Quartz Trail
4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Quartz Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. It climbs 411 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Quartz Trail
4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Elevation 1,568–1,999 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.62744, -111.85485
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 200 ftSharp left onto Quartz Trail, heading NE.
- 2.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 250 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 1.3 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Quartz Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Quartz Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 395 ft
- Paradise Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 360 ft
- Quartz Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 389 ft
- Taliesin Overlook–Mesquite Tree, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 506 ft
- Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 411 ft
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Hikes near McDowell Mountain Ranch, Arizona