Discover the Top 10 Senior-Friendly Walking Trails in Arizona

10. Elliot Ramada Loop Trail

Located in Phoenix at Papago Park, the Elliot Ramada Loop Trail is 2.7 miles and has a modest elevation gain of 50 feet. The trail has several benches along the route and a larger resting spot at the halfway point. The Elliot Ramada Loop Trail gives excellent views of downtown Phoenix.

9. Nature Loop Trail

The Nature Loop Trail is an easy 1.2-mile trail in Oracle State Park. This is an excellent route to view wildflowers in the spring, and there are year-round views of the San Pedro River Valley and the Galiuro Mountains. Hikers may glimpse birds or animals as the trail passes a watering hole at Cottonwood Wash.

Oracle State Park is popular for hiking, bird watching, and mountain biking. It has been designated as an International Dark Sky site, making this state park a great spot for star gazing.

8. Guided Cave Tour

Kartchner Caverns State Park offers wheelchair-accessible cave tours in the southeastern corner of the state. The educational cave tours were designed to be as accessible as possible, and the state park even provides rental wheelchairs. However, some areas have grades as steep as 12%, and the moist, humid air makes surfaces wet and slippery.

Above ground, Kartchner Caverns has several hiking trails to explore. The Hummingbird Garden is a short walk that features native desert plants.

7. Trail of Time

Spanning over 1.2 million acres, the Grand Canyon National Park is well known for its cultural, geological, and ecological significance. The park has two senior-friendly hiking options: the Trail of Time and a portion of the South Rim Trail.

The Trail of Time is a 1.3-mile trek between the Yavapai Geology Museum and the Verkamp Visitor Center. Along the way, hikers can touch samples of rocks from the Grand Canyon. In addition, the Rim Trail is paved from the South Kaibab Trailhead to Powell Point. Several scenic outlooks on this section of the trail give excellent vantage points to view the canyon. 

6. Homolovi II Trail

Homolovi National Park stretches for nearly 4,000 acres near Winslow, Arizona. The area within the park contains several important archeological sites that include petroglyphs and the remains of ancient pueblos that members of the Hopi Tribe once occupied.

The park contains several senior-friendly trails, including the wheelchair-accessible Homolovi II Trail. This paved trail is a half-mile long and leads to the park’s largest archeological site. Other trails range from a quarter mile to 1.5 miles and are generally flat, with some areas of uneven terrain.

5. Native Plant Trail

Located east of Phoenix, the Lost Dutchman State Park has several accessible trails that offer views of the Superstition Mountains. The Native Plant Trail wanders through patches of cholla and prickly pear cactus. For a little bit more challenge, the Treasure Loop Trail is a 2.4-mile trek that climbs 500 feet in elevation to end at a picnic area.

Along with hiking, Lost Dutchman State Park is a well-known camping spot with 138 total campsites. Its trail system offers the chance to see animals such as mule deer, coyotes, and roadrunners in their native habitat.

4. Jane Rau Trail

Located north of Scottsdale, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy encompasses over 30,000 acres and is committed to preserving through conservation, research, and educational outreach. The organization maintains over 225 miles of hiking trails, many senior-friendly, with crushed granite surfaces and rolling hills. 

The Brown’s Ranch Trailhead provides access to a trail network that leads to natural formations such as Cathedral Rock and Cholla Mountain. There are three wheelchair-accessible trails that offer scenic views of the desert and Brown’s Ranch. The Jane Rau Trail is a 0.4-mile hike that includes some challenging inclines. The Brown’s Ranch Trail is a relatively flat 3-mile hike that features beautiful wildflowers in the spring.

3. Mohave Sunset Trail

Lake Havasu State Park is a well-known spot for boating and fishing. It also has senior-friendly hiking trails, such as the 1.75 pedestrian-only Mohave Sunset Trail, which follows the water through a low-lying desert. Additionally, the Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden has trails that feature many native plants and animals. 

2. Canopy Trail

Situated along the Verde River, Dead Horse Ranch State Park is home to a vibrant array of plants and animals. The park is a popular spot for anglers with waters that contain plenty of largemouth bass and rainbow trout. 

The trail system at Dead Horse Ranch State Park stretches for over 20 miles, including several senior-friendly trails. The Canopy Trail is a quarter-mile ADA-accessible loop trail. Alternatively, the Lagoons are three trails around the West, Middle, and East Lagoons that range from 0.4-0.7 miles.

1. Desert Ecology Trail

Established in 1994, the Saguaro National Park consists of two distinct districts: the Tucson Mountain District to the west of Tucson and the Rincon Mountain District to the east of Tucson. The park encompasses a variety of habitats, including parts of the Sonoran Desert, mixed conifer forests, and desert grasslands. 

There are two senior-friendly and ADA-accessible trails within the park. The Desert Ecology Trail in Saguaro East is a paved quarter-mile with plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the views. This trail provides great views of Saguaro cacti and other native desert plants. Also, in Saguaro East, the Mica View Trail is a 0.7-mile paved route with views of Mica Mountain, although it can be combined with other trails to make a 2-mile loop.