Planning an RV road trip to Phoenix? With its unique topography and stunning desert vistas, the Valley of the Sun is the perfect place to add some hiking to your travel plans. Here are a few of our staff favorites to visit while in Phoenix with your RV rental!
Hole in the Rock (Easy)
If you’re looking for a quick-and-easy hike that’s good for families or people with dogs,
Hole in the Rock Trail in Papago Park is the one for you. It’s only .3 miles, moderately trafficked and lets you get up close and personal with Arizona buttes (pronounced “byoots” — there, now you sound like a local!). Our absolute favorite time to go to this Tempe park is at sunset, which you can view through the, well, hole in the rock!
Distance: .3 miles
Elevation Gain: 32 feet
Route Type: Out & Back
There’s plentiful parking for your RV Rental in Tempe at the trailhead for the Hole in the Rock hike.
Piestewa Peak Summit (Difficult)
Part of a sprawling park surrounded on all sides by the city of Phoenix,
Piestewa Peak Summit Trail offers unparalleled views of the city, especially at night. The Summit trail is a leg and butt buster, climbing more than a thousand feet in just 2.2 miles. As there are a lot of trails that zig zag across the park, we recommend downloading a map on a hiker app like
All Trails before heading out on this hike.
Distance: 2.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,151 feet
Route Type: Out & Back
Tom’s Thumb (Moderate)
If you think Phoenix is a barren wasteland, you need to hike the
Tom’s Thumb Trail in Scottsdale. Part of the gorgeous McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, this trail offers stunning views of Phoenix, the Four Peaks mountain landmark and the McDowell mountains as you weave in and out of plentiful vegetation. After you climb all over Tom’s Thumb (an iconic granite formation), check out Ogre’s Den, an old miner’s cave located west of the Thumb that features art and trinkets left behind by fellow hikers.
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,236 feet
Route Type: Out & Back
Deem Hills Circumference Trail (Moderate)
The great thing about the
Deem Hills Circumference Trail in Glendale is the variety of terrain. One minute you’re on a nice flat potion, the next you’re panting up a steep and rocky section. Because the trail traverses the entire Deem Hills Park, you get 360-degree views of the Valley, including Phoenix and the McDowell, Hierographic and Bradshaw mountains. Keep an eye out for “traffic” when you hike this trail, as it’s a popular one for runners, people with dogs and mountain bikers.
Distance: 5.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 784 feet
Route Type: Loop
