Thunderbird Paseo Park

Rio Vista Pond & Arizona Diversion Trail via New River Trail

15.6 mi · ▲ 159 ft · 5 hr 17 min

Rio Vista Pond & Arizona Diversion Trail via New River Trail is a 15.6-mile out-and-back in Thunderbird Paseo Park near Royal Estates West, AZ. The route reaches Rio Vista Pond. It is mostly level, with 159 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,155 – 1,286 ft18.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Arizona Diversion Trail 33.60924, -112.18700
Nearest town Royal Estates West, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rio Vista Pond & Arizona Diversion Trail via New River Trail

15.6 mi · ▲ 159 ft · 5 hr 17 min

Elevation 1,154–1,285 ft

Out & Back · Thunderbird Paseo Park

Trailhead: Arizona Diversion Trail · 33.60924, -112.18700

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:07 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 112 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Arizona Diversion Trail, heading NW.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  3. 1.9 miTurn left onto Skunk Creek Trail, heading NW.
  4. 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miPass Rio Vista Pond.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto New River Trail, heading SW.
  8. 1.4 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 2.8 miReach Rio Vista Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 2.8 miBear left, heading SW.
  11. 1.4 miTurn left onto Skunk Creek Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  13. 1.3 miTurn right onto Arizona Diversion Trail, heading S.
  14. 1.9 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  16. 50 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

95% paved5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:07 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 4:58 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 112 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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