McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Paradise Trail

4.2 mi · ▲ 360 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Paradise Trail is a 4.2-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. It climbs 360 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,568 – 1,929 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.62744, -111.85485
Nearest town McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Paradise Trail

4.2 mi · ▲ 360 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 1,568–1,929 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.62744, -111.85485

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 350 ftTurn right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading S.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  5. 200 ftSharp left onto Quartz Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.8 miTurn left onto Paradise Trail, heading E.
  7. 1.2 miReach Paradise Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 1.2 miTurn right onto Quartz Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.8 miSharp right, heading SW.
  10. 200 ftTurn right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 250 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

93% dirt7% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:31 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:51 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead