Purcell Tank & West Desert Hills Drive via Black Canyon Trail

9 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Purcell Tank & West Desert Hills Drive via Black Canyon Trail is a 9-mile out-and-back near Anthem, AZ. The route reaches Purcell Tank. It is mostly level, with 160 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,742 – 1,880 ft9.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Emery Henderson Trailhead;Black Canyon Trail 33.88125, -112.18014

Nearest town Anthem, AZ

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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Purcell Tank & West Desert Hills Drive via Black Canyon Trail

9 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Elevation 1,743–1,881 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Emery Henderson Trailhead;Black Canyon Trail · 33.88125, -112.18014

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 98°F / low 79° · precip 5% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

Start on Black Canyon Trail, heading S.
0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
2.8 miTurn left onto West Desert Hills Drive, heading S.
0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
50 ftPass Purcell Tank.
0.6 miBear right, heading E.
0.7 miReach Purcell Tank, then turn around and head back the way you came.
0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
0.3 miTurn right onto Black Canyon Trail, heading W.
2.8 miTurn left, heading N.
0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

64% dirt36% unspecified

Weather

Overcast98°F79°

Feels like94°Precip5%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity24%

Rained 0.7″ 3 days ago · trails may be muddy

Hourly temperature

100°75°

6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PM6:52 PM

Sat 98°77°

Sun 99°82°

Mon 100°83°

Tue 102°84°

Wed 101°84° 20%

Thu 99°85° 26%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~83 min). Leave by 5:09 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby