AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

3.8 mi · ▲ 453 ft · 1 hr 30 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Stony Mountain Villas, AZ. It climbs 453 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,391 – 1,690 ft · steepest grade: 16%4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.59307, -112.03491
Nearest town Stony Mountain Villas, AZ
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

3.8 mi · ▲ 453 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 1,390–1,690 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.59307, -112.03491

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 396 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.5 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.7 miSharp right, heading W.
  4. 0.7 miSharp right, heading NW.
  5. 0.8 miTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 450 ftBear right, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  9. 0.7 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-6-km-0c57

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 5:43 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 396 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Stony Mountain Villas, Arizona