Inspiration Viewpoint–Desert Park Trail, 3 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 827 ft · 1 hr 55 min
Inspiration Viewpoint–Desert Park Trail, 3 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near DC Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Inspiration Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It climbs 827 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Inspiration Viewpoint–Desert Park Trail, 3 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 827 ft · 1 hr 55 min
Elevation 1,871–2,719 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.66426, -111.85675
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Desert Park Trail, heading NE.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Windgate Pass, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Windgate Pass, heading NE.
- 0.2 miReach Inspiration Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Windgate Pass, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Desert Park Trail, heading SW.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:08 PM — 8 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from this trailhead
- Inspiration Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake, 4 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 880 ft
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Hikes near DC Ranch, Arizona