You don’t need to go to a museum to find pieces of Arizona history. If you’re enjoying the lovely weather this time of year, then try going on a hike through Arizona’s vast landscape where you can encounter bits of history: ruins, petroglyphs, and long-abandoned cabins. Let’s check out a few!
- Hieroglyphics Trail #101
Johnida Dockens/Flickr Located in the Superstition Mountains, this relatively easy hike will lead you into beautiful desert scenery and right up to some incredibly old petroglyphs. You’ll also see incredible views of the city to the west, meaning this makes for a fun trip to take out-of-towners on. Miles: 3 miles round trip Hiking details: Hike Arizona
- Houston Brothers Trail
Alan English CPA/Flickr Cabins from Arizona’s territorial days are still standing in some parts of Arizona, including the old homestead found on this Mogollon Rim Trail. The hike to Aspen Spring will take you to Pinchot Cabin, an old fire guard station and you’ll even see a stray fireplace sitting alone on the trail . Miles: 3.5 miles one-way Hiking details: Hike Arizona
- Keyhole Sink Trail
Kaibab National Forest/Flickr Sitting just north of the highway between Flagstaff and Williams, this hidden spot is beautiful and is the perfect spot to see old petroglyphs and wildlife. Ytryingou’ll enjoy to figure out the stories these are attempting to tell. Miles: 1.75 miles one-way Hiking details: U.S. Forest Service
- Peavine National Recreation Trail
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Flickr This trail in Prescott follows a former railroad line built in 1893 and hauled tons of copper ore. You’ll find some evidence of the old railroad with old signs, small train cars sitting on the trail, all within view of the lovely Granite Dells. Miles: 6 miles Hiking details: City of Prescott
- Railroad Tunnel Trail #390
Alan Levine/Flickr Another interesting railroad hike, this one takes you to an unfinished railroad tunnel that has essentially become an elaborate cave. It was supposed to run through the Mogollon Rim but the company excavating the tunnel ran out of funds and the plan was eventually abandoned. Miles: 1 mile round trip Hiking details: Hike Arizona
- Red Mountain Trail #159
bdinphoenix/Flickr If you ever wondered what the interior of a volcano was like, you will enjoy checking out this place! The history here occurred about 740,000 years ago when the volcano erupted and blew out a portion of its side. Miles: 1.5 miles Hiking details: U.S. Forest Service
- San Pedro Trail
Woody Hibbard/Flickr This trail runs for miles and miles in southern Arizona but we recommend starting in Charleston to see what remains of some old mining ghost towns. The hike this time of year is also a lovely trek through Charleston and Millville, so take your time enjoying the sights! Hiking details: Hike Arizona
- West Fork of Oak Creek #108
Michael & Sherry Martin/Flickr One of Arizona’s loveliest hikes, this popular trek shows off what remains of the old Mayhew Lodge, a popular vacation destination for celebrities until 1968. It was later damaged from a fire but you can still find the lovely stone walls, fireplace, and spaces where windows and doors once stood. Miles: 3.2 miles Hiking details: U.S. Forest Service
- White House Ruin Trail
Rich Luhr/Flickr Located in Canyon de Chelly, this is the only public hiking trail at the park. It will lead you from the canyon’s rim, down to the floor, and up to the centuries-old White House Ruin. This cliff dwelling is an intriguing find and dates to roughly 1070 AD. Miles: 2.5 miles round trip Hiking details: Hike Arizona
Want to check out more incredible hikes around the state? You will enjoy reading about some of our favorite day hikes in These 10 Day Hikes Will Show You The Very Best Of Arizona.
Johnida Dockens/Flickr
Located in the Superstition Mountains, this relatively easy hike will lead you into beautiful desert scenery and right up to some incredibly old petroglyphs. You’ll also see incredible views of the city to the west, meaning this makes for a fun trip to take out-of-towners on. Miles: 3 miles round trip Hiking details: Hike Arizona
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Cabins from Arizona’s territorial days are still standing in some parts of Arizona, including the old homestead found on this Mogollon Rim Trail. The hike to Aspen Spring will take you to Pinchot Cabin, an old fire guard station and you’ll even see a stray fireplace sitting alone on the trail . Miles: 3.5 miles one-way Hiking details: Hike Arizona
Kaibab National Forest/Flickr
Sitting just north of the highway between Flagstaff and Williams, this hidden spot is beautiful and is the perfect spot to see old petroglyphs and wildlife. Ytryingou’ll enjoy to figure out the stories these are attempting to tell. Miles: 1.75 miles one-way Hiking details: U.S. Forest Service
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Flickr
This trail in Prescott follows a former railroad line built in 1893 and hauled tons of copper ore. You’ll find some evidence of the old railroad with old signs, small train cars sitting on the trail, all within view of the lovely Granite Dells. Miles: 6 miles Hiking details: City of Prescott
Alan Levine/Flickr
Another interesting railroad hike, this one takes you to an unfinished railroad tunnel that has essentially become an elaborate cave. It was supposed to run through the Mogollon Rim but the company excavating the tunnel ran out of funds and the plan was eventually abandoned. Miles: 1 mile round trip Hiking details: Hike Arizona
bdinphoenix/Flickr
If you ever wondered what the interior of a volcano was like, you will enjoy checking out this place! The history here occurred about 740,000 years ago when the volcano erupted and blew out a portion of its side. Miles: 1.5 miles Hiking details: U.S. Forest Service
Woody Hibbard/Flickr
This trail runs for miles and miles in southern Arizona but we recommend starting in Charleston to see what remains of some old mining ghost towns. The hike this time of year is also a lovely trek through Charleston and Millville, so take your time enjoying the sights! Hiking details: Hike Arizona
Michael & Sherry Martin/Flickr
One of Arizona’s loveliest hikes, this popular trek shows off what remains of the old Mayhew Lodge, a popular vacation destination for celebrities until 1968. It was later damaged from a fire but you can still find the lovely stone walls, fireplace, and spaces where windows and doors once stood. Miles: 3.2 miles Hiking details: U.S. Forest Service
Rich Luhr/Flickr
Located in Canyon de Chelly, this is the only public hiking trail at the park. It will lead you from the canyon’s rim, down to the floor, and up to the centuries-old White House Ruin. This cliff dwelling is an intriguing find and dates to roughly 1070 AD. Miles: 2.5 miles round trip Hiking details: Hike Arizona
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