AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

North Mountain Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail–Cliffhugger, 3 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 507 ft · 2 hr 11 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail–Cliffhugger, 3 sights is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in North Mountain Preserve near Heritage Highlands, AZ. It climbs 507 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,329 – 1,581 ft · steepest grade: 17%6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: 7th Avenue Trailhead 33.58572, -112.08230
Nearest town Heritage Highlands, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail–Cliffhugger, 3 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 507 ft · 2 hr 11 min

Elevation 1,329–1,581 ft

Out & Back · North Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 7th Avenue Trailhead · 33.58572, -112.08230

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 6% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 250 ftContinue straight onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading N.
  6. 100 ftContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 0.8 miBear right, heading E.
  9. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 150 ftContinue straight onto Cliffhugger, heading S.
  12. 0.6 miTurn right onto East Point Drop, heading S.
  13. 0.7 miTurn left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  20. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miSharp left onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.8 miBear right, heading S.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  26. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/100-charles-m-christiansen-trail-100-charles-m-christiansen-trail-out-back-4-sights-9-km-e809

Trail surface

90% dirt1% paved9% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 102°F82°
Feels like96°Precip6%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity24%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 100°80°
Sun 102°78°
Mon 103°91°
Tue 105°93°
Wed 103°90° 20%
Thu 101°86° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~41 min). Leave by 5:51 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from 7th Avenue Trailhead Trailhead

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