AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Axle Grease

6.7 mi · ▲ 190 ft · 2 hr 20 min

Axle Grease is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Sincuidados, AZ. It is mostly level, with 190 ft of elevation gain. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi2,375 – 2,585 ft7.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: East Ashler Hills Drive 33.77754, -111.89950
Nearest town Sincuidados, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Axle Grease

6.7 mi · ▲ 190 ft · 2 hr 20 min

Elevation 2,377–2,587 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: East Ashler Hills Drive · 33.77754, -111.89950

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 97°F / low 76° · precip 2% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start on East Ashler Hills Drive, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Whisper Rock access, heading E.
  3. 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  5. 400 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  10. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  12. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  15. 150 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Axle Grease, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hawknest Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Flagstaff Power Line Road, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left onto Hackamore Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  22. 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  23. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right onto North Flagstaff Power Line Road, heading E.
  25. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hawknest Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Axle Grease, heading SW.
  27. 100 ftSharp left, heading W.
  28. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  31. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  32. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  33. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  34. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 450 ftBear left, heading W.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  38. 400 ftBear right, heading SW.
  39. 50 ftTurn left onto Whisper Rock access, heading SW.
  40. 0.7 miContinue straight onto East Ashler Hills Drive, heading SW.
  41. 200 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/axle-grease-out-back-11-km-c093

Trail surface

46% dirt6% paved48% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 97°F76°
Feels like89°Precip2%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°75°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 95°76°
Sun 97°78°
Mon 98°84°
Tue 99°84°
Wed 98°84° 21%
Thu 96°83° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:31 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:51 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.

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