Petting Zoo–Papago Ponds, 4 sights is a 7.1-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ. The route passes Papago Ponds before reaching Petting Zoo at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It climbs 252 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,217 – 1,391 ft8.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.48007, -111.94247
Nearest town Wheel Inn Ranch, AZ
Directions
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Petting Zoo–Papago Ponds, 4 sights
7.1 mi · ▲ 252 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 1,218–1,393 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.48007, -111.94247
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 103°F / low 83° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 41 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 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.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 350 ftSharp right onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftBear right onto North Ranger Office Loop Trail, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Nature Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right onto North Ranger Office Loop Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Phoenix Muni, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftReach Petting Zoo, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Nature Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto North Ranger Office Loop Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left, heading S.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto 5k Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Big Butte Loop, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left onto Double Butte Loop, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.8 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
62% dirt16% paved22% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 103°F83°
Feels like85°Precip4%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity31%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Sun
104°81°
Mon
104°94°
Tue
106°93°
Wed
103°90°
25%
Thu
105°89°
16%
Fri
99°84°
21%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:23 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 41 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Double Butte Loop 4.3 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Double Butte Loop 4.3 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.5 mi · ▲ 118 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.5 mi · ▲ 118 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.6 mi · ▲ 118 ft
- Big Butte Loop 4.6 mi · ▲ 118 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Wheel Inn Ranch, emailed to you once a week.
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