Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

Ringneck Spring–Elephant Mountain Trail, 3 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 1,918 ft · 6 hr 12 min

Ringneck Spring–Elephant Mountain Trail, 3 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back in Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area near Wranglers Roost, AZ. The route reaches Ringneck Spring at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 1,918 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 64/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,054 – 3,163 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Maricopa Trail 33.86422, -112.05695
Nearest town Wranglers Roost, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ringneck Spring–Elephant Mountain Trail, 3 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 1,918 ft · 6 hr 12 min

Elevation 2,052–3,164 ft

Out & Back · Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

Trailhead: Maricopa Trail · 33.86422, -112.05695

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 96°F / low 78° · precip 3% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Maricopa Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  3. 3.9 miBear left, heading E.
  4. 2.6 miContinue straight onto Elephant Mountain Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Limestone Trail #252, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftReach Ringneck Spring, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftSharp right onto Elephant Mountain Trail, heading NE.
  10. 1 miContinue straight onto Spur Cross Trail, heading W.
  11. 2.6 miBear left, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Maricopa Trail, heading W.
  13. 3.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 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

71% dirt29% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 96°F78°
Feels like92°Precip3%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity26%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°75°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:52 PM
Sat 97°78°
Sun 98°80°
Mon 99°84°
Tue 100°85°
Wed 99°84° 22%
Thu 97°84° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:14 PM — 3 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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