Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Pond #5–Pond #6, 5 lakes
2.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 56 min
Pond #5–Pond #6, 5 lakes is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch near Suntree, AZ. The route passes Pond #6, Pond #5, Water Ranch Lake and 2 more. 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
Getting there
Directions
Pond #5–Pond #6, 5 lakes
2.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 56 min
Elevation 1,273–1,285 ft
Out & Back · Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Trailhead: Sandpiper Escape · 33.35913, -111.73739
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 101°F / low 84° · precip 6% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Transit-accessible: Guadalupe Rd & Greenfield Rd stop 610 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Sandpiper Escape, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Pond #6.
- 50 ftPass Pond #5.
- 0.1 miPass Water Ranch Lake.
- 50 ftPass Pond #7.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Prickly Pear Pass, heading N.
- 150 ftPass Pond #1.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 300 ftBear left onto Butterfly Breeze Way, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Burro Bush Boulevard, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 1 miReach Pond #5, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 500 ftBear right onto Burro Bush Boulevard, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Butterfly Breeze Way, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Prickly Pear Pass, heading SE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sandpiper Escape, heading S.
- 400 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:13 PM — 2 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Guadalupe Rd & Greenfield Rd stop 610 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Sandpiper Escape Trailhead
- Pond #2–Pond #3, 4 lakes 5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Pond #5–Pond #2, 6 lakes 5.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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