Ranger Trail & Upper Gila Trail via National Trail
10.1 mi · ▲ 2,119 ft · 4 hr 26 min
Ranger Trail & Upper Gila Trail via National Trail is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Saint Johns Mission, AZ. It climbs 2,119 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ranger Trail & Upper Gila Trail via National Trail
10.1 mi · ▲ 2,119 ft · 4 hr 26 min
Elevation 1,287–2,451 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve
Trailhead: 33.30295, -112.13038
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 102°F / low 82° · precip 12% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Gila Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bursera Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto National Trail, heading N.
- 1.8 miContinue straight onto Prospector to National, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto National Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miBear right onto Ranger Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto National Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Upper Gila Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto National Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miReach Ranger Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Upper Gila Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto National Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Ranger Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto National Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miBear left onto Prospector to National, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto National Trail, heading SW.
- 1.8 miTurn left onto Bursera Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Gila Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Bursera Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 432 ft
- Bursera Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 751 ft
- National Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,067 ft
- Gila Trail Loop 4.4 mi · ▲ 941 ft
- Gila Trail & Prospector Loop 5.4 mi · ▲ 867 ft
- National Trail 10.7 mi · ▲ 2,265 ft
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