AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Preserve

Gila Trail via National Trail

10.6 mi · ▲ 1,467 ft · 4 hr 16 min

Gila Trail via National Trail is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Laveen, AZ. It climbs 1,467 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,247 – 1,765 ft · steepest grade: 16%11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: National Trail 33.33031, -112.14415
Nearest town Laveen, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gila Trail via National Trail

10.6 mi · ▲ 1,467 ft · 4 hr 16 min

Elevation 1,247–1,767 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: National Trail · 33.33031, -112.14415

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 101°F / low 82° · precip 11% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on National Trail, heading S.
  2. 2.8 miSharp right onto Bursera Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miSharp left onto Gila Trail, heading S.
  4. 1 miContinue straight onto Bursera to Gila, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftBear left onto Gila Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lost Ranch Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miTurn left onto Lost Ranch to Cholla, heading E.
  8. 450 ftReach Gila Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 450 ftTurn right onto Lost Ranch Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Gila Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.7 miBear right onto Bursera to Gila, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Gila Trail, heading SE.
  13. 1 miSharp right onto Bursera Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miSharp left onto National Trail, heading NE.
  15. 2.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/gila-trail-out-back-322d

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 101°F82°
Feels like96°Precip11%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:52 PM
Sat 100°82°
Sun 101°82°
Mon 103°83°
Tue 105°85°
Wed 104°85° 22%
Thu 100°82° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from National Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Laveen, Arizona