Backpack Trail Guide

Trails

Top Backpacking Trails in Arizona

14 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated September 2026.

Backpacking in Arizona ranges from narrow desert canyons to conifer-covered mountains above 9,000 feet, and the trips on this site cover the Grand Canyon, the northern canyons, central Arizona’s Superstition and Mazatzal wildernesses, the mountain ranges and canyons of southern Arizona, and the White Mountains. Elevation largely sets the season. Low desert trips such as Reavis Ranch in the Superstitions are usually done from fall through spring, while the Mount Baldy loop in the White Mountains is a summer and early fall trip.

Water and heat are the planning problems on most routes. Springs are often seasonal or unreliable, and Kendrick Peak has no water at all, so carry more than you think you need and treat everything. Creek and canyon trips like Aravaipa Canyon, West Clear Creek, and the 38-mile Paria Canyon carry real flash-flood risk, especially during the summer monsoon.

Permit systems vary by managing agency. Grand Canyon and Saguaro national parks require backcountry permits, the BLM limits overnight use in Paria and Aravaipa canyons, and Havasu Falls requires a reservation from the Havasupai Tribe, which controls all access. Many national forest wilderness trips, like the Chiricahua Crest Trail, use dispersed camping with no permit requirement reported.

As of the most recent park news release found, the Grand Canyon’s main corridor, including Bright Angel Campground, remains closed after the August 29, 2026 flash flood. Check current closures before planning any inner-canyon trip.

Quick picks

Central Arizona

Grand Canyon

Northern Arizona Canyons

Southern Arizona

White Mountains

Backpacking in Arizona: common questions

Do you need a permit to backpack in Arizona?

It depends on who manages the land. Grand Canyon and Saguaro national parks require backcountry permits for overnight trips, the BLM requires permits for Paria Canyon and Aravaipa Canyon, and Havasu Falls requires a reservation from the Havasupai Tribe. For several national forest wilderness trips on this site, such as Reavis Ranch, Kendrick Peak, and the Mazatzal loop, no permit requirement was found, so confirm with the ranger district before you go.

Is the Grand Canyon open for backpacking?

Not along the main corridor as of the latest park news release found. After the August 29, 2026 flash flood, the National Park Service closed Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Campground, the North Kaibab Trail, the Black and Silver Bridges, the South Kaibab Trail below the Tip-Off, and the Bright Angel Trail below the Tonto Trail junction, with no estimated reopening date. Check the Grand Canyon National Park website for current closures before planning any inner-canyon trip.

When is the best time to backpack in Arizona?

It depends on elevation. Low desert trips like Reavis Ranch are usually done in the cooler months (AllTrails lists October through April), while high country like the Mount Baldy loop is generally hiked from mid-May to mid-October. Summer heat is dangerous in the deserts and canyons, and the trails into Supai close when temperatures exceed 115 degrees, per the NPS. Backpacker warns that July through September brings higher flash-flood risk in canyons like West Clear Creek.

Where do you find water on Arizona backpacking trips?

Water is often scarce and springs can be unreliable, so many trips depend on carrying more than you expect to need. Creek trips like Aravaipa Canyon and West Clear Creek have flowing water, while Kendrick Peak has none and the Mazatzal and Mount Wrightson springs are described as unreliable. Check recent trip reports or the managing agency for spring flow, and treat all water.

Are there bears in Arizona's backcountry?

Yes, black bears live in parts of Arizona, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department advises keeping food and attractants secured and out of reach of bears, never keeping food in a tent, and setting up camp away from places bears might forage, such as creeks. Some trailheads, like Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas, have bear boxes. Food storage rules vary by managing agency, so check before you go.

Can you bring a dog backpacking in Arizona?

Rules vary by managing agency. Dogs are not allowed in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, on the Grand Canyon corridor trails, or in the Pusch Ridge bighorn sheep management area, while the BLM allows dogs in Paria Canyon if they are listed on the permit. Guides report dogs on leash are allowed on the Old Baldy Trail at Mount Wrightson and in Sycamore Canyon.

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