Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail
13.6 mi · ▲ 354 ft · 4 hr 43 min
Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Maricopa Village, AZ. It climbs 354 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail
13.6 mi · ▲ 354 ft · 4 hr 43 min
Elevation 989–1,299 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve
Trailhead: Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail · 33.36996, -112.21532
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 104°F / low 83° · precip 5% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 4.2 miBear left onto Maricopa Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Ma-Ha-Tuak Perimeter Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto National Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Ma-Ha-Tuak Perimeter Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Maricopa Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail, heading SW.
- 4.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 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 4.7 mi in (~117 min). Leave by 4:35 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail Trailhead
- Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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