South Mountain Preserve

Beacon Hill Trail–Desert Classic Trail Loop, 4 sights

6.3 mi · ▲ 1,191 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Beacon Hill Trail–Desert Classic Trail Loop, 4 sights is a 6.3-mile loop in South Mountain Preserve near Burgundy Hill, AZ. It climbs 1,191 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,329 – 2,238 ft · steepest grade: 24%6.9 mi

Getting there

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

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Beacon Hill Trail–Desert Classic Trail Loop, 4 sights

6.3 mi · ▲ 1,191 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Elevation 1,329–2,237 ft

Loop · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 33.36420, -111.97726

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 103°F / low 85° · precip 6% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  3. 0.1 miBear right onto Pima Canyon Loop Trail, heading W.
  4. 250 ftBear left onto PCL to Beacon, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miSharp left onto Beacon Hill Trail, heading NW.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right onto Ridgeline Connector, heading SW.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left onto Ridgeline Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.6 miTurn left onto Javelina Canyon Trail, heading NW.
  10. 450 ftBear left onto Javelina to National Connector, heading NW.
  11. 1.3 miTurn left onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miBear right onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.8 miSharp left, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miTurn right onto National Trail, heading E.
  16. 1.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  17. 250 ftContinue straight onto Desert Classic Trail, heading E.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  19. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  20. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  21. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  22. 500 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

77% dirt20% gravel3% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 103°F85°
Feels like97°Precip6%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°85°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 103°82°
Sun 104°82°
Mon 103°86°
Tue 106°89°
Wed 105°88° 25%
Thu 101°85° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~95 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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