AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Preserve

National Trail

13.6 mi · ▲ 1,362 ft · 5 hr 13 min

National Trail is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Komatke, AZ. It climbs 1,362 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,037 – 2,300 ft · steepest grade: 23%13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.31952, -112.17717
Nearest town Komatke, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

National Trail

13.6 mi · ▲ 1,362 ft · 5 hr 13 min

Elevation 1,036–2,299 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 33.31952, -112.17717

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 104°F / low 84° · precip 4% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:07 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.9 miSharp right onto Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail, heading SE.
  3. 1.5 miBear left onto Maricopa Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Ma-Ha-Tuak Perimeter Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.9 miSharp right onto National Trail, heading N.
  6. 2.3 miBear left onto Bursera Trail, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto National Trail, heading E.
  8. 1.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 1.1 miTurn left onto Bursera Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto National Trail, heading SW.
  11. 2.3 miSharp left onto Ma-Ha-Tuak Perimeter Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.9 miTurn left onto Maricopa Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Maricopa/Sun Circle Trail, heading W.
  15. 1.4 miSharp left, heading S.
  16. 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/national-trail-out-back-22-km-c438

Trail surface

60% dirt1% sand39% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 104°F84°
Feels like92°Precip4%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity31%
Rained 0.2″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Sun 105°83°
Mon 104°87°
Tue 106°87°
Wed 104°88° 22%
Thu 106°88° 22%
Fri 98°83° 18%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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