North Leg Trail & Sunrise Trail
12.1 mi · ▲ 2,087 ft · 5 hr 5 min
North Leg Trail & Sunrise Trail is a 12.1-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Taliesin West, AZ. It climbs 2,087 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
North Leg Trail & Sunrise Trail
12.1 mi · ▲ 2,087 ft · 5 hr 5 min
Elevation 1,751–2,975 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: Kovach Family Nature Trail · 33.60034, -111.81074
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 99°F / low 82° · precip 5% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Kovach Family Nature Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Sunrise Trail, heading SE.
- 2.3 miTurn left onto Andrew/Kinsey Trail (Moderately Difficult), heading SE.
- 2.4 miSharp left onto Western Trail (Hard), heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Promenade Trail (Moderate), heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto North Leg Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 miReach Sunrise Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Promenade Trail (Moderate), heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Western Trail (Hard), heading S.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Andrews-Kinsey Trail (Moderately Difficult), heading SW.
- 2.4 miTurn right onto Sunrise Trail, heading E.
- 2.3 miTurn left onto Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Kovach Family Nature Trail, heading SW.
- 50 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 1.7 mi in (~61 min). Leave by 5:29 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Kovach Family Nature Trail Trailhead
- Lost Dog Overlook–Ringtail Trail, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 276 ft
- Lost Dog Wash Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 253 ft
- Taliesin Overlook & Lost Dog Wash Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 338 ft
- Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 6 sights 10.4 mi · ▲ 1,062 ft
- Desert Spring Park Lake–Desert Park Trail, 5 sights 15.5 mi · ▲ 1,428 ft
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