Shadow Mountain Preserve

Shadow Mountain

1.3 mi · ▲ 782 ft · 49 min

Shadow Mountain is a 1.3-mile out-and-back in Shadow Mountain Preserve near Cactus, AZ. The route reaches Shadow Mountain at the turnaround, 0.5 miles in. It climbs 782 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,493 – 1,910 ft · steepest grade: 29%1.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.60588, -112.03206
Nearest