Bursera Canyon–Gila Trail, 4 sights
6.9 mi · ▲ 1,022 ft · 2 hr 49 min
Bursera Canyon–Gila Trail, 4 sights is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near La Montana del Sur, AZ. It climbs 1,022 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bursera Canyon–Gila Trail, 4 sights
6.9 mi · ▲ 1,022 ft · 2 hr 49 min
Elevation 1,126–1,930 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve
Trailhead: 33.30682, -112.08248
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 103°F / low 84° · precip 13% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Cholla Flats Loop, heading NW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Gila Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Prospector Loop, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Lost Ranch Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Gila Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Bursera to Gila, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Bursera Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Bursera Canyon, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Shaughnessey Connector, heading SW.
- 0.7 miReach Prospector Loop, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Bursera Canyon, heading N.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Bursera Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lost Ranch Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Lost Ranch to Cholla, heading E.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Cholla Flats Loop, heading E.
- 0.9 miSharp right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 5:12 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Cholla Flats Loop Loop 2.8 mi · ▲ 223 ft
- Cholla Flats Loop 3.1 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Cholla Flats Loop 3.3 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Gila Trail & Prospector Loop Loop via Cholla Flats Loop 4.7 mi · ▲ 702 ft
- Cholla Flats Loop–Ranger Trail Loop, 3 sights 8 mi · ▲ 1,483 ft
- Bursera Trail–Gila Trail Loop, 4 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,769 ft
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Hikes near La Montana del Sur, Arizona