Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

3.4 mi · ▲ 676 ft · 1 hr 28 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near The Pointe, AZ. It climbs 676 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,355 – 1,601 ft · steepest grade: 18%4.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.56541, -112.05101
Nearest town The Pointe, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

3.4 mi · ▲ 676 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Elevation 1,356–1,599 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.56541, -112.05101

Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 102°F / low 81° · precip 6% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 529 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 400 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  3. 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  8. 150 ftTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Charles M. Christiansen Trail 100, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Charles M. Christiansen Trail 100, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  15. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  20. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  21. 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 surface

78% dirt22% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 102°F81°
Feels like90°Precip6%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity32%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Sat 102°83°
Sun 104°79°
Mon 103°93°
Tue 105°93°
Wed 103°91° 23%
Thu 105°91° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:30 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:50 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:15 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 529 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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