Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#302 - Circumference Trail & #304 - Nature Trail via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

4.8 mi · ▲ 700 ft · 1 hr 57 min

#302 - Circumference Trail & #304 - Nature Trail via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. It climbs 700 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,427 – 1,782 ft · steepest grade: 24%5.9 mi

Getting there

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

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#302 - Circumference Trail & #304 - Nature Trail via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

4.8 mi · ▲ 700 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 1,427–1,781 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.56837, -111.99811

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:48 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. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 250 ftTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 400 ftBear left onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto #304 - Nature Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.5 miSharp left onto #302 - Circumference Trail, heading SW.
  19. 0.5 miReach #304 - Nature Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.5 miSharp right onto #304 - Nature Trail, heading W.
  21. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn left onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  25. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NE.
  30. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  31. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  32. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  33. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  35. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  36. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  38. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  39. 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

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 6:48 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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