AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Preserve

Marcos de Niza Trail–Pima Canyon Loop Trail, 3 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 1,264 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Marcos de Niza Trail–Pima Canyon Loop Trail, 3 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near The Pointe at South Mountain, AZ. It climbs 1,264 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,286 – 2,238 ft · steepest grade: 25%5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Pima Canyon Loop Trail 33.37175, -111.98337
Nearest town The Pointe at South Mountain, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Marcos de Niza Trail–Pima Canyon Loop Trail, 3 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 1,264 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Elevation 1,285–2,237 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: Pima Canyon Loop Trail · 33.37175, -111.98337

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 103°F / low 85° · precip 6% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: Baseline Rd & 46th St stop 695 m from the trailhead

  1. Start on Pima Canyon Loop Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Beverly-Pima Connector Trail, heading S.
  3. 200 ftBear right onto Pima Canyon Loop Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading SW.
  6. 0.5 miBear right onto Marcos de Niza Trail, heading SW.
  7. 1.3 miReach Pima Canyon Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 1.3 miBear left onto Pima Canyon Loop, heading SE.
  9. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Pima Canyon Loop Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.5 miBear left onto Beverly-Pima Connector Trail, heading N.
  11. 250 ftTurn right onto Pima Canyon Loop Trail, heading NE.
  12. 350 ftArrive 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-trail-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 103°F85°
Feels like92°Precip6%Wind11 mphUV8Humidity24%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°85°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 103°83°
Sun 104°82°
Mon 103°86°
Tue 105°89°
Wed 105°88° 23%
Thu 101°85° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~89 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Baseline Rd & 46th St stop 695 m from the trailhead

More from Pima Canyon Loop Trail Trailhead

Hikes near The Pointe at South Mountain, Arizona