Hiking out in the Arizona wilderness is certainly a fun activity, but there’s nothing more refreshing than dipping your toes into a cool creek or lake right afterward. If that’s the sort of hiking experience you’re looking for, check out our suggestions for great places in Arizona that would be perfect for a water hike! You'll want to add them to your Arizona bucket list ASAP:
1. Bell Trail at Wet Beaver Creek
Located near the edge of the Mogollon Rim, Bell Trail runs along the oddly-named "The Crack," a spot that looks perfect for jumping into the creek - but be careful, as it is often only a few feet deep and looks are deceiving. Hiking from the trailhead to this point and back is approximately seven miles and is just enough to make you break a sweat. You can find a trail map and information on Hike Arizona.
2. Canyon Creek
In case you couldn’t tell, the Mogollon Rim is rife with beautiful hiking trails! Another spot to check out is this 10-miler near the Airplane Flat campground at the bottom of the Rim. Follow Canyon Creek (also called Sheep Creek) and you might find people fishing for trout along the way. You'll find the trail map and information on Hike Arizona.
3. Dorsey and Kelsey Springs Trails
These two trails sit in Sycamore Canyon, not too far off the from the Red Rock Wilderness area. Kelsey Trail is the longer of the two, measuring almost 5.5 miles one way, but if you combine the two trails, you get a loop that measures 7.3 miles total. Learn more about this awesome loop trail in this article.
4. Horton Creek Trail #285
This is a popular day hike area that takes you on a journey along Horton Creek, the surrounding pine trees, and even a few waterfalls. The hike is a relatively easy one that measures just over seven miles as a round-trip journey. Take a closer look at this awe-inspiring hike here!
5. Thompson Trail #629
This easy trail in Arizona’s White Mountains follows the Black River and reveals the beautiful landscapes of the area. The trail is a fairly easy one that measures a total of five miles. Learn more about this awesome Arizona hike in this article.
6. Waterfall Trail at Fossil Creek
This easy hike is just over two miles long in total and will lead you along a well-marked trail to the waterfall at Fossil Creek. The water is cool and perfectly refreshing. Find a helpful trail map and information on Recreation.gov.
7. West Fork Oak Creek Trail #108
Who could leave out this trail when discussing hikes along rivers and creeks? This trail is a 6-mile round trip journey through Oak Creek Canyon and its similarly named creek, making it a hike with beautiful views you won’t soon forget. Find the trail map and information on the US Forest Service website.
8. West Fork Trail #628
This trail is located on the east side of the state south of Greer, leading you through a beautiful collection of trees and grassy meadows to the west fork of the Black River. The trail overall is six miles and a pretty easy one. Get a trail map and information on Hike Arizona.
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Those places are pretty amazing, don’t you think? Just don’t forget to obtain your park use permit and to leave no trace when you visit these natural areas! If you want some more hiking options, be sure to check out our article about epic Arizona trails that will lead you to some incredible places.
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