Arizona has beautiful landscapes for all adventurers, but hiking waterfalls in Arizona beats it all. Chasing waterfalls is the most rewarding outdoor activity. Keep reading for the 7 Best waterfalls hiking trails in Arizona that you can visit next time you plan your vacations. These waterfalls in Arizona provide some of the most Instaworthy views.
Why You Should Hike Waterfalls in Arizona
Some of my favorite parts of Arizona deserts are the red rock and the blazing summer. Arizona is maybe best known for Grand Canyon National Park, but it has a lot to offer for all outdoorsy people. Besides stunning deserts and wildlife, Arizona has amazing waterfalls to cool off from the hot sun.
The weather in Arizona is usually warm and dry all year, while summers are sweltering and winters cold. But in reality, there are only two kinds of weather in Arizona— hot and a little less hot. These waterfalls in Arizona provide a perfect opportunity for the hikers to loosen up, take a swim and cool off all the sweat from their bodies due to intense hikes in this Aztec State.
Besides, Arizona possesses one of the most beautiful and picture-perfect hiking waterfalls in the nation. Each waterfall differs from others in terms of its size and accessibility. Some are easy to reach with a quick trip to the parking lot, while some require an elaborate camping journey.
As an added bonus, kids and dogs will love splashing around in the waterfalls. So if you are looking for a complete family adventure that you can enjoy with your kids and pets, then waterfalls in Arizona are a great bet. There are several family-friendly and dog-friendly hiking trails in Arizona that you can indulge in, which will only take your afternoon. Plus, outdoor activities like these allow you to spend more time enjoying the great weather!
Tips for Hiking Waterfalls
Once you have decided to hike waterfalls in Arizona to witness the beauty and serenity, now it is time to pack your backpacks with essentials. Make sure to keep your backpack efficiently weighted to lessen the burden in the hot weather. But a lighter backpack does not mean you skip out essentials! I always recommend packing the 10 Essentials, even if you think it will be an easy hiking trail.
Recommended Gear for Hiking Waterfalls in Arizona
Hiking Shoes & Water Sandals
Most of the trails in Arizona are fairly straight forward and you will do well with hiking shoes. Boots are not necessary if you have strong ankles/feet. I definitely recommend bringing water sandals like Tevas or Chacos though! This will come in handy when you want to get into any of the waterfalls in Arizona, and you don’t want to have wet shoes and/or change socks.
Sun Protection
Always carry sunscreen if you do not want sunburns from the scorching sun. You can reapply SPF every three hours for maximum protection. Do not forget to also bring hats, especially the wide-brimmed ones, and sunglasses with you for protection against the sun.
Water Storage
Make sure to keep extra H2O along. As you are traveling in the desert, you need to stay hydrated at all times. People tend to lose more water than they think they are losing in the desert because your sweat evaporates much faster.
In the summer, I will bring around 1L of water per hour of hiking
Summer Hiking Clothing
Here are some of the clothes I wear for summer hiking. Extra clothes will be helpful if you want to change after you go swimming in the waterfalls. I also like to carry extra long layers, in case it gets cold or chilly.
Lastly, don’t forget to bring a swimsuit and a light towel! With so many beautiful waterfalls in Arizona like Fossil Creek Falls (for instance), you’ll definitely want to take a dip.
Hiking Arizona Waterfalls – Best 7 Trails
If you want to hike waterfalls in Arizona, keep reading! Here are the 7 Best Waterfalls Hiking trails in Arizona that are sure to be a good time.
1. Bear Canyon to Seven Falls Trail
Seven Falls Trail via Bear Canyon is one of the most known waterfalls hiking trails near Tucson, Arizona. At 8.3 miles, this moderately rated waterfall hike is popular among hikers because of its picturesque landscape, waterfalls, and large icy cold swimming pools. Seven Falls is, without a doubt — one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Arizona.
You can either take the tram from the Sabino Canyon parking lot that cuts half of the trail by taking you to the trailhead or hike 2 miles to Bear Canyon and then Seven Falls. The hike takes at least three hours.
