Pass Mountain–Maricopa Trail, 4 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 2,079 ft · 5 hr 30 min

Pass Mountain–Maricopa Trail, 4 sights is a 13.4-mile out-and-back near Fort McDowell, AZ. The route reaches Pass Mountain at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 2,079 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,421 – 3,301 ft · steepest grade: 36%13.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Phon D Sutton 33.55079, -111.58152
Nearest town Fort McDowell, AZ · Official trailhead info (fs.usda.gov)

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pass Mountain–Maricopa Trail, 4 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 2,079 ft · 5 hr 30 min

Elevation 1,420–3,299 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Phon D Sutton · 33.55079, -111.58152

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 103°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:48 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 3.9 miContinue straight onto MT-3554, heading W.
  4. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  5. 0.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miBear right onto Rattler, heading E.
  8. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  9. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Maricopa Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Rattler, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftTurn left onto Maricopa Trail, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Pass Mountain Summmit Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.9 miReach Pass Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.9 miBear left onto Maricopa Trail, heading W.
  15. 100 ftTurn right onto Rattler, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn left onto Maricopa Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Rattler, heading NW.
  18. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right onto MT-3554, heading W.
  21. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  22. 4 miBear right, heading N.
  23. 350 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

23% dirt10% sand67% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 103°F82°
Feels like84°Precip4%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity27%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:48 PM
Sun 105°82°
Mon 103°87°
Tue 104°88°
Wed 102°86° 29%
Thu 104°84° 20%
Fri 96°80° 24%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.0 mi in (~180 min). Leave by 3:28 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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