Raccoon Bluff–Big Sister Trail Loop, 5 sights is an 11.2-mile loop near Fort McDowell, AZ. The route reaches Raccoon Bluff. It climbs 1,157 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,316 – 1,821 ft · steepest grade: 19%11.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.54689, -111.64573
Nearest town Fort McDowell, AZ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Raccoon Bluff–Big Sister Trail Loop, 5 sights
11.2 mi · ▲ 1,157 ft · 4 hr 19 min
Elevation 1,316–1,820 ft
Loop
Trailhead: 33.54689, -111.64573
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftPass Raccoon Bluff.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto North Phon D Sutton Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 300 ftBear left onto Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Saguaro Trail, heading S.
- 200 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto The Cut, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Saddle Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 miSharp right onto Saguaro Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Twisted Sister Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Big Sister Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Twisted Sister Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Bush Lite West, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
70% dirt30% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:50 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~82 min). Leave by 5:08 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 648 ft
- Raccoon Bluff–Granite Reef Dam Road (Closed), 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 524 ft
- Bush Lite West 5.7 mi · ▲ 753 ft
- Bush Lite West 6.3 mi · ▲ 779 ft
- Lower Salt River Interpretive Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 737 ft
- Mine Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 737 ft
Get outside more
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