AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

Pond #5–Pond #2, 9 lakes

5.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Pond #5–Pond #2, 9 lakes is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch near Woodland Heights, AZ. The route passes Water Ranch Lake, Pond #7, Pond #1 and 5 more before reaching Crossroads Park Lake at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,270 – 1,283 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.36434, -111.73431
Nearest town Woodland Heights, AZ
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pond #5–Pond #2, 9 lakes

5.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 1,271–1,284 ft

Out & Back · Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

Trailhead: 33.36434, -111.73431

Weather Sep 4: Mostly clear, high 101°F / low 84° · precip 6% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Transit-accessible: Guadalupe Rd & Greenfield Rd stop 327 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Water Ranch Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Pond #7.
  4. 50 ftPass Pond #1.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  8. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  9. 50 ftPass Pond #6.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Prickly Pear Pass, heading S.
  11. 100 ftPass Pond #5.
  12. 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftSharp left onto Desert Willow Walk, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftPass Pond #3.
  15. 50 ftPass Pond #2.
  16. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 100 ftPass Pond #4.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  19. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 200 ftTurn left onto Tiger Moth Territory, heading E.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  23. 300 ftBear right, heading E.
  24. 1.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  25. 0.8 miPass Crossroads Park Lake.
  26. 300 ftReach Pond #5, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 1.4 miBear left, heading N.
  29. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  31. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 150 ftBear left onto Desert Willow Walk, heading NW.
  33. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 300 ftSharp right, heading W.
  35. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  36. 250 ftContinue straight onto Prickly Pear Pass, heading N.
  37. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  38. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 50 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/pond-5-pond-2-out-back-11-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

66% paved20% gravel12% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 101°F84°
Feels like93°Precip6%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Sat 102°80°
Sun 104°80°
Mon 103°86°
Tue 104°88°
Wed 104°85° 33%
Thu 101°83° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:13 PM — 2 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Guadalupe Rd & Greenfield Rd stop 327 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Woodland Heights, Arizona