AllTrails
8.7
The most complete trail database in the US, and the reviews are recent enough to tell you whether a trail is muddy, closed, or busy this week.
Free tier is usable; the paid plan runs about $36 per year.
Phoenix Travel Guide
Desert hiking within city limits
- Arizona
- August 2026
- Desert hiking within city limits
Why go to Phoenix
Phoenix is an outdoor trip disguised as a metro area: three major desert preserves sit inside the city, and Sedona and the Grand Canyon are drivable.
It is a driving city. Plan the rental car first and everything else falls into place.
How to get there
Flights
PHX sits 10 minutes from downtown with a light-rail connection.
Rental Car
Essential. Book early for winter high season.
Driving
Common from Southern California and Las Vegas.
Getting around
- Distances are long and heat is real; drive between neighborhoods.
- Trailhead parking fills by 7am from October through April.
- Old Town Scottsdale and downtown Phoenix are the two walkable pockets.
What to do in Phoenix
3 hours
Camelback Mountain Summit
Steep, exposed, and worth the 6am start.
2 hours
Desert Botanical Garden
The best introduction to Sonoran desert plants anywhere.
Outdoor options nearby
Hard
Camelback Mountain, Echo Canyon
The signature Phoenix summit hike: 1,200 feet of gain with handrail sections.
Moderate
Sedona Red Rock Experiences
Jeep tours, Cathedral Rock, and stargazing two hours north of Phoenix.
A workable plan
- Camelback Mountain at sunrise
- Desert Botanical Garden
- Old Town Scottsdale dinner
- South Mountain scenic drive
- Heard Museum
- Sunset at Papago Park
- Day trip to Sedona
- Cathedral Rock trail
- Return via Verde Valley
Phoenix questions
How many days do you need in Phoenix?
Two full days covers the essentials and three lets you add a day trip or an outdoor morning without rushing.
What is the best way to get around Phoenix?
Check the getting-around notes above first: in some cities transit and walking beat a rental car outright, and in others a car is the only practical option.
Travel services for Phoenix
The tools and providers that fit the way this trip actually works.
Budget
8.1
Budget shares much of the operational backbone of Avis at a lower daily rate. If your trip is flexible on pickup time, it is usually the cheaper of the two.
Typically $39 to $74 per day at major airports before taxes and fees.
Hotels
Best used as a price check and a way to filter for genuinely refundable rates rather than as your only lodging search.
Varies by market; always compare against the hotel's direct rate.
