National Trail
10.7 mi · ▲ 2,265 ft · 4 hr 42 min
National Trail is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Saint Johns Mission, AZ. It climbs 2,265 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
National Trail
10.7 mi · ▲ 2,265 ft · 4 hr 42 min
Elevation 1,287–2,451 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve
Trailhead: 33.30295, -112.13038
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 12% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Gila Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bursera Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto National Trail, heading N.
- 1.8 miContinue straight onto Prospector to National, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto National Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miSharp left onto Ranger Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Bajada Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Ranger Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Las Lomitas Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Ranger Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Bajada Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Ranger Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miSharp right onto National Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miBear left onto Prospector to National, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto National Trail, heading SW.
- 1.8 miTurn left onto Bursera Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Gila Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Bursera Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 432 ft
- Bursera Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 751 ft
- National Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,067 ft
- Gila Trail Loop 4.4 mi · ▲ 941 ft
- Gila Trail & Prospector Loop 5.4 mi · ▲ 867 ft
- Ranger Trail & Upper Gila Trail via National Trail 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,119 ft
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