AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Preserve

Black Rock Canyon Trail–Desert Classic Trail, 4 sights

11.7 mi · ▲ 2,472 ft · 5 hr 8 min

Black Rock Canyon Trail–Desert Classic Trail, 4 sights is an 11.7-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Burgundy Hill, AZ. It climbs 2,472 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,329 – 2,238 ft · steepest grade: 33%12.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.36420, -111.97726
Nearest town Burgundy Hill, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Black Rock Canyon Trail–Desert Classic Trail, 4 sights

11.7 mi · ▲ 2,472 ft · 5 hr 8 min

Elevation 1,329–2,237 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 33.36420, -111.97726

Weather Sep 6: Partly cloudy, high 101°F / low 85° · precip 1% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:48 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 150 ftTurn right onto Desert Classic Trail, heading W.
  6. 50 ftSharp left onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading SW.
  7. 2.2 miTurn left onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.7 miBear left onto Young Man Trail, heading E.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Desert Classic Trail, heading E.
  11. 1 miTurn right onto Lower Corona de Loma Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.6 miTurn left onto DC to Corona Connector, heading W.
  13. 350 ftTurn right onto Desert Classic Trail, heading SW.
  14. 250 ftTurn right onto Desert Classic, heading W.
  15. 0.8 miBear left onto GP to DC, heading SW.
  16. 250 ftReach Desert Classic Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 250 ftBear right onto Desert Classic, heading W.
  18. 0.8 miTurn left onto Desert Classic Trail, heading NE.
  19. 250 ftTurn left onto DC to Corona Connector, heading NE.
  20. 350 ftTurn right onto Lower Corona de Loma Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.6 miTurn left onto Desert Classic Trail, heading NE.
  22. 1 miContinue straight onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left onto Young Man Trail, heading N.
  24. 50 ftBear right onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading E.
  25. 0.7 miTurn right onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading W.
  26. 2.2 miSharp right onto Desert Classic Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  28. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  29. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  30. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  31. 450 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/beacon-hill-trail-beacon-hill-trail-out-back-7-sights-25-km-a3e2

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 101°F85°
Feels like88°Precip1%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity30%
Rained 0.2″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°85°
Sunrise 6:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:48 PM
Sun 106°81°
Mon 103°83°
Tue 105°91°
Wed 105°90°
Thu 107°89°
Fri 103°87° 30%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 4:57 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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