Cholla Mtn Viewpoint–Sunset Vista, 5 sights is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Reata Pass, AZ. The route passes Sunset Vista before reaching Cholla Mtn Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 138 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi2,710 – 2,838 ft5.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.75945, -111.84448
Nearest town Reata Pass, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Cholla Mtn Viewpoint–Sunset Vista, 5 sights
4.7 mi · ▲ 138 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Elevation 2,711–2,838 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.75945, -111.84448
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Sunset Vista.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Sunset Vista Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Brown's Ranch Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 1 miTurn right onto Maverick (Moderate), heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Maverick Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Cholla Mtn Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miReach Cholla Mtn Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Maverick Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Maverick (Moderate), heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Brown's Ranch Road, heading SW.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Sunset Vista Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 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
96% dirt4% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 4 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Brown's Ranch Road 2 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Brown's Mountain Trail–Upper Ranch Trail Loop, 3 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Brown's Ranch Road 2.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Brown's Ranch Road 2.4 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Powerline Road #2 Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Brown's Ranch Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 54 ft
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