McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Quartz Trail

9.1 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft · 3 hr 35 min

Quartz Trail is a 9.1-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. It climbs 1,099 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,542 – 2,641 ft9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.62292, -111.86137
Nearest town McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Quartz Trail

9.1 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft · 3 hr 35 min

Elevation 1,541–2,640 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.62292, -111.86137

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miBear left onto Quartz Trail, heading N.
  3. 4.4 miReach Quartz Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 4.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

96% dirt4% paved

Weather

OvercastTemperature 102°F82°
Feels like89°Precip4%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity30%
Rained 0.3″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
105°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Sun 104°79°
Mon 102°92°
Tue 104°91°
Wed 102°90° 24%
Thu 104°88° 21%
Fri 97°81° 19%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:05 PM — 9 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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