Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop

2.4 mi · ▲ 497 ft · 1 hr 3 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop is a 2.4-mile loop in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. It climbs 497 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,473 – 1,923 ft · steepest grade: 28%2.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.56851, -112.00569
Nearest town Vista del Cerro, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop

2.4 mi · ▲ 497 ft · 1 hr 3 min

Elevation 1,474–1,923 ft

Loop · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.56851, -112.00569

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftSharp left, heading E.
  3. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  8. 500 ftTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  10. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 150 ftSharp right, heading W.
  13. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  17. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  18. 0.3 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 102°F82°
Feels like84°Precip4%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity37%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Sun 104°81°
Mon 103°93°
Tue 104°93°
Wed 102°91° 22%
Thu 104°90° 17%
Fri 98°84° 22%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:10 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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