon Rim Trail, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★☆☆☆ Rim Lakes Vista Hiking Trail / Easy / Mogollon Rim / 3.5 miles

You might wonder if you’ve been plopped inside an gigantic viewfinder on this incredibly scenic, easy rim trail. Flashback-worthy views span for hundreds of miles – from rim to horizon.

 

See Spring Hiking Trail; See Canyon, Payson; Arizona; Mogollon Rim; Easy Hiking Trails; Pet Friendly HIking Trails; Family Friendly Hiking Trails; Central Arizona; Stream; Spring; Moss; Ferns; Greenery; Forest; Copyright azutopia.com; No use without permission.★★★☆☆ See Springs Trail / Easy / Payson / 1.5 miles

Explore a babbling creek and gushing springs on this shady hike. The trail criss-crosses Christopher Creek and leads to a series of cascading springs on the base of the Mogollon Rim.

 

Lanscape, Two Boys, Tonto Natural Bridge, Waterfall, Payson, Arizona, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★★☆ Tonto Natural Bridge, Gowan & Pine Creek Hiking Trail Loop / Easy / South of Pine / 0.92 mile loop

Shiver and squeal, as ice cold droplets fall from the 14-story-high natural bridge overhead! This short family hike mashes-up an exhilarating blend of desert, creek, cave and waterfall fun.

 

Water Wheel Hiking Trail; Payson; Arizona; Easy Hikes; Water Hikes; Waterfall; Swimming Hole; Hikers; Cliffs; Arizona Summer Hikes★★★★★ Water Wheel Hiking Trail / Easy / North of Payson / 1.6 miles

This short hike ends at a gushing cascade and icy swimming hole. Along its rustic river pathway, it passes dramatic waterfalls and deep gorges.

 

Young Hiker, Kayak, Woods Canyon Trail, Mogollon Rim, Northern, Arizona, Payson, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Woods Canyon Lake Hiking Trail / Easy / Mogollon Rim / 3.7 mile loop

Traverse a bog on a log. Skip stones. And walk under an eagle’s nest on this peaceful lakeside trail. With no motorboats allowed, you’ll hear only the muffled sounds of fishermen, kayakers and families having fun.


Prescott Area Family Hikes

 

A landscape view of boulders and pools of water on the Aqua Fria River, in Aqua Fria National Monument, off the Badger Springs Hiking Trail, near Bumblebee, Arizona. Phoenix area hiking trails. Easy Arizona Hiking trails. Family friendly hiking trails. Dog friendly hiking trails. Copyright azutopia.com. No use without permission.★★★★☆Badger Springs Hiking Trail / Easy / East of Prescott / 0.8 miles

Have a blast exploring hieroglyphs and creekside boulders on this family friendly hike. The trail follows a short ravine to shimmering pools and an endless jumble of boulders on the banks of the Aqua Fria River.

 

Landscape, View, People, kayaks, Prescott, Arizona, Lynx Lake, Marina, Lynx Lake Recreation Hiking Trail, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Lynx Lake Recreation Hiking Trail / Easy / East of Prescott / 2.3 mile loop

Grab the kids and escape life’s hustle and bustle on this lakeside hike. Tucked into an intimate mountain valley, scenic Lynx Lake stays cool all year. The level pathway is paved half-way around, making it an easy family hike.

 

Watson Lake Loop Hiking Trails; Northshore Hiking Trail; Watson Dam; Watson Lake; Prescott; Arizona; Central Arizona Hikes; Easy hikes; Lake; Granite Dells; Hikers; Kayakers; Paddle Boarders; azutopia.com; no use without permission.★★★★☆ Watson Lake Hiking Trail Loop / Easy / Prescott / 4.8 mile loop

Explore rolling Granite Dells, hidden coves and a waterfall on this stunning loop hike. A series of mile-long trail sections circle Prescott’s largest lake. Each with surprises with a unique characteristics.

 

Family, bicycle, stroller, hiking, trail, Willow Lake Loop Trail, Prescott, Central Arizona, Family Hikes, Arizona's Best Family Hikes★★★☆☆ Willow Lake Loop Hiking Trail / Easy / Prescott / 5.2 mile loop

Opt to explore the rambunctious stone dells or mellow grassy banks of beautiful Willow Lake. Billowing boulders and mini-canyons flank the eastern shore. While broad reed lined banks flank the west.


Grand Canyon Area Family Hikes

Landscape; Opening between Red cliffs; Rock formations; Ponderosas; outdoors; Grand Canyon National Park; North Rim; Cliff Spring Hiking Trail; Northern Arizona Hikes; Family Friendly Hikes; Easy Hikes; Copyright azutopia.com; No use without permission.★★★★☆ Cliff Springs Hiking Trail / North Rim / Easy / 0.75 miles

See ancient ruins, upside down plants and a dripping spring on this pretty hike. The trail gently descends an intimate ravine at the top of the canyon. Along the way a number of natural treasures are revealed … one-by-one.