The Best Backpacking in Arizona

Looking for the best backpacking in Arizona? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Arizona. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top backpacking spots in and near Arizona

Supai, Arizona

Havasu Falls in the Havasupai Reservation

4.7

10.4 mi / 1647 ft gain

The Havasupai Reservation is a remote area just outside Grand Canyon National Park, full of blue-green water and dramatic waterfalls. Despite being an extremely isolated location, camping in the canyon is overwhelmingly popular and reservations are required. On popular weekends you will be shari...
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North Rim, Arizona

Grand Canyon: Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim

4.7

45.6 mi / 10141 ft gain

Day 1 Start at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park at the North Kaibab Trail. You have 14 miles and 5,761 feet of elevation to descend to the Bright Angel Campground, so bring those trekking poles if you have bad knees (like myself). Along the North Kaibab Trail a few noteworthy trail m...
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Supai, Arizona

Mooney Falls

4.8

1.36 mi / 200 ft gain

Hiking down to Mooney Falls is a great, short adventure when camping at the Havasupai Campground. Not only that, it is certainly the most adventurous waterfall to reach, requiring travelers to hike down through a menacing passageway cut through the side of the canyon wall by miners at the turn of...
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Supai, Arizona

Confluence of the Colorado River and Havasu Creek

5.0

16.62 mi / 4199 ft gain

Hike: Starting from the Havasupai campgrounds, which is a 10 mile hike in itself from Hualapai Hilltop, the trail goes past Mooney Falls to Beaver Creek for 4 miles. The elevation gain is limited but makes up for difficulty with route finding. Getting to Beaver Falls will require creek crossings ...
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Supai, Arizona

Navajo Falls

4.0

1.4 mi / 249 ft gain

Navajo Falls is a gem that resulted from the flash flood that tore through Havasu Canyon in August of 2008. Although this flash flood forever changed the landscape of the canyon, it created a fantastic spot for travelers to enjoy in the afternoon and evening when camping at Havasupai Campground. ...
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Sedona, Arizona

West Fork Trail

5.0

6.49 mi / 1102 ft gain

This is one of the most beautiful hikes in Sedona, Arizona. It is a fairly easy hike, although it is 6 miles roundtrip. A lot of families come here, and children love to play in the water. There are various stream crossings, but for most of them, you should be able to keep dry. The canyon walls ...
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Payson, Arizona

Horton Springs Loop

4.4

8.42 mi / 1896 ft gain

This is a more scenic and bit more strenuous loop hike to the spring, taking in the Derrick Trail, part of the Highline Trail, and the Horton Creek Trail.After parking the cars near Upper Tonto Creek Campground follow the Derrick Trail and hike gently uphill for 1.4 miles through the rim country ...
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North Rim, Arizona

Ribbon Falls in Grand Canyon NP

5.0

17.57 mi / 4521 ft gain

Although this hike can feasibly done in a day, it is highly recommended that you spend more than one day in this area and visit the falls as a side trip on a larger trip. The closest campsites to Ribbon Falls are Cottonwood Campground and the Bright Angel Campground at Phantom Ranch. Ribbon Fal...
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Winkelman, Arizona

Hike Aravaipa Canyon

5.0

8 mi / 200 ft gain

Welcome to the beauty of wilderness and serenity! Within the boundaries of Aravaipa Canyon, you will not find any designated trails, campsites, or facilities. This canyon is one of Arizona’s hidden gems, and it is not mentioned in many travel books or in international travel magazines – yet. ...
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Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

Backpack the Grand Canyon's South Rim

5.0

30.1 mi / 4541 ft gain

If you want to see the real Grand Canyon, this is it. The 3 day backpacking will take you down into the canyon to where few people visit. Although the South Kaibab trail is steep, has no shade cover and water and the views are gorgeous. It is best to start from the South Kaibab, hike down to the ...
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Apache Junction, Arizona

White Rock Springs Camp Loop via First Water Trailhead

4.7

24.18 mi / 3635 ft gain

The Superstition Wilderness is a stunning 160,200 acre area outside Apache Junction, AZ, with over 170 miles of (variously maintained) trail networks. There are any number of trips you can design to fit your time and skill level. This adventure offers a three day/ two night backpacking trip cover...
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Chinle, Arizona

Camp at Canyon de Chelly

5.0

3 mi

Canyon de Chelly has been inhabited for over 6,000 years by both the Navajo peoples and the Anasazi peoples. The ruins through the walls of the canyon are from the Anasazi people date back to almost 7,000 years ago. Due to the significance and sacred nature of this area, hiking and backpacking wi...
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Payson, Arizona

Mogollon Rim via Washington Park

4.0

4.32 mi / 1138 ft gain

This trail begins at the Washington Park Trailhead which meets up with passage #27 of the AZT. You begin traveling northbound as you ascend the great Mogollon Rim. The trail takes you through a gorgeous forest and rewards you with an awesome cliff side view at the summit. 2.25 miles into the tra...
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Apache County, Arizona

Hike the Thompson Trail

5.0

6 mi / 250 ft gain

As you travel down Forest Road 116, approximately 200 yards before the trailhead, you will see the remains of the old Thompson Cattle Ranch - hence, Thompson Trail #629. The trail begins atop an old railroad grade, a reminder of the very successful logging days that went on for many years. The r...
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Payson, Arizona

Cabin Loop Trail

18.82 mi / 2028 ft gain

People think Arizona is all just desert, but this hike will show you otherwise. Up on the Mogollon Rim, this trail takes you past old cabins, through lush forest, and near many creeks. Day 1: (10 miles) Drive on Rim Road to the General Springs Trail Head. The cabin marks the start of the tr...
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Gold Canyon, Arizona

Superstition Peak 5057 via Carney Springs

5.0

7.71 mi / 2831 ft gain

This is the true beast hike of the Superstitions. If you think Flatiron is a toughy, give this a whirl! You will be poked, prodded, slapped, smacked, jolted, tripped and stabbed the entire way, but rewarded with arguably the finest sights the valley of the sun has to offer: the entire Superstitio...
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