High Ridge Trail–Iron Goat Trail, 6 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 2,094 ft · 6 hr 25 min

High Ridge Trail–Iron Goat Trail, 6 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back near Fort McDowell, AZ. It climbs 2,094 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,421 – 2,648 ft · steepest grade: 26%16.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Phon D Sutton 33.55079, -111.58152
Nearest town Fort McDowell, AZ · Official trailhead info (fs.usda.gov)

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

High Ridge Trail–Iron Goat Trail, 6 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 2,094 ft · 6 hr 25 min

Elevation 1,420–2,647 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Phon D Sutton · 33.55079, -111.58152

Weather Sep 4: Mostly clear, high 100°F / low 82° · precip 6% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 3.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lone Mountain Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Maricopa Madness, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  9. 1 miTurn right onto Wild Horse Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left onto Jumping Jack's Cut, heading W.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Pure O, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miBear right onto NRA All Mountain Party D, heading W.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Pure O, heading W.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto NRA All Mountain Party E, heading SW.
  15. 350 ftTurn right onto Iron Goat Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.8 miBear right onto Iron Spine, heading W.
  17. 250 ftTurn left onto Iron Goat Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Goat Trail, heading S.
  19. 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftSharp left onto High Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftReach Lone Mountain Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftBear left onto Goat Trail, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  25. 250 ftTurn right onto Iron Goat Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right onto Iron Spine, heading S.
  27. 250 ftBear left onto Iron Goat Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.8 miTurn left onto NRA All Mountain Party E, heading N.
  29. 300 ftContinue straight onto Pure O, heading SW.
  30. 150 ftContinue straight onto NRA All Mountain Party D, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftBear left onto Pure O, heading SW.
  32. 0.4 miBear left onto Jumping Jack's Cut, heading NE.
  33. 50 ftTurn right onto Wild Horse Trail, heading NE.
  34. 0.2 miTurn left onto Maricopa Madness, heading NE.
  35. 1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  36. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  37. 0.1 miBear left onto Lone Mountain Trail, heading SE.
  38. 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
  39. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  40. 3.7 miBear right, heading N.
  41. 200 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

37% dirt63% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 100°F82°
Feels like93°Precip6%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity31%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°80°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Sat 102°81°
Sun 104°81°
Mon 102°87°
Tue 104°88°
Wed 104°87° 32%
Thu 100°79° 29%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~47 min). Leave by 5:42 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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