Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint & Trail 1A via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

8.6 mi · ▲ 654 ft · 3 hr 12 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint & Trail 1A via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Cactus, AZ. The route reaches #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint. It climbs 654 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,303 – 1,621 ft10.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.59649, -112.03790
Nearest town Cactus, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint & Trail 1A via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

8.6 mi · ▲ 654 ft · 3 hr 12 min

Elevation 1,303–1,619 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.59649, -112.03790

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

Transit-accessible: stop 36 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 100 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SE.
  9. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miPass #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 200 ftBear left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  15. 0.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  16. 0.7 miBear right onto To Trail 100, heading SE.
  17. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  19. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  20. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Dreamy Draw Bikeway, heading SW.
  22. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  23. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 400 ftContinue straight onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading SE.
  25. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Trail 1A, heading S.
  29. 250 ftReach #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  32. 100 ftSharp left, heading S.
  33. 0.2 miContinue straight onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading N.
  34. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  35. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  36. 500 ftBear right onto Dreamy Draw Bikeway, heading NE.
  37. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  39. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  40. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftTurn right onto To Trail 100, heading N.
  42. 150 ftBear left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  43. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  44. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  45. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  46. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  47. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  48. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  49. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  50. 300 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  51. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  52. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  53. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  54. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  55. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  56. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  57. 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

86% dirt4% paved10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 4:43 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 36 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead