Papago Ponds–Big Butte Loop, 3 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Papago Ponds. It climbs 374 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,194 – 1,391 ft6.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: East Walter A Haas Jr Way 33.46839, -111.94362
Nearest town Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ
Directions
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Papago Ponds–Big Butte Loop, 3 sights
5.4 mi · ▲ 374 ft · 1 hr 59 min
Elevation 1,193–1,393 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: East Walter A Haas Jr Way · 33.46839, -111.94362
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & 64th St stop 259 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 300 ftBear right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Big Butte Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 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.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Zoo Staff Only, heading SE.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Crosscut Canal Multi-use Path, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miReach Papago Ponds, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Zoo Staff Only, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto 5k Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Big Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear left, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
- 200 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
50% dirt22% paved6% sand22% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 6:48 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & 64th St stop 259 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from East Walter A Haas Jr Way Trailhead
- Double Butte Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 112 ft
- Little Butte Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 85 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.5 mi · ▲ 209 ft
- Double Butte Loop 2.8 mi · ▲ 140 ft
- Elliot Ramada Loop 3.4 mi · ▲ 167 ft
- Double Butte Loop 3.4 mi · ▲ 167 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Wheel Inn Ranch, emailed to you once a week.
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