AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Old Trail 23 - West Express–Stagecoach Trail, 3 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 803 ft · 3 hr 32 min

Old Trail 23 - West Express–Stagecoach Trail, 3 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Camp Creek, AZ. It climbs 803 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,631 – 3,251 ft11.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.84626, -111.81713
Nearest town Camp Creek, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Old Trail 23 - West Express–Stagecoach Trail, 3 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 803 ft · 3 hr 32 min

Elevation 2,632–3,250 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.84626, -111.81713

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:48 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto U3057, heading W.
  4. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 250 ftBear right onto PST013, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto U3075, heading SW.
  11. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto U3074, heading SW.
  13. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  18. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 150 ftBear right onto 2091, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  26. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  27. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  28. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  29. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right onto U3030, heading SW.
  32. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  33. 150 ftTurn left onto Trail #513, heading SW.
  34. 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
  35. 350 ftTurn left onto Trail #2090, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Dove Valley Trail, heading S.
  37. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Old Trail 23 - West Express, heading SW.
  38. 1.8 miTurn right onto Malpais Trail, heading SW.
  39. 100 ftTurn left onto Stagecoach Trail, heading SW.
  40. 50 ftReach U3074, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  41. 50 ftTurn right onto Malpais Trail, heading SW.
  42. 100 ftTurn left onto Old Trail 23 - West Express, heading SW.
  43. 1.8 miContinue straight onto Dove Valley Trail, heading NE.
  44. 0.7 miTurn left onto Trail #2090, heading NE.
  45. 50 ftTurn right onto Trail #513, heading NE.
  46. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  47. 0.8 miTurn right onto U3030, heading NE.
  48. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  49. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  50. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  51. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  52. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  53. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  54. 100 ftSharp right, heading N.
  55. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  56. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  57. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  58. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  59. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  60. 150 ftTurn left onto 2091, heading NE.
  61. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  62. 150 ftTurn right onto U3074, heading NE.
  63. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  64. 250 ftSharp right, heading N.
  65. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  66. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  67. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  68. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  69. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  70. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  71. 50 ftTurn left onto U3075, heading N.
  72. 250 ftBear left onto PST013, heading NE.
  73. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  74. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  75. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  76. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  77. 100 ftSharp right onto U3057, heading N.
  78. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  79. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  80. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/old-trail-23-west-express-stagecoach-trail-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:48 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:00 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Camp Creek, Arizona