#8 - Quartz Ridge Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail Loop, 4 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 914 ft · 1 hr 57 min
#8 - Quartz Ridge Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail Loop, 4 sights is a 4.5-mile loop in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. It climbs 914 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
#8 - Quartz Ridge Trail–#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail Loop, 4 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 914 ft · 1 hr 57 min
Elevation 1,481–1,944 ft
Loop · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Trailhead: 33.56800, -111.99670
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto #8A, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right onto #8B, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto #8A - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto #8B - Ruth Hamilton Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto #304 - Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftThe loop closes 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 2.2 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- 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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