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Free Travel Guide Guide

LIFE AT ITS PEAK

Red Rocks and Forests

Mountains

Arizona features surprising elevation changes, which invite visitors to cool off during the summer months in the state’s mountains and forests.

Mountains
The Superstition Mountains.
Mountains
Sunset at South Mountain Park, Phoenix

A Breathtaking Vista

South Mountain Park

Whether hiking, mountain biking or skiing, Arizona’s 194 mountain ranges provide an array of elevations and experiences for every skill level—and the views are always spectacular.

Arizona’s largest city, the Greater Phoenix area, sits in a valley completely surrounded by mountains and parks such as South Mountain Park and Preserve, the largest municipal park in the U.S. with about 58 miles of trails.

An Ecological Wonder

The Sky Islands

To the south in Tucson, mountains can be seen from nearly any spot in the city, especially those of the Catalinas and Mt. Lemmon, one of seven “Sky Islands” in southern Arizona that ascend from desert lowlands to 9,000 feet and forests.

Sky Islands are geographic wonders popular with climbers, hikers (the southern terminus of the Arizona Scenic Trail goes through them), cyclists as well as birders and biologists. The varying changes in elevation result in diverse plants, animals and temperatures—summer temps in the southern Arizona mountains can average twenty degrees cooler than their surrounding valleys.

Mountains
A stunning vista from Mount Lemmon, Tucson
Mountains
Snoboarding at Ski Bowl, Greer

An Elevated Perspective

The Mountains of Northern Arizona

In northern Arizona, the Mogollon Rim (“the Rim”) transitions from desert to forests of pine and alpine where bear and elk roam. The mountain ranges here include the White Mountains to the east and the San Francisco Peaks to the north—both with average elevations of 11,000 feet, which mean cool temps in the summer and snow in the winter. Snow skiing—downhill and cross-country—as well as snowboarding and sledding can be enjoyed at both Sunrise Ski Resort in Greer and Snowbowl in Flagstaff.

Elevate your Adventures

Keep Climbing

Family Fun in Arizona's White Mountains

Family Activities

Family Fun in Arizona's White Mountains

Explore the cool communities of Arizona's White Mountains for a refreshing family summer getaway.

Hiking Arizona

Outdoor Adventures

Hiking Arizona

Lace up your boots and choose a trail.

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Enter and Win

Enter & Win

Enter and Win

Visit Arizona is celebrating 250,000 followers on Instagram! In honor of this milestone, the Arizona Office of Tourism is excited to...

Catalina State Park

Catalina State Park

Bring your horse, bicycle, or just your hiking boots and you’re bound to have a good time at Catalina State Park. Located less than 20...

Glen Canyon & Lake Powell

Glen Canyon & Lake Powell

Spread over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is an outdoor haven, renown for its stunning scenery and geologic...

Granite Mountain Wilderness

Granite Mountain Wilderness

Take your hiking books to a geological site that will challenge and inspire you in the Granite Mountain Wilderness near Payson.

Madera Canyon

Madera Canyon

Madera Canyon is a retreat for birds and human snow birds alike, with cooler weather, extensive trail systems and mountainous scenery.

Mount Lemmon

Mount Lemmon

Visitors to this biodiverse Sky Island are delighted by the hiking, skiing and rock climbing — just an hour from Tucson, Arizona. Mount...

Oracle State Park

Oracle State Park

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert in Oracle State Park, an hour from Tucson. Take a hike and visit the historic Kannally...

Painted Desert

Painted Desert

Colorful badlands meet the Mother Road in Arizona’s high desert. Looking like pastel mounds of Neapolitan ice cream, Northern Arizona’s...

Peña Blanca Lake

Peña Blanca Lake

Peña Blanca Lake offers year-round outdoor and water recreation. Surrounded by grassy hills, Peña Blanca Lake, near Nogales, AZ is the...

Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak State Park

Don’t miss Picacho Peak, the most famous summit in the Sonoran Desert, which you can spot on the interstate between Tucson and Phoenix.

Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon

Looking for a place to get outdoors that offers easy and challenging trails? This is that place. On the northeast edge of Tucson, Sabino...

South Mountain Park & Preserve

South Mountain Park & Preserve

South Mountain Park / Preserve is a point of pride for Phoenix. As the largest municipally operated park in the country, it is an enjoyable...

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