#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop
3.6 mi · ▲ 222 ft · 1 hr 19 min
#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop is a 3.6-mile loop in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. It is mostly level, with 222 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop
3.6 mi · ▲ 222 ft · 1 hr 19 min
Elevation 1,479–1,677 ft
Loop · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Trailhead: 33.56800, -111.99670
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 99°F / low 80° · precip 6% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading E.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftThe 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 5:42 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint & #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail Loop via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 1.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- VOAZ loop via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 287 ft
- #302 - Circumference Trail via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 452 ft
- #220 - Dreamy Draw Nature Trail Loop 3.4 mi · ▲ 449 ft
- Dreamy Draw Bikeway 3.7 mi · ▲ 163 ft
- #304 - Nature Trail Loop via #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 383 ft
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