AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

North Mountain Preserve

North Mountain–Trail 306 Viewpoint Loop, 5 sights

5.1 mi · ▲ 1,617 ft · 2 hr 31 min

North Mountain–Trail 306 Viewpoint Loop, 5 sights is a 5.1-mile loop in North Mountain Preserve near Heritage Highlands, AZ. The route passes North Mountain and Trail 306 Viewpoint. It climbs 1,617 ft, with sections as steep as 39% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,352 – 2,090 ft · steepest grade: 39%6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.60385, -112.08283
Nearest town Heritage Highlands, AZ
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

North Mountain–Trail 306 Viewpoint Loop, 5 sights

5.1 mi · ▲ 1,617 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Elevation 1,352–2,090 ft

Loop · North Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 33.60385, -112.08283

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 6% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: 16340 stop 438 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trail 101, heading S.
  8. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Mountain Summit Trail, heading SE.
  10. 300 ftBear left onto Trail 44 - North Mountain National Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  12. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  13. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Penny Howe Barrier Free Nature Trail, heading S.
  15. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  17. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Trail 44A - North Mountain National Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trail 44 - North Mountain National Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miPass North Mountain.
  21. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miSharp right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftTurn left onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading NW.
  24. 250 ftBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miPass Trail 306 Viewpoint.
  27. 0.1 miBear left onto Trail 306, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading W.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 1.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  31. 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  32. 250 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-trail-306-viewpoint-loop-5-sights

Trail surface

85% dirt3% paved12% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 102°F82°
Feels like92°Precip6%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity23%
Rained 0.3″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 102°81°
Sun 104°79°
Mon 103°91°
Tue 104°93°
Wed 103°90° 22%
Thu 101°85° 21%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 16340 stop 438 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Heritage Highlands, Arizona