Alta
11.3 mi · ▲ 2,304 ft · 4 hr 55 min
Alta is an 11.3-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near La Montana del Sur, AZ. It climbs 2,304 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Alta
11.3 mi · ▲ 2,304 ft · 4 hr 55 min
Elevation 1,292–2,451 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve
Trailhead: 33.30682, -112.08248
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 103°F / low 84° · precip 13% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Cholla Flats Loop, heading NW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Gila Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Prospector Loop, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Prospector to National, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto National Trail, heading W.
- 1 miSharp left onto Ranger Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miSharp left onto Bajada Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.4 miReach Alta, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp right onto Ranger Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miSharp right onto National Trail, heading W.
- 1 miSharp left onto Prospector to National, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Prospector Loop, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Gila Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Cholla Flats Loop, heading NE.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 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 3.3 mi in (~117 min). Leave by 4:34 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Cholla Flats Loop Loop 2.8 mi · ▲ 223 ft
- Cholla Flats Loop 3.1 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Cholla Flats Loop 3.3 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Gila Trail & Prospector Loop Loop via Cholla Flats Loop 4.7 mi · ▲ 702 ft
- Bursera Canyon–Gila Trail, 4 sights 6.9 mi · ▲ 1,022 ft
- Cholla Flats Loop–Ranger Trail Loop, 3 sights 8 mi · ▲ 1,483 ft
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Hikes near La Montana del Sur, Arizona