#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail–#8A, 3 sights
4.3 mi · ▲ 810 ft · 1 hr 50 min
#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail–#8A, 3 sights is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Vista del Cerro, AZ. It climbs 810 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
#8A - Quartz Ridge Trail–#8A, 3 sights
4.3 mi · ▲ 810 ft · 1 hr 50 min
Elevation 1,474–1,944 ft
Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Trailhead: 33.56851, -112.00569
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right onto #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left onto #8A, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear right onto #8B, heading SW.
- 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 SW.
- 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 miSharp right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 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 2.1 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 5:27 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 326 ft
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 497 ft
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop 2.7 mi · ▲ 224 ft
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop 2.7 mi · ▲ 412 ft
- #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail & Trail 1A via Dreamy Draw Bikeway 5.3 mi · ▲ 306 ft
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