Eland–Giraffe, 8 sights is a 7.1-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ. The route passes Papago Ponds, Oryx, Lion and 2 more before reaching Giraffe at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 344 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,243 – 1,391 ft8.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.48007, -111.94247
Nearest town Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Eland–Giraffe, 8 sights
7.1 mi · ▲ 344 ft · 2 hr 32 min
Elevation 1,244–1,393 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.48007, -111.94247
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 103°F / low 83° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 41 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Big Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto 5k Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto 5k Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Zoo Staff Only, heading E.
- 150 ftPass Oryx.
- 300 ftPass Lion.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Desert Discovery Zoo Trail, heading S.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Vulture.
- 50 ftPass Giraffe.
- 350 ftReach Eland, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Zoo Staff Only, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto 5k Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Big Butte Loop, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 300 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
58% dirt10% paved3% sand3% gravel26% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 103°F83°
Feels like85°Precip4%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity31%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Sun
104°81°
Mon
104°94°
Tue
106°93°
Wed
103°90°
25%
Thu
105°89°
16%
Fri
99°84°
21%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~70 min). Leave by 5:20 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 41 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Double Butte Loop 4.3 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Double Butte Loop 4.3 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.5 mi · ▲ 118 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.5 mi · ▲ 118 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.6 mi · ▲ 118 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.6 mi · ▲ 118 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Wheel Inn Ranch, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Wheel Inn Ranch, Arizona