Phoenix Mountains Preserve

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

5.8 mi · ▲ 1,076 ft · 2 hr 28 min

#1A - Perl Charles Viewpoint & #1A - Perl Charles Trail via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. The route reaches #1A - Perl Charles Viewpoint. It climbs 1,076 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,401 – 2,100 ft · steepest grade: 27%7.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.56837, -111.99811
Nearest town Vista del Cerro, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

5.8 mi · ▲ 1,076 ft · 2 hr 28 min

Elevation 1,401–2,100 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.56837, -111.99811

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  5. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 150 ftBear right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.3 miContinue straight onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading SW.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 250 ftReach #1A - Perl Charles Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  22. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 0.3 miSharp left onto #302 - Circumference Trail, heading SW.
  25. 1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  26. 0.2 miSharp right, heading NE.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  29. 0.2 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  31. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  35. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  38. 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

89% dirt11% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 99°F80°
Feels like95°Precip6%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity25%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 100°81°
Sun 101°79°
Mon 102°90°
Tue 104°92°
Wed 103°90° 20%
Thu 101°85° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 5:31 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead