Oryx–Papago Ponds, 4 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ. The route passes Papago Ponds before reaching Oryx at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 316 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,250 – 1,391 ft5.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.46572, -111.93880
Nearest town Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Oryx–Papago Ponds, 4 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 1,250–1,393 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.46572, -111.93880
Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 100°F / low 84° · precip 5% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & 68th St stop 291 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Big Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto 5k Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto 5k Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Zoo Staff Only, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Desert Discovery Zoo Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach Oryx, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Zoo Staff Only, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto 5k Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Big Butte Loop, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 150 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
47% dirt15% paved4% sand1% gravel33% unspecified
Weather
Light drizzleTemperature 100°F84°
Feels like94°Precip5%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat
101°80°
Sun
102°79°
Mon
103°90°
Tue
105°93°
Wed
104°91°
24%
Thu
103°87°
29%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & 68th St stop 291 m from the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Double Butte Loop 2 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Papago Buttes & Big Butte Loop 2 mi · ▲ 111 ft
- Big Butte Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 79 ft
- Big Butte Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Big Butte Loop 2.4 mi · ▲ 117 ft
Get outside more
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