McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Balanced Rock Trail & Powerline Road #2 Loop

3.3 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Balanced Rock Trail & Powerline Road #2 Loop is a 3.3-mile loop in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Reata Pass, AZ. It is mostly level, with 230 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,582 – 2,815 ft3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.77004, -111.78943
Nearest town Reata Pass, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Balanced Rock Trail & Powerline Road #2 Loop

3.3 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Elevation 2,582–2,816 ft

Loop · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.77004, -111.78943

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  3. 500 ftTurn left onto Connector, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Powerline Road #2, heading W.
  5. 1 miTurn right onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.5 miBear right, heading NE.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Granite Mtn Loop, heading NE.
  8. 1 miTurn left onto Saddlehorn Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Bootlegger Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

97% dirt3% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:50 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 5:48 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead