#302 - Circumference Trail–#304 - Nature Trail, 3 sights
5.4 mi · ▲ 760 ft · 2 hr 11 min
#302 - Circumference Trail–#304 - Nature Trail, 3 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. It climbs 760 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
#302 - Circumference Trail–#304 - Nature Trail, 3 sights
5.4 mi · ▲ 760 ft · 2 hr 11 min
Elevation 1,376–1,781 ft
Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Trailhead: 33.56837, -111.99811
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 400 ftBear left onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto #304 - Nature Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto #302 - Circumference Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 400 ftSharp left onto Alternate Summit Trail 300A, heading SW.
- 150 ftReach #304 - Nature Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto #302 - Circumference Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto #304 - Nature Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~76 min). Leave by 5:12 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Viewpoint & #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail Loop via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 1.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- VOAZ loop via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 287 ft
- #302 - Circumference Trail via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 452 ft
- #220 - Dreamy Draw Nature Trail Loop 3.4 mi · ▲ 449 ft
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop 3.6 mi · ▲ 222 ft
- Dreamy Draw Bikeway 3.7 mi · ▲ 163 ft
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