#304 - Nature Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, 4 sights
3.2 mi · ▲ 989 ft · 1 hr 34 min
#304 - Nature Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, 4 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Biltmore Greens III, AZ. It climbs 989 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
#304 - Nature Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, 4 sights
3.2 mi · ▲ 989 ft · 1 hr 34 min
Elevation 1,391–1,944 ft
Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Trailhead: #8A - Quartz Ridge Trail · 33.53244, -112.01208
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 102°F / low 81° · precip 5% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on #8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Trail 200A, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto #302 - Circumference Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto #304 - Nature Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftReach #8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto #8B - Ruth Hamilton Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear left onto #8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miArrive 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 0.5 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from #8A - Quartz Ridge Trail Trailhead
- Phoenix Mountains Preserve Viewpoint–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, 3 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 861 ft
- #302 - Circumference Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, 3 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 841 ft
- #1A - Perl Charles Trail–#302 - Circumference Trail Loop, 7 sights 5.9 mi · ▲ 1,469 ft
- #220 - Dreamy Draw Nature Viewpoint–#302 - Circumference Trail Loop, 7 sights 6 mi · ▲ 1,325 ft
- #304 - Nature Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail Loop, 4 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 1,161 ft
- #1A - Perl Charles Trail–#302 - Circumference Trail Loop, 6 sights 6.7 mi · ▲ 1,913 ft
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