Hayden Butte ("A" Mountain), right in downtown Tempe
Hayden Butte, commonly called "A" Mountain for the large letter A painted near its summit, sits directly at the edge of downtown Tempe next to ASU's campus. The trail to the top is short but notably steep, with a rocky, uneven surface in places. Most hikers can complete it in well under an hour round trip, though the incline makes it feel more strenuous than the distance suggests. The payoff is a view over downtown Tempe, Tempe Town Lake, and the ASU campus that is hard to get anywhere else nearby.
Because it sits right at the edge of downtown, Hayden Butte is easy to combine with a Mill Avenue lunch or a lake walk. There is limited shade on the climb, so this is a better choice for morning or evening than midday in warmer months.
Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock
Papago Park is a City of Phoenix park sitting right along Phoenix's border with Tempe, and offers a different experience than Hayden Butte: a network of easier, mostly flat trails winding among red sandstone buttes. The park's best-known feature is Hole-in-the-Rock, a short natural trail that wraps around a sandstone butte to a large wind-eroded opening framing a view of the surrounding park. It is popular enough that parking and the trail itself can feel busy on weekend mornings.
Papago Park also has picnic ramadas, a pond, and is adjacent to the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo, so it works well as a stop on a day that includes other activities rather than a hike as the sole destination.
South Mountain, for a longer outing
South Mountain Park/Preserve, southwest of Tempe, is one of the largest municipally managed parks in the country at more than 16,000 acres, with more than 100 miles of trails across a wide range of lengths and difficulty levels. Popular routes include Hidden Valley and the trails leading toward Dobbins Lookout (the park's highest publicly accessible point, at 2,330 feet), though exact mileage varies by which trailhead and route combination you choose, so check current trail maps rather than relying on a single stated distance. Because the park is large, it rewards a bit of route planning in advance: decide whether you want a short loop or a longer out-and-back before you arrive.
South Mountain has more shade and elevation variety than Hayden Butte or Papago Park, but it also means more driving time from central Tempe, so budget for that when planning your day.
The McDowell Mountains and Usery Mountain area
Further from Tempe, the McDowell Mountains near Scottsdale and the Usery Mountain Regional Park area near Mesa offer additional desert trail networks with more elevation and longer route options than what is available closer to downtown Tempe. These are worth the extra drive if you are looking for a fuller day hike or want to avoid the crowds that build up at closer, more popular trailheads like Papago Park. As with the other trails on this list, exact distances and difficulty vary by specific route, so check current trail information before you go.
Practical tips for desert hiking near Tempe
Carry more water than you think you need. Desert heat and low humidity dehydrate hikers faster than they usually expect, and there is little to no shade on most of these trails. Start early, particularly from late spring through early fall, when afternoon temperatures can make even short hikes like Hayden Butte uncomfortable or risky. Sturdy shoes matter more than they might elsewhere, since desert trail surfaces are often loose rock or uneven sandstone.
Cell service is generally reliable close to Tempe, including at Papago Park and Hayden Butte, but can be spottier at South Mountain and further out toward the McDowells and Usery Mountain, so let someone know your plan if you are heading to the more remote options.
Know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke before you set out. Heat exhaustion looks like heavy sweating, cool or clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, and headache -- get to shade, loosen clothing, and sip water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency: confusion, slurred speech, a body temperature above 103°F, and hot, dry or damp skin. If a hiking partner shows signs of heat stroke, call 911 immediately and do not give them fluids while you wait for help.
Choosing a hike based on your time and energy
If you have an hour and want a quick view over the city, Hayden Butte is the most efficient option and requires no driving if you are already downtown. If you want an easy walk with a fun scramble and want to pair it with other Papago-area attractions, head there next. For a longer, more serious hike, South Mountain or a drive out to the McDowells or Usery Mountain will serve you better than trying to stretch out a short in-town trail. For more on planning outdoor time in the area, see the Tempe hub, and for hikes further afield, the Phoenix guide covers additional trail options across the broader metro.