Big Butte Loop is a 2.2-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ. It is mostly level, with 120 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,280 – 1,371 ft2.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.46612, -111.94105
Nearest town Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Big Butte Loop
2.2 mi · ▲ 120 ft · 48 min
Elevation 1,279–1,371 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.46612, -111.94105
Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 100°F / low 84° · precip 5% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & Galvin Pkwy stop 208 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Big Butte Loop, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 350 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Big Butte Loop, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Double Butte Loop, heading SW.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
- 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
25% dirt22% paved53% unspecified
Weather
Light drizzleTemperature 100°F84°
Feels like94°Precip5%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat
101°80°
Sun
102°79°
Mon
103°90°
Tue
105°93°
Wed
104°91°
24%
Thu
103°87°
29%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & Galvin Pkwy stop 208 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Double Butte Loop 2 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Papago Buttes & Big Butte Loop 2 mi · ▲ 111 ft
- Big Butte Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 79 ft
- Big Butte Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 117 ft
- Big Butte Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 117 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Wheel Inn Ranch, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Wheel Inn Ranch, Arizona