Waterfall Hikes Near Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix lies in the Sonoran Desert basin, surrounded by rocky foothills and low mountain ranges with arid washes, volcanic outcrops, and steep canyons punctuated by saguaro and palo verde. Within 50 miles there is a single seasonal waterfall accessed by a moderate canyon scramble along rocky streambeds; hikes combine sun-baked desert trails with narrow gorges after monsoon rains, offering striking geological contrasts and distinctive desert plant communities for hikers.