Mushroom Rock Scenic Point–Mesquite Canyon, 5 sights is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in McDowell Mountain Regional Park near Rio Verde Estates, AZ. The route passes Mushroom Rock Scenic Point before reaching Mesquite Canyon at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 836 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 78/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi2,028 – 2,864 ft8.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Playground Trail 33.69454, -111.73558
Nearest town Rio Verde Estates, AZ
Directions
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Mushroom Rock Scenic Point–Mesquite Canyon, 5 sights
8.4 mi · ▲ 836 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Elevation 2,027–2,863 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 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Mesquite Canyon.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sven Towers Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Mushroom Rock Scenic Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Feldspar Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Marcus Landslide Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left onto Rock Knob Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Pemberton Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Bluff Trail, heading E.
- 2.1 miContinue straight onto Granite Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading E.
- 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
91% dirt1% paved8% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:50 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.9 mi in (~115 min). Leave by 4:35 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
A wild hike near Rio Verde Estates, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Rio Verde Estates, Arizona