AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

2.6 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 59 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 2.6-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Ridgegate, AZ. It is mostly level, with 232 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,398 – 1,578 ft3.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.60531, -112.06670
Nearest town Ridgegate, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

2.6 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 59 min

Elevation 1,399–1,577 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.60531, -112.06670

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 101°F / low 82° · precip 6% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 162 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  6. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 400 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 150 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miArrive 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-out-back-4-km-0535

Trail surface

89% dirt4% paved7% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 101°F82°
Feels like93°Precip6%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 102°80°
Sun 104°79°
Mon 103°91°
Tue 104°93°
Wed 103°90° 22%
Thu 101°85° 21%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:31 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:51 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:17 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 162 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ridgegate, Arizona