Esplanade Trail–Flat Rock, 6 sights
15 mi · ▲ 683 ft · 5 hr 20 min
Esplanade Trail–Flat Rock, 6 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back in Sonoran Preserve near Cave Creek, AZ. It climbs 683 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Esplanade Trail–Flat Rock, 6 sights
15 mi · ▲ 683 ft · 5 hr 20 min
Elevation 1,745–2,309 ft
Out & Back · Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: Slate Trail · 33.83570, -111.97634
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 96°F / low 77° · precip 3% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
- Start on Slate Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Flat Rock, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto Quartz Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Slate Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Flume Trail, heading S.
- 1.5 miBear right onto Saguaro Trail, heading SW.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Esplanade Trail, heading SW.
- 3.3 miReach Slate Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 3.3 miTurn left onto Saguaro Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miBear left onto Flume Trail, heading N.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Slate Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Quartz Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miSharp right onto Flat Rock, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Slate Trail, heading NE.
- 250 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 4.3 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 4:43 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Slate Trail Trailhead
- Clay Mine Trail–Flat Rock, 4 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 721 ft
- Dim Sum Trail–Flat Rock, 4 sights 8.3 mi · ▲ 833 ft
- CW/BB connector–Cliff Walk Trail, 7 sights 13 mi · ▲ 628 ft
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Hikes near Cave Creek, Arizona