Eland–Giraffe, 8 sights is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Papago Peaks Village, AZ. The route passes Papago Ponds, Oryx, Lion and 2 more before reaching Giraffe at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 295 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,243 – 1,391 ft4.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.46956, -111.95012
Nearest town Papago Peaks Village, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Eland–Giraffe, 8 sights
3.4 mi · ▲ 295 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Elevation 1,244–1,393 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.46956, -111.95012
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & 64th St stop 662 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Big Butte Loop, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto 5k Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto 5k Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Zoo Staff Only, heading S.
- 450 ftPass Oryx.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Desert Discovery Zoo Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftPass Lion.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 350 ftPass Vulture.
- 50 ftPass Giraffe.
- 50 ftReach Eland, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Zoo Staff Only, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto 5k Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Big Butte Loop, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 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
68% dirt6% sand5% gravel3% paved18% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:07 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 & 64th St stop 662 m from the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Double Butte Loop 1.9 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Double Butte Loop 1.9 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 209 ft
- Big Butte Loop & Double Butte Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 143 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 166 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 166 ft
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