It is best to start early in the morning before sunrise to avoid sweltering Arizona desert heat. The good news is, if it’s a hot day outside, you can cool yourself by a refreshing swim into clear pools formed from water cascading down on the base of the fall. The hike gets a little more tiring when you climb the last 224 steps towards the waterfall.
This waterfall hike in Arizona provides you with a perfect opportunity to indulge in a complete adventure in the desert. The trail itself is stunning because of the forests and several river crossings, but you will enjoy getting to Seven Falls even more.
2. Horton Creek Trail
Horton Creek trail is an 8.6 mile hike located near Payson. It is about 2 hours North of Phoenix or 2 hours south of Flagstaff. It is a difficult-rated trail that features Horton Springs and a few mini waterfalls. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best waterfall hikes in Arizona – but because of it’s smaller waterfalls, it is more for the creek-side swimming than the actual large waterfall you may be thinking of.
This waterfall hike starts from parking at the Upper Tonto Creek campground with a trailhead on the left. The Horton Creek runs along the trail. Besides that, you will also pass several waterfalls and pine trees on the way. All these crossings are sure to make the journey even more pleasant beyond comprehension.
Horton Spring is a big spring that has crystal clear water – perfect for swimming to escape from the Arizona heat! This trail has a lot to offer for hikers — several waterfalls, wildflowers, wild berries, and several pools. So you should give this waterfall hike a go if you want to explore some beautiful swimming area that is more like a smaller waterfall.
3. Blue Wash Trail
Blue Wash trail is a moderate level 2.8 miles waterfall hiking trail 40 minutes north of Old Town Scottsdale in Arizona. This waterfall hike is a short hike that you can definitely go hiking with your kids and less experienced dogs. Except for climbing a corridor of boulders on the way, the trail is pretty flat with no difficulty. You will have views of wildflowers, two washes, and the shadows of distant mountains during this hike with your kids.
The trailhead of Blue Wash is by Tonto Hills outside Carefree. All you need to do is follow the trail up to Blue Wash which will lead you to Camp Creek, head left from there, and a little more hike will finally direct you to the waterfall called Camp Creek Fall. The fall sits perfectly between the rocks, surrounded by green plants giving an illusion of oasis.
So go for this waterfall hiking adventure in Arizona if you want to go out into the wild with your kids. This waterfall hike provides you with the perfect short hiking adventure. You can spend as much time as possible with kids in the fall. You can climb rocks with them, and even can dunk on pools to jazz things up further. Just make sure to avoid this escapade during the rainy season.
4. Water Wheel Falls
Water Wheel Falls is also located in Payson, only 30 minutes from Horton Creek Trail. Hiking to Water Wheel Falls is perhaps Arizona’s most beautiful waterfalls hike with low effort. At 1.6 miles, this trek has it all as it is short, easy, and has plenty of rocks to climb, waterfalls to get mesmerized, and a clean chill water pool to plunge. It is a perfect hike that you can take with your kids on a hot day.
The waterfall hike starts from the Houston Mesa Road parking lot — leading you to the Water Wheel trail. As you proceed, you will find the East Verde River on your right from there path gets a little rocky with boulders. Besides on the trail, you will also find a deep gorge, mini waterfalls, Ellison Creek, and finally Water Wheel Falls.
Now put on your hiking boots and hop on this trip with your kids. On every step of this hike, exciting stuff awaits. Everything is exhilarating — from huge rocks to gorges to waterfalls to natural swimming holes with icy cold water, and of course star of the show, Water Wheel Falls. This is definitely one of the best waterfalls in Arizona for kids.
5. Fossil Creek Falls
Fossil Creek Falls is located deeper through Route 260, about 1 hour West of Payson, 2 hours North of Phoenix, or 1.5 hours South of Sedona. Fossil Creek Falls is a hidden gem of Arizona’s desert, an oasis in the desert with beautiful turquoise-colored water enriched with calcium and other minerals.
At 2.6 miles, Fossil Creek Falls is a great, short hiking option to a beautiful waterfall. It is a picture-perfect 25-foot waterfall with exquisite water gushing with full strength. And if this does not convince you, then leap here for beautiful natural swimming holes just near the fall. All these features make it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Arizona.
