Morrells Wall–Mushroom Rock Scenic Point, 5 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in McDowell Mountain Regional Park near Rio Verde Estates, AZ. The route passes Mushroom Rock Scenic Point before reaching Morrells Wall at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 1,399 ft, with sections as steep as 39% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 77/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi2,028 – 3,445 ft · steepest grade: 39%10.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Playground Trail 33.69454, -111.73558
Nearest town Rio Verde Estates, AZ
Directions
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Morrells Wall–Mushroom Rock Scenic Point, 5 sights
9.4 mi · ▲ 1,399 ft · 3 hr 50 min
Elevation 2,027–3,445 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Trailhead: Playground Trail · 33.69454, -111.73558
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rock Nob Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Granite Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Bluff Trail, heading NW.
- 2.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Pemberton Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Rock Knob Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miPass Mushroom Rock Scenic Point.
- 50 ftBear right onto Marcus Landslide Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Feldspar Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miReach Morrells Wall, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Marcus Landslide Trail, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftBear left onto Rock Knob Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Pemberton Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Bluff Trail, heading SE.
- 2.1 miContinue straight onto Granite Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 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
84% dirt1% paved15% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:50 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.9 mi in (~114 min). Leave by 4:36 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Playground Trail Trailhead
- Granite Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Granite Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Granite Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Wagner Trail via Granite Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 134 ft
- Pemberton Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 187 ft
- Pemberton Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 187 ft
Get outside more
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