The hardest hikes in Arizona, by the numbers
Of the 238 trails in Arizona in our dataset, 56 (24 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; these are the 25 with the highest rating.
East Tonto leads with 16,635 ft of gain over 23.6 miles, 705 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 75 percent.
Across the 25, gain runs from 2,224 to 16,635 ft and distance from 5.6 miles to 23.6 miles; the median gain is 4,311 ft and the median distance 11 miles.
19 of the 25 are out-and-back routes; the rest are loop (1) or point-to-point (5).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East TontoGrand Canyon NP | 23.6 | 16,635 | 705 | 75% | 2,438 to 7,212 | 886.1 | |
| 2 | EscalanteGrand Canyon NP | 18.9 | 10,013 | 530 | 92% | 2,628 to 7,385 | 615.2 | |
| 3 | Saddle MountainGrand Canyon NP | 11 | 11,675 | 1,061 | 2,866 to 8,555 | 506.8 | ||
| 4 | South Kaibab / Bright Angel LoopGrand Canyon NP | 21.6 | 4,968 | 230 | 42% | 2,455 to 7,200 | 463.3 | |
| 5 | AZT - Passage 1 - Huachuca MountainsSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 21.2 | 4,190 | 198 | 35% | 5,527 to 9,072 | 421.5 | |
| 6 | Bright Angel Trail Out-and-BackGrand Canyon NP | 16 | 4,366 | 273 | 38% | 2,458 to 6,825 | 373.8 | |
| 7 | Rincon Peak TrailSaguaro NP | 10.7 | 6,042 | 565 | 54% | 3,328 to 8,264 | 359.6 | |
| 8 | Bright AngelGrand Canyon NP | 11 | 5,751 | 523 | 2,403 to 4,113 | 355.7 | ||
| 9 | Rincon PeakSaguaro NP | 14.4 | 4,288 | 298 | 58% | 4,214 to 8,376 | 351.4 | |
| 10 | Sutherland TrailSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 9.9 | 5,868 | 593 | 51% | 2,723 to 8,504 | 340.9 | |
| 11 | Francois MatthesGrand Canyon NP | 11.5 | 4,311 | 375 | 5,663 to 8,483 | 314.9 | ||
| 12 | HermitGrand Canyon NP | 7.4 | 6,423 | 868 | 2,338 to 5,623 | 308.3 | ||
| 13 | Tanque Verde Ridge TrailSaguaro NP | 11 | 4,205 | 382 | 37% | 3,107 to 7,006 | 304.2 | |
| 14 | Havasu FallsFlagstaff and Northern AZ | 19.1 | 2,346 | 123 | 34% | 2,901 to 5,175 | 299.4 | |
| 15 | Bear Canyon LoopSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 16.9 | 2,465 | 146 | 28% | 2,683 to 4,818 | 288.6 | |
| 16 | Ken PatrickGrand Canyon NP | 7.8 | 5,306 | 680 | 73% | 4,527 to 8,654 | 287.7 | |
| 17 | Ken PatrickGrand Canyon NP | 8.8 | 4,680 | 532 | 78% | 7,360 to 8,890 | 287 | |
| 18 | Arizona Trail | 18.2 | 2,224 | 122 | 32% | 6,111 to 7,505 | 284.5 | |
| 19 | West TontoGrand Canyon NP | 9.6 | 4,215 | 439 | 82% | 2,877 to 3,843 | 284.5 | |
| 20 | Plateau Point From South RimGrand Canyon NP | 12.4 | 3,208 | 259 | 40% | 3,699 to 6,820 | 282.1 | |
| 21 | Ribbon FallsGrand Canyon NP | 5.6 | 6,841 | 1,222 | 2,676 to 4,773 | 276.8 | ||
| 22 | Phantom Ranch AreaGrand Canyon NP | 9.1 | 4,094 | 450 | 86% | 2,544 to 4,406 | 273 | |
| 23 | Douglas Springs TrailSaguaro NP | 10.2 | 3,569 | 350 | 28% | 2,760 to 6,127 | 269.8 | |
| 24 | Carr Peak via Miller Canyon TrailSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 10.3 | 3,488 | 339 | 63% | 5,731 to 9,209 | 268.1 | |
| 25 | Mount KimballSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 8.7 | 4,125 | 474 | 37% | 3,102 to 7,227 | 267.9 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Arizona" here means the 238 trails in Arizona in our dataset, not every trail in Arizona.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with East Tonto.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other states in our dataset.