Balanced Rock–Balanced Rock Trail, 3 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 255 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Balanced Rock–Balanced Rock Trail, 3 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Reata Pass, AZ. The route reaches Balanced Rock at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 255 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 64/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Balanced Rock–Balanced Rock Trail, 3 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 255 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Elevation 2,575–2,852 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.77498, -111.78688
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 95°F / low 77° · precip 6% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left onto 136th Street Express, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Connector, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Powerline Road #2, heading W.
- 1 miTurn right onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 300 ftReach Balanced Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Powerline Road #2, heading S.
- 1 miTurn left onto Connector, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left onto 136th Street Express, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn 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 2.4 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from this trailhead
- Bootlegger Trail & Powerline Road #2 3.9 mi · ▲ 194 ft
- Scenic View & Bootlegger Trail via 136th Street Express 4.1 mi · ▲ 196 ft
- Bootlegger Tank–Bootlegger Trail Loop, 3 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 168 ft
- Dixileta Trail via 136th Street Express 4.7 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Dixileta Trail & Morning Vista Trail via 136th Street Express 5.1 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Bootlegger Trail & Morning Vista Trail via 136th Street Express 5.1 mi · ▲ 109 ft
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