The Fossil Creek trail is short but as of late 2021 the road to the hike was closed. The road was supposed to open in 2022, so be sure to check the latest road closure information here.
The hike begins from Fossil Creek road that will head you to the well-marked trailhead. The trail will lead you to the creek. Along the way, you will encounter swimming holes for making things even more exciting for you. Finally, the trail ends on rocky hills, and there you see a beautiful waterfall with turquoise water, and you know you are at the right place.
The beauty of Fossil Creek Falls is sure to blow you away. It is a fun easy hike that you can make with your kids that does not require any permit. You can do a lot there — jumping off the 25-foot cliff waterfall to swimming in natural pools to simply being blown away by the scenery.
6. Cibecue Falls
Hike to Cibecue Falls in Salt River Canyon is a short 3 mile moderate-level hike that requires a permit. It is located about 2.5 hours North East of Phoenix.
This waterfall hike to Cibecue Falls starts from a dirt road that will take you to the trailhead. This road trip itself is lovely as the views of Salt River and Salt River Canyon enchant the visitors en route. After crossing Cibeque Creek, you will find a trailhead nearby. This hike to Cibecue Falls is pretty exciting because most of the trail is in the creek hence, requiring you to navigate your way by crisscrossing the water. The view of the canyon is spectacular, and it gets even narrower once you get closer to the fall.
This waterfall hiking adventure will be fun for you, especially your dog enjoys jumping along the creek trail. The waterfall is a beautiful majestic fall gushing from a narrow canyon — I personally think this is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Arizona.
7. Indian Maiden Falls via West Clear Creek Trail
West Clear Creek Trail is a difficult-rated 7 mile waterfall hiking trail near Camp Verde in Sedona. You can hike and also camp on this trail. The strenuous hike ends with the beautiful view of Indian Maiden falls to wash away all the fatigue. Besides the difficulty, the trail is spectacular, and you also get to see beautiful red rock canyons on the way.
The road to the trailhead is quite bumpy and requires a high clearance vehicle. The West Clear Creek trail begins with an incline down to the direction of West Clear Creek, hiking through a wide canyon. The decline to the valley is pretty aggressive due to rocks, gravel, and full sun above your head. On your way, you will get to pass or even swim through the creek multiple times (a little annoying!). Going to the waterfall is not easy because you have to follow the West Clear Creek routine — into the water & out of the water until you finally reach the waterfall.
During your entire hike to the waterfall, you will encounter every kind of creek crossing from narrow to wide. You will see many filled pools, waterfalls, and of course, red rocks of the canyon.
Do consider going on this waterfall hike to Maiden falls because this place is a paradise. It has a beautiful waterfall, you can take long swims through canyons, there’s hanging gardens, you can do rope swinging, cliff jumping, and slots slides with your floaties.
Bonus – One of the Most Famous Waterfalls in Arizona
As an added bonus, if you can plan ahead, get the permit, and make it to Havasupai, I highly recommend it. This will be a multi-day adventure, and you’ve likely seen it or hear about it from Instagram. But it’s not one of those overblown Instagram places because of the permitting process. Havasu Falls is truly a magical place.
Read more in my Guide to Havasu Falls.
Summary
From Seven Falls to Water Wheel Falls to Cibecue Falls, waterfalls in Arizona provide you with a perfect opportunity to escape your daily routine and cool off from the heat. Either hop on quick day trip to easy-level waterfalls hikes with your children like Blue Wash Trail, Fossil Creek Falls, and Water Wheel Falls. Or keep it to the moderate level by hikes on Bear Canyon or towards Cibecue Falls. Lastly, if you want more difficulty, you can take challenging hikes on the Horton Creek Trail or West Clear Creek trail.
Hiking to Arizona waterfall trails offers every kind of experience for everyone, including dogs!
Have you ever hiked to any of these Arizona waterfalls? What did you think?
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Wow, this guide was super helpful!
Beautiful pics!
thank you!