Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail
7.4 mi · ▲ 710 ft · 2 hr 49 min
Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail is a 7.4-mile out-and-back near Fort McDowell, AZ. It climbs 710 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail
7.4 mi · ▲ 710 ft · 2 hr 49 min
Elevation 1,316–1,608 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 33.54676, -111.64480
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 101°F / low 83° · precip 6% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1.5 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 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 3.6 mi in (~92 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 648 ft
- Raccoon Bluff–Granite Reef Dam Road (Closed), 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 524 ft
- Bush Lite West 5.7 mi · ▲ 753 ft
- Bush Lite West 6.3 mi · ▲ 779 ft
- Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 737 ft
- Mine Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 737 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Fort McDowell, Arizona