McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Axle Grease–Old Trail 19, 3 sights

8 mi · ▲ 407 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Axle Grease–Old Trail 19, 3 sights is an 8-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Carefree, AZ. It climbs 407 ft. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,454 – 2,884 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) 33.81642, -111.83760
Nearest town Carefree, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Axle Grease–Old Trail 19, 3 sights

8 mi · ▲ 407 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Elevation 2,456–2,885 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) · 33.81642, -111.83760

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 94°F / low 75° · precip 7% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start on North Flagstaff Power Line Road, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 500 ftBear left onto Stagecoach Trail, heading S.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Flagstaff Power Line Road, heading S.
  6. 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Old Trail 22 - Stage Route, heading SW.
  8. 0.6 miBear right onto Malpais Trail, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Old Trail 23 - West Express, heading SW.
  10. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 200 ftContinue straight onto Old Trail 20, heading SW.
  12. 0.1 miBear left onto Old Trail 19, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Old Trail 20, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miBear left onto Axle Grease, heading SW.
  15. 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
  16. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 0.4 miBear right onto Hawknest Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.4 miReach Old Trail 23 - West Express, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  20. 0.4 miTurn right onto Axle Grease, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  22. 0.1 miBear right onto Old Trail 20, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miBear left onto Old Trail 19, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftBear right onto Old Trail 20, heading NE.
  25. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Old Trail 23 - West Express, heading N.
  26. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  27. 0.6 miTurn right onto Malpais Trail, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftBear left onto Old Trail 22 - Stage Route, heading NE.
  29. 0.9 miTurn right onto North Flagstaff Power Line Road, heading E.
  30. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Stagecoach Trail, heading NE.
  31. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Flagstaff Power Line Road, heading NE.
  33. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 0.1 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

32% dirt7% sand61% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 94°F75°
Feels like84°Precip7%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity32%
Rained 0.4″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°75°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 94°74°
Sun 97°79°
Mon 96°81°
Tue 97°81°
Wed 97°81° 23%
Thu 94°75° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

More from Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) Trailhead