Beacon Hill Trail–Hidden Valley Trail, 5 sights is a 9-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Wonder Rift, AZ. The route reaches Fat Man's Pass. It climbs 1,797 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,385 – 2,402 ft · steepest grade: 26%9.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Thondum Wihom Trail 33.34301, -112.04429
Nearest town Wonder Rift, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Beacon Hill Trail–Hidden Valley Trail, 5 sights
9 mi · ▲ 1,797 ft · 3 hr 54 min
Elevation 1,384–2,401 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve
Trailhead: Thondum Wihom Trail · 33.34301, -112.04429
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:07 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto National Trail, heading E.
- 1.6 miPass Fat Man's Pass.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miBear left onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pima Wash Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 500 ftBear right onto Beacon Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miReach Hidden Valley Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear right onto Pima Wash Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading NW.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto National Trail, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 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
100% dirt
Weather
Sunrise 6:07 AMSunset 6:48 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Thondum Wihom Trail Trailhead
- Dobbins Lookout & Corona de Loma Trail via National Trail 3 mi · ▲ 515 ft
- Hidden Valley Trail & Fat Man's Pass via National Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 509 ft
- Javelina Canyon Viewpoint & Fat Man's Pass via National Trail 4.6 mi · ▲ 623 ft
- Hidden Valley Trail–National Trail, 3 sights 6.7 mi · ▲ 1,550 ft
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