South Mountain Preserve

Desert Classic Trail–Hidden Valley Trail, 7 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 1,890 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Desert Classic Trail–Hidden Valley Trail, 7 sights is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Citrus Hills, AZ. It climbs 1,890 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,270 – 2,238 ft · steepest grade: 21%8.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mormon Trail 33.36633, -112.03099
Nearest town Citrus Hills, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Desert Classic Trail–Hidden Valley Trail, 7 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 1,890 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Elevation 1,269–2,237 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: Mormon Trail · 33.36633, -112.03099

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 101°F / low 83° · precip 10% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Mormon Trail, heading SW.
  3. 1.3 miTurn left onto National Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miBear right onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading NE.
  7. 1.3 miSharp right onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left onto Desert Classic Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left onto National Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.6 miSharp right onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left onto Ridgeline Connector, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left onto Ridgeline Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.6 miTurn left onto Javelina Canyon Trail, heading S.
  15. 1.2 miTurn right onto Mormon Trail, heading SW.
  16. 1.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  17. 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

92% dirt8% gravel

Weather

OvercastTemperature 101°F83°
Feels like95°Precip10%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity25%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 103°82°
Sun 104°85°
Mon 103°86°
Tue 106°89°
Wed 105°88° 23%
Thu 101°85° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:31 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:51 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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