AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

Pond #5–Pond #2, 6 lakes

4.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Pond #5–Pond #2, 6 lakes is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch near Summer Mesa, AZ. The route passes Pond #1, Pond #7, Pond #2 and Pond #3 before reaching Pond #5 at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,280 – 1,289 ft4.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.39249, -111.73980
Nearest town Summer Mesa, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pond #5–Pond #2, 6 lakes

4.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Elevation 1,279–1,289 ft

Out & Back · Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

Trailhead: 33.39249, -111.73980

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 101°F / low 84° · precip 7% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Transit-accessible: Southern/Norfolk stop 195 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Santan Vista Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Eastern Canal Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Santan Vista Trail, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Eastern Canal Trail, heading E.
  6. 1.2 miPass Pond #1.
  7. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftSharp left onto Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 150 ftPass Pond #7.
  11. 450 ftPass Pond #2.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  14. 250 ftPass Pond #3.
  15. 100 ftReach Pond #5, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  20. 1 miContinue straight onto Eastern Canal Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Santan Vista Trail, heading N.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Eastern Canal Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Santan Vista Trail, heading NW.
  24. 0.5 miArrive 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-6-lakes-7-km

Trail surface

43% paved9% dirt3% gravel45% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 101°F84°
Feels like95°Precip7%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity25%
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Sat 100°81°
Sun 102°79°
Mon 103°89°
Tue 105°92°
Wed 103°90° 32%
Thu 101°87° 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 7:14 PM — 2 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Southern/Norfolk stop 195 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Summer Mesa, Arizona