AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Phoenix Mountains Preserve Viewpoint & #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

6.5 mi · ▲ 626 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Phoenix Mountains Preserve Viewpoint & #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 6.5-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Sunnyslope, AZ. The route reaches Phoenix Mountains Preserve Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.2 miles in. It climbs 626 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,283 – 1,539 ft8.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.57758, -112.08201
Nearest town Sunnyslope, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Phoenix Mountains Preserve Viewpoint & #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

6.5 mi · ▲ 626 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Elevation 1,283–1,539 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.57758, -112.08201

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 103°F / low 83° · precip 4% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 702 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading E.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  7. 250 ftContinue straight onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading NE.
  8. 100 ftContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  10. 0.8 miBear right, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  12. 1.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  14. 50 ftReach Phoenix Mountains Preserve Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  17. 500 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 0.1 miContinue straight onto #306 - Shaw Butte Trail, heading NW.
  21. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  22. 50 ftBear left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  24. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  26. 100 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/phoenix-mountains-preserve-viewpoint-100-charles-m-christiansen-trail-out-back-3-sights-10-km-025f

Trail surface

97% dirt2% paved1% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 103°F83°
Feels like90°Precip4%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity33%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sun 105°79°
Mon 104°93°
Tue 105°93°
Wed 103°92° 22%
Thu 105°91° 21%
Fri 98°85° 19%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:14 PM — 3 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 702 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Sunnyslope, Arizona