AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Preserve

Marcos de Niza Trail–Pima Canyon Loop, 3 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,098 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Marcos de Niza Trail–Pima Canyon Loop, 3 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Parkside, AZ. It climbs 1,098 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,316 – 2,238 ft · steepest grade: 34%5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.34564, -111.99212
Nearest town Parkside, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Marcos de Niza Trail–Pima Canyon Loop, 3 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,098 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Elevation 1,317–2,237 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 33.34564, -111.99212

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start on Greenbelt Access Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.4 miTurn right onto Guadalupe Perimeter Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Connector, heading N.
  4. 350 ftTurn right onto Desert Classic Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading NW.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miReach Pima Canyon Loop, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Pima Wash Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto National Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  14. 0.3 miSharp right onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.8 miTurn left onto Black Rock Canyon Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.7 miBear left onto Young Man Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left onto Desert Classic Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Greenbelt Access Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/marcos-de-niza-trail-pima-canyon-loop-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

90% dirt3% gravel7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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