High Ridge Trail–Iron Goat Trail, 5 sights
9.6 mi · ▲ 1,408 ft · 3 hr 54 min
High Ridge Trail–Iron Goat Trail, 5 sights is a 9.6-mile out-and-back near Fort McDowell, AZ. It climbs 1,408 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
High Ridge Trail–Iron Goat Trail, 5 sights
9.6 mi · ▲ 1,408 ft · 3 hr 54 min
Elevation 1,366–2,647 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 33.55343, -111.62279
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 100°F / low 83° · precip 6% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Scorpion Trail, heading S.
- 2 miBear left onto Wild Horse Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Jumping Jack's Cut, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Pure O, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right onto NRA All Mountain Party D, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Pure O, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto NRA All Mountain Party E, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Iron Goat Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Iron Spine, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Iron Goat Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Goat Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left onto High Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Scorpion Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Goat Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Iron Goat Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Iron Spine, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left onto Iron Goat Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto NRA All Mountain Party E, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Pure O, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto NRA All Mountain Party D, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Pure O, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Jumping Jack's Cut, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Wild Horse Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Scorpion Trail, heading NE.
- 2.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Scorpion Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Scorpion Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 218 ft
- Scorpion Trail 6.5 mi · ▲ 492 ft
- Scorpion Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 492 ft
- L'Alpe D'Huez Trail & Scorpion Trail 8.1 mi · ▲ 745 ft
- Bush Lite–Scorpion Trail, 3 sights 8.6 mi · ▲ 464 ft
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Hikes near Fort McDowell, Arizona