11. Hidden Canyon Bowen trail

Endless cacti along the Bowen Hidden Canyon trail in Tucson, Arizona
The Bowen Hidden canyon trail, an easy 2 mile RT trek, is the best place to enjoy a scenic solitary hiking experience. Look at all the cacti!

Tucson is one of the most gorgeous vacation destinations in the Southwest, although unfortunately often overlooked in favor of Phoenix. Much rustic land still exists within the Tucson metro, with miles and miles of cacti studded hiking trails for all to enjoy. Four spectacular mountain ranges surround the city. The Hidden Canyon trail is tucked away behind the JW Marriott at Starr Pass resort and does not see much traffic, which is crazy considering the immense beauty found here.

The quiet beauty of this trail is really unparalleled, even in an area bustling at the seams with terrific scenery. The loop is just 2 miles long and relatively easy with no major elevation gain. You will see more Saguaro here than you could possibly ever imagine. Even better are the fabulous vistas of the Tucson mountain range which are always in the background. Keep a keen eye out for wildlife. I have seen deer and bobcats on several occasional. The occasional mountain lion can be seen roaming about near dawn and dusk.

12. Watchman trail

Gorgeous views from the Watchman trail overlook at Zion National Park in Utah
  • Trail length & difficulty: 3 mile loop, Easy/moderate
  • Nearby vacation destination: Zion National Park
  • Where to stay: Majestic View Lodge
  • What to do in the vicinity: Hike to the gorgeous Upper Emerald Pools

The Watchman is one of a number of relatively easy must-do trails at Zion National Park. This one is fairly short and no more than moderate in intensity, and thus, is a must for anyone visiting Zion. The 3 mile trail travels up about 300 feet in elevation with grandiose viewpoints overlooking Zion’s magnificent rock formations. Surprisingly, this trail is usually pretty quiet in comparison with the uber popular Emerald Pools trail.

Set out early in the morning and you may just be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of deer running in the mountains. This trail is peaceful, scenic, and a hotspot for wildlife sightings – one of the best bang-for-your-buck hikes in Zion.

13. Linville Falls

Incredible views from the Linville Falls trail in Western North Carolina
  • Trail length & difficulty: 1.5 mile loop, Moderate
  • Nearby vacation destination: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Where to stay: Omni Park Grove Inn
  • What to do in the vicinity: Drive the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway, Explore downtown Asheville’s amazing foodie scene

Western North Carolina is loaded with all sorts of incredible waterfalls. One of the most popular, due to its’ easily accessibility via the Blue Ridge Parkway, is Linville Falls. Not only does this trail offer a stunning vista of the multi tiered 90 foot waterfall, but you wall also get to enjoy sweeping views of the mountains. The Linville Gorge wilderness areas, at 11,786 acres, is one of the largest wilderness areas in the state. This region is sometimes referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the East.”

The hike to see the falls is a little over 1.5 miles in total, although relatively steep in several sections. Although North Carolina’s Blue Ridge region is loaded with fabulous hikes, Linville Falls is one of the best bang-for-your-buck options for those limited on time.

14. Gateway trail at Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Gorgeous mountain scenery at McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Trail length & difficulty: 4 mile loop, Easy
  • Nearby vacation destination: Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Where to stay: Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
  • What to do in the vicinity: Explore the galleries and shops of downtown Scottsdale, Shop at Kierland Commons

One of my favorite places to hike in the Phoenix metro is the McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Scottsdale. Although the region offers no shortage of spectacular hiking options, this park offers the advantage of being quiet, incredibly scenic, and located far away from the hustle and bustle. There are so many diverse trails within this massive hiking system, that one could never complete them all.

One of the best trail options for new tourists begins at the Gateway trailhead. The Gateway trail is only 4 miles long and reasonably flat compared to others in the area. The trek is loaded with both fabulous cacti and mountain views. Picture-perfect desert scenery and well-marked easy trails are incorporated into a fabulous trail system at one of the best parks in the Phoenix metro.

15. Pinnacle Peak trail

Gorgeous views of The Valley via the Pinnacle Peak trail in Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Trail length & difficulty: 1.7 miles out-and-back, Moderate
  • Nearby vacation destination: Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Where to stay: Scottsdale Fairmont Princess
  • What to do in the vicinity: Odysea Aquarium (one of the newest in the US), Breakfast at Butter’s Pancake House

Scottsdale is such a wonderful tourist destination. From museums, to Southwestern restaurants, to massive malls, to wonderful hiking, there’s something here for everyone. As far as hiking goes, you can’t visit without completing the wonderful Pinnacle Peak trail. While this hike is quite intense due to the steep uphill nature, you are rewarded with the most mesmerizing panorama of the area in return for your effort.

Be ready for a moderately challenging 3 mile workout with a total elevation gain of over 1000 feet. I am an avid hiker and I found this trail to be quite hard but worth it in the end for the scenery. Also be ready for an exciting adventure filled with endless incredible overlooks of the entire valley. Suburbia doesn’t look so boring from quite so high up!