South Mountain Preserve

Lost Ranch Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 1,053 ft · 1 hr 50 min

Lost Ranch Trail is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Gila Crossing, AZ. It climbs 1,053 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,240 – 2,293 ft · steepest grade: 32%4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bursera Trail 33.30345, -112.10322
Nearest town Gila Crossing, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lost Ranch Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 1,053 ft · 1 hr 50 min

Elevation 1,241–2,294 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: Bursera Trail · 33.30345, -112.10322

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 102°F / low 83° · precip 14% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bursera Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.1 miBear left onto CLOSED - old Pyramid Trail, heading N.
  3. 50 ftBear left onto Bursera Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lost Ranch Trail, heading E.
  5. 1.6 miReach Lost Ranch Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Bursera Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miBear right onto CLOSED - old Pyramid Trail, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Bursera Trail, heading W.
  9. 500 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 102°F83°
Feels like97°Precip14%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity25%
Rained 0.4″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 101°82°
Sun 102°85°
Mon 103°84°
Tue 105°86°
Wed 105°85° 23%
Thu 101°83° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~76 min). Leave by 5:15 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Bursera Trail Trailhead