Looking for more Phoenix area hikes beyond the White Tank Mountains?
Head to South Mountain to hike the adventurous Mormon Trail to Fat Man’s Pass. East of Mesa, Boulder Canyon is packed with dramatic views.
LOCATION
The Waterfall Canyon Trailhead is located within White Tank Mountain Regional Park at the western edge of the Phoenix, Arizona suburbs. The park entrance is found at the end of West Olive Avenue, 4.5 miles west of Loop 303 in Waddell. After entering the park, continue for two miles on White Tank Mountain Road, then turn left onto North Waterfall Canyon Road and drive another half mile to the trailhead.
LENGTH
1.9 miles out-and-back, with longer options possible
DIFFICULTY
Easy — The first part of the trail is paved and accessible, while the final section gets briefly rough and rocky. The paved path takes you past the petroglyphs and through a scenic desert landscape, and is worth doing even if you can’t hike beyond the pavement.
WE HIKED IT
February, 2026, 50 minutes
CURRENT INFO
Find more information about White Tank Mountain Regional Park on the Maricopa County Parks website. Maps and reviews for the Waterfall Canyon hike are available on the AllTrails website.
GOOD TO KNOW
- There is a $10 fee per vehicle to enter White Tank Mountain Regional Park. You’ll pay at the gate when entering. An annual pass, which includes other regional parks, is available for $120.
- White Tank Mountain Regional Park is open from 6am to 8pm from November through April, and from 5am to 9pm from May through October.
- Restrooms are available at the Waterfall Flats Trailhead.
- Water is available at the trailhead. Be sure to fill up your bottle before you go.
- Shaded picnic table and grills are located next to the trailhead parking lot and across the road. There’s also a small playground near the picnic area.
- The paved portion of the trail is accessible, and a great option for those with limited mobility. It’s one mile out-and-back to do the full paved segment, which passes by the petroglyphs, one of the highlights along the trail.
- Bring water, shade hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. There is little shade on the trail.
- I recommend hiking in the White Tank Mountains between late fall and early spring. At other times of the year, the heat can be overpowering. Fortunately, there is some shade at the end of the Waterfall Canyon Trail. It’s also a good early morning or evening hike.
- White Tank Mountain Regional Park offers many other trails. You can connect the Waterfall Canyon Trail with the Black Rock Loop for a longer hike, or stop by one of the many other trailheads within the park for more options.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
Let’s get one thing out of the way right off the bat — there is no waterfall in Waterfall Canyon. At least, not often. Occasionally, after a heavy rain, water streams down the jagged rock walls at the end of the hike, flowing into the riverbed below. If you are lucky enough to catch sight of this elusive waterfall, congratulations!
Fortunately, even without a waterfall, the rugged White Tank Mountains are more than enough reason to give this hike a go. It’s a quick escape from the flat lands of the Phoenix suburbs, taking you past saguaro and sagebrush into a narrow, craggy canyon. Be sure to stop by the petroglyphs, which can be viewed from the paved portion of the trail. To capture that golden desert glow, head out before sunset, keeping in mind that the sun sinks quickly behind the mountains.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
The Waterfall Canyon Trail in the White Tank Mountains is perfect for all ages. Young kids who are just beginning to hike can easily follow the paved path, and the final rocky stretch at the end makes it feel like a “real” hike. Even without an actual waterfall, the petroglyphs and boulder-filled canyon are a delight to explore. It’s also great when you have antsy older kids (like mine now), who aren’t always interested in a long hike.
It’s also a good place to teach young hikers about the importance of staying on the trail. This is critical in desert landscapes, both to protect the environment and to avoid run-ins with rattlesnakes. The paved portion of the path is especially easy to follow and creates a clear boundary. Although it’s a short hike, don’t forget your water bottles. And hey, why not some snacks while you’re at it? As I’m sure my kids would agree, ending a hike with a good snack is always the right choice.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
White Tank Mountain Regional Park offers a wide range of trails. Good recommendations can be found on the AllTrails website. Besides hiking, the park is a great place for picnics, and even has a campground. Near the park entrance, the modern White Tank Library features sweeping views alongside its extensive book collection. Also nearby, The Corral at White Tank Ranch serves up burgers, BBQ, and beer in an outdoor setting, often with live music.
For more great hikes in the Phoenix area, I recommend the Mormon Trail to Fat Man’s Pass at South Mountain Preserve and Boulder Canyon in the Superstition Wilderness. South Mountain Preserve is conveniently close to downtown Phoenix, and offers fabulous views across the valley. Located east of Mesa, the Superstition Wilderness is easy to access from the spectacular Apache Trail scenic drive.
Our Experience
We pulled into the Waterfall Flats parking lot on a mild February evening. Soon, the White Tank Mountains would block our view of the sinking sun, but for now a faint golden glow softened the stark desert landscape.
The trail to Waterfall Canyon starts off nice and easy. We followed the smooth paved path as it meandered past desert shrubs and cacti. Although we passed a few other groups out for an evening walk, it wasn’t crowded. White Tank Mountain Regional Park draws many local visitors, but not too many others.
About halfway to waterfall, we reached the petroglyphs. Unfortunately, there is little information posted about these intriguing rock drawings, but it’s fun to speculate what their significance may have been. A bench offers the chance to pause for contemplation. As noted on the posted signs, remain on the trail and don’t disturb the petroglyphs or their surroundings.
This is also the point where an unpaved trail branches off the main path to connect with the Black Rock Loop. It’s a good option for extending your hike, and only add an additional 1.5 miles to your total trip. Since it was getting late, we skipped it in favor of heading straight for the waterfall.
The paved path ends shortly past the petroglyphs. From this point on, the trail is a mix of loose dirt and rock (which I imagine is quite muddy after a rare rainstorm). The kids skipped ahead eagerly — this was the fun part of the hike for them (me too, I have to admit)!
As we neared the canyon, the trail grew rougher and steeper. There’s little elevation gain on this hike, but expect some stairs on the brief final ascent. We rounded the last bend with anticipation as the canyon walls towered overhead. Would there be a waterfall?
Nope. No waterfall, not even a trickle. I can’t say we were surprised. There was, however, a shallow puddle at the base of a craggy wall. We’ll just have to imagine the rushing water tumbling over the edge and rushing down the dry streambed, creating a fleeting oasis in the desert.
We turned to head back down the trail, catching sight of the city of Phoenix sparkling in the distance. Shadows now hung over the White Tank Mountains, but the valley was bathed in a golden glow.
Back at the car, we paused for a water break and discussed what to do for dinner. We’d been gone less than an hour, and a part of me wanted to stay longer, but I couldn’t deny that mealtime was just around the corner. Sometimes, a quick hike is the way to go. After all, not every hike needs to be epic. Waterfall Canyon gave us the chance to get outside, stretch our legs, and enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. And that, my friends, was more than enough.
