Tempe Hikes that Will Add Some Sunshine to Your Day!

Tempe, Arizona, sitting only a few minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, is an adventure HUB. Yes, I said that. It offers the best of both worlds- the bars, restaurants, shops, and Arizona State University but it ALSO has the greenery, the parks, the mountains, and hikes that lead to beautiful vantage points. In this post, we will be reviewing the best HIKES IN AND AROUND TEMPE.

Disclosure: This post was part of a paid partnership with Tempe Tourism.

BEST TEMPE HIKES

Let me preface this post: not all of these hikes lie within The City of Tempe borders. Some are technically in Phoenix and Scottsdale. All three of these cities connect just north of Downtown Tempe. Tempe is the central hub, connecting all of these places within a 15-minute radius. So let’s get started and let’s get you outdoors and onto these Tempe hikes within the Sonoran Desert.

1. Papago Park

Papago Park is one of the best hikes on the Tempe-Phoenix border, a few minutes north of the Downtown area. It sits at 1,200 acres in Phoenix and 296 acres in Tempe, Arizona. I lived in an apartment 2 minutes from Papago Park for 3 years, so I walked or hiked there 1-2 times per week for all of those years. I think it’s one of the MOST ACCESSIBLE Tempe hikes. If you have a stroller, there are paved trails. If you can’t walk far, you don’t have to. If you want to get in a good workout, you can run the 5k trail. If you like to hike, there’s elevation gain. It’s perfect! And beautiful. Don’t miss out.

NOTE- Papago Park is on both sides of Galvin Parkway. Most commonly, people will visit “The Hole in the Rock” trail on the Phoenix Zoo side. It’s one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNSET SPOTS in the Phoenix Valley. Be aware, it can be very busy at popular hours, like golden hour. Most of the trails are on the opposite side of the road- definitely try those out.

LOCATION

Papago Park is located at 625 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, AZ 85008. It sits on the Tempe-Phoenix border, making it very accessible. The map below will help you understand where certain features are within the park as one of the best Tempe hikes- because it’s quite large!

Parking

There are parking lots on the East and West of Galvin Parkway. Parking is free, which is great! West of Galvin Parkway, the parking lot is open Sunrise-Sunset. There are rangers driving around. Once it becomes dark and the beautiful sunset colors are gone, parking is not allowed. East of Galvin Parkway, parking is allowed 5am to 7pm. The trails on both sides are open 5am-11pm.

Features

There are so many fun features within Papago Park, including The Hole-In-The-Rock, Governer Hunt’s Tomb, The Palm Tree Lagoons, The Ampitheatre, and more. These spots are all labeled in the map above.

Hiking

Of all of the Tempe hikes, Papago Park is so unique. It is not a singulair hike, but a hiking destination with endless options. The red-orange rock color is stunning, and sunsets from this area are stunning. If you’re new to the area, I highly suggest checking out The Hole-In-The-Rock. This is a 0.2 mile-hike that leads to a very appropriately named formation: A hole in the rock’s “ceiling” that is believed to have been used by the ancient Hohokam civilization to track the position of the sun.

Please note, it is busy! But I think it’s fun spending time around people who also love the outdoors. If you have some more time, I suggest doing the Double Butte Loop. The nice part about Papago Park is you could go a million times and never do the exact same trail twice.

HIKE RECOMMENDATIONS– Hole in the Rock, Double Butte Loop Trail, Big Butte Loop

Hike Details- Double Butte Loop

Length: 2.2 mi

Elevation Gain: 114 ft

Time: 1 hour

Dog-Friendly: Yes

Kid-Friendly: Yes

Like Dog-Friendly Hikes? Here’s a few more Arizona hikes to add to your list.

3. “A” Mountain/ Hayden Butte Preserve

“A” Mountain, also known as Hayden Butte Preserve, is the center of Tempe hikes. It is convienently located in Downtown Tempe. Why is there a big “A” on the mountain? For ASU, of course. At the beginning of each new school year, students march up to paint it. Our rivals, The University of Arizona, try to repaint it blue when they can. I’ve sat on the top of the A so many times during college.

Some people like to say this isn’t a hike, but it IS. It’s steep y’all- it’s a good workout. I love the view from the top, and being able to see the peaks of Camelback, Piestewa, The Superstitions, South Mountain, etc. Watching planes fly over is so fun too. Just be respectful of others and pick up your trash! This is a great hike for families, visitors, and even as a date (it was my first date).

LOCATION

If you’re already in Tempe, you don’t have to go far to hike “A” Mountain. On the map below, I’ll label a few unique parts of this hike!

FEATURES

There are so many cool ways to hike “A” Mountain. You can do it as a date. You can do it with friends. You can watch planes fly over since it’s so close to the airport. You are with walking distance to shops and restaurants and ice cream. You can do hill workouts up it. I LOVE this hike.

Be sure to keep your eye out for the petroglyphs by some of Tempe’s first inhabitants – the ancient Hohokam civilization left their mark here in the form of approximately 500 petroglyphs that date back between A.D. 750 and 1450.

HIKING

I love that this hike is so short and so close to town. If you’re around, try it out! Like most trails in the area, this is a preserve, so look for the trailhead signs and stay on the marked paths- LEAVE NO TRACE!

Want to grab some post-hike grub? Check out Tempe Tourism’s list of amazing restaurants nearby!

Hike Details

Length: 0.7 mi

Elevation Gain: 278 ft

Time: <1 hour

Dog-Friendly: Yes

Kid-Friendly: Yes