Papago Ponds & Big Butte Loop via Double Butte Loop is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Marlborough Park, AZ. The route reaches Papago Ponds. It is mostly level, with 115 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,250 – 1,391 ft2.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.45154, -111.94220
Nearest town Marlborough Park, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Papago Ponds & Big Butte Loop via Double Butte Loop
2.3 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 49 min
Elevation 1,250–1,393 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.45154, -111.94220
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Transit-accessible: Phoenix Zoo stop 583 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 350 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 450 ftContinue 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 NE.
- 150 ftReach Papago Ponds, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto 5k Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto 5k Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
81% dirt12% paved4% sand3% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:09 PM — 7 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Phoenix Zoo stop 583 m from the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Zoo Staff Only 1.9 mi · ▲ 286 ft
- Zoo Staff Only 1.9 mi · ▲ 288 ft
- Zoo Staff Only 2.2 mi · ▲ 342 ft
- Zoo Staff Only 2.2 mi · ▲ 343 ft
- Zoo Staff Only 2.2 mi · ▲ 342 ft
- Zoo Staff Only 2.3 mi · ▲ 352 ft
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