Balanced Rock–The Amphitheater, 3 rocks
5.9 mi · ▲ 275 ft · 2 hr 6 min
Balanced Rock–The Amphitheater, 3 rocks is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Reata Pass, AZ. The route passes Balanced Rock before reaching The Amphitheater at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 275 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Balanced Rock–The Amphitheater, 3 rocks
5.9 mi · ▲ 275 ft · 2 hr 6 min
Elevation 2,583–2,871 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.77004, -111.78943
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 96°F / low 76° · precip 4% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Connector, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Powerline Road #2, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Granite Mtn (Easy), heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Granite Mtn Loop, heading W.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Balanced Rock.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Cholla Mtn Loop Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto The Amphitheater Spur Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftPass The Amphitheater.
- 200 ftReach Balanced Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Cholla Mtn Loop Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Granite Mtn Loop, heading NE.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Granite Mtn (Easy), heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Powerline Road #2, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Connector, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftBear left, heading E.
- 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 2.9 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 5:10 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Powerline Road #2 2 mi · ▲ 145 ft
- Bootlegger Tank via 136th Street Express 2.7 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Bootlegger Trail & Powerline Road #2 Loop 2.8 mi · ▲ 192 ft
- Scenic View & Bootlegger Trail via Granite Mtn Loop 3 mi · ▲ 195 ft
- Balanced Rock Trail & Powerline Road #2 Loop 3.3 mi · ▲ 230 ft
- Dixileta Trail Loop via 136th Street Express 3.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft
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