Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 5 sights
8.7 mi · ▲ 635 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 5 sights is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near DC Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Mesquite Tree. It climbs 635 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 5 sights
8.7 mi · ▲ 635 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Elevation 1,539–1,929 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.64938, -111.85914
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 98°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Saguaro Trail, heading NE.
- 400 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Levee trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Paradise Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Quartz Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Javelina Trail, heading SW.
- 200 ftPass Mesquite Tree.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Taliesin Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miReach Mesquite Tree, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Javelina Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Quartz Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Paradise Trail, heading NE.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Levee trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Crossover Trail, heading W.
- 250 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Saguaro Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 300 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 3.2 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 5:05 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- 104th Street Spur–Levee trail, 3 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 134 ft
- Levee trail–Paradise Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 249 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Saguaro Trail, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 639 ft
- Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 5 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 659 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 606 ft
- Inspiration Viewpoint–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 8 sights 8.9 mi · ▲ 2,030 ft
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