TOP 25 DAY HIKES IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
Welcome to the Bigroads.com guide to the top 25 day hikes in the American Southwest!
We are obsessed with the American Southwest, but we aren't the only ones. The monumental scenery found here is unlike anything else in the world, so hikers from all over the globe come here in droves each year.
With thousands of miles of trails in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah and a chunk of California, it can be tough to figure out which trails are the very best in the Southwest. We've done that homework for you, and as such, we are proud to present what we feel are the top 25 day hikes in the Southwest. If you have the opportunity to hike any of these trails, you absolutely should.
![The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona](images/usa/top25southwest-pic2.jpg)
The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
![Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona](images/usa/top25southwest-pic3.jpg)
Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
![South Kaibab Trail, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona South Kaibab Trail, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona](images/usa/top25southwest-pic4.jpg)
South Kaibab Trail, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
![Alkali Flats Loop, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico Alkali Flats Loop, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico](images/usa/top25southwest-pic5.jpg)
Alkali Flats Loop, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
![Slot Canyon Trail, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico Slot Canyon Trail, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico](images/usa/top25southwest-pic6.jpg)
Slot Canyon Trail, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico
![Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas](images/usa/top25southwest-pic7.jpg)
Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas
![Guadalupe Peak Trail, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas Guadalupe Peak Trail, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas](images/usa/top25southwest-pic8.jpg)
Guadalupe Peak Trail, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
![Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic9.jpg)
Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah
![Wire Pass on the way to Buckskin Gulch, Utah Wire Pass on the way to Buckskin Gulch, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic1.jpg)
Wire Pass on the way to Buckskin Gulch, Utah
![Corona Arch, BLM-land, Moab, Utah Corona Arch, BLM-land, Moab, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic10.jpg)
Corona Arch, BLM-land, Moab, Utah
![Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic11.jpg)
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
![Devils Garden Loop, Arches National Park, Utah Devils Garden Loop, Arches National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic12.jpg)
Devils Garden Loop, Arches National Park, Utah
![Druid Arch, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah Druid Arch, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic13.jpg)
Druid Arch, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
![Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic14.jpg)
Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah
![Peekaboo Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Peekaboo Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic15.jpg)
Peekaboo Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
![Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic16.jpg)
Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
![Zion Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah Zion Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah](images/usa/top25southwest-pic17.jpg)
Zion Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
RUNNER-UPS: HIKES ALMOST GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TOP 25 LIST
Here are a list of other fantastic hikes in the American Southwest that we considered for the top 25 list above. We highly recommend each and every one of these hikes (in other words, make sure they are all placed on your bucket list). Please send us an email @ gparsons66@hotmail.com if you know of any hikes worthy of being on this list.
STATE |
HIKE / TRAIL NAME |
PARK |
Arizona |
Arizona Hot Springs |
Lake Mead National Recreation Area |
Arizona |
Camelback Mountain |
Echo Canyon Recreation Area |
Arizona |
Cobra Arch |
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument |
Arizona |
Bright Angel Trail |
Grand Canyon National Park |
Arizona |
Devil's Bridge / Devil's Bridge Trail |
Coconino National Forest |
Arizona |
Flatiron |
Lost Dutchman State Park |
Arizona |
Heart of Rocks |
Chiricahua National Monument |
Arizona |
Hugh Norris Trail / Wasson Peak |
Saguaro National Park |
Arizona |
Hunter Trail / Picacho Peak |
Picacho Peak State Park |
Arizona |
North Kaibab Trail |
Grand Canyon National Park |
Arizona |
Rim Trail |
Grand Canyon National Park |
Arizona |
Piestewa Park |
Phoenix Mountains Preserve |
Arizona |
West Fork Trail / Oak Creek Canyon |
Coconino National Forest |
Arizona |
Wilson Mountain |
Coconino National Forest |
California |
Badwater Basin |
Death Valley National Park |
California |
Fall Canyon |
Death Valley National Park |
California |
Golden Canyon / Gower Gulch |
Death Valley National Park |
California |
Grotto Canyon |
Death Valley National Park |
California |
Palm Canyon |
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park |
California |
Ryan Mountain Trail / Ryan Mountain |
Joshua Tree National Park |
California |
Wildrose Peak Trail |
Death Valley National Park |
New Mexico |
Alcove House / Main Loop Trail |
Bandelier National Monument |
New Mexico |
Bisti Badlands |
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness |
New Mexico |
Kitchen Mesa |
Ghost Ranch (privately owned) |
New Mexico |
Ruins Trail |
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument |
Nevada |
Ice Box Canyon |
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area |
Nevada |
Little Finland |
BLM-land |
Nevada |
White Domes Loop |
Valley of Fire State Park |
Texas |
Hot Springs |
Big Bend National Park |
Texas |
Lighthouse Trail / The Lighthouse |
Palo Duro Canyon State Park |
Texas |
McKittrick Canyon Trail |
Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
Utah |
Cassidy Arch |
Capitol Reef National Park |
Utah |
Chesler Park |
Canyonlands National Park |
Utah |
Escalante River Trail |
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
Utah |
Fiery Furnace |
Arches National Park |
Utah |
Fisher Towers |
BLM-land |
Utah |
Golden Cathedral / Neon Canyon |
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
Utah |
Hickman Bridge |
Capitol Reef National Park |
Utah |
Horseshoe Canyon |
Canyonlands National Park |
Utah |
Kanarra Creek |
BLM-land |
Utah |
Little Wildhorse Canyon / Bell Canyon Loop |
BLM-land |
Utah |
Mesa Arch |
Canyonlands National Park |
Utah |
Moon House Ruins |
BLM-land |
Utah |
Natural Bridges Loop |
National Bridges National Monument |
Utah |
Navajo Knobs / Rim Overlook |
Capitol Reef National Park |
Utah |
Rim Trail |
Bryce Canyon National Park |
Utah |
Robbers Roost |
BLM-land |
Utah |
Syncline Loop |
Canyonlands National Park |
Utah |
Tower Arch |
Arches National Park |
Utah |
Willis Creek |
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
Utah |
Yellow Rock |
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
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