AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

North Mountain Preserve

North Mountain–#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop, 6 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 1,295 ft · 2 hr 25 min

North Mountain–#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop, 6 sights is a 5.3-mile loop in North Mountain Preserve near Sunnyslope, AZ. The route reaches North Mountain. It climbs 1,295 ft, with sections as steep as 39% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,391 – 2,090 ft · steepest grade: 39%6.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Mountain Park 33.58175, -112.06733
Nearest town Sunnyslope, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

North Mountain–#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail Loop, 6 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 1,295 ft · 2 hr 25 min

Elevation 1,391–2,090 ft

Loop · North Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: North Mountain Park · 33.58175, -112.06733

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 194 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Penny Howe Barrier Free Nature Trail, heading N.
  3. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miBear right onto Trail 44 - North Mountain National Trail, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto North Mountain Summit Trail, heading N.
  8. 350 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  9. 150 ftContinue straight onto Trail 101, heading SW.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  13. 100 ftTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto East Point Drop, heading NE.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  17. 0.5 miReach North Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 300 ftBear right onto Cliffhugger, heading S.
  19. 0.5 miBear right, heading NE.
  20. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  21. 500 ftTurn left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NE.
  22. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  25. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  28. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  29. 100 ftContinue straight onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading NE.
  30. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
  31. 0.5 miPass North Mountain.
  32. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Trail 44 - North Mountain National Trail, heading SW.
  33. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Trail 44A - North Mountain National Trail, heading SE.
  34. 350 ftTurn left onto North Mountain Park, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftThe loop closes 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/north-mountain-100-charles-m-christiansen-trail-loop-6-sights

Trail surface

83% dirt4% paved13% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:17 PM — 0 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 194 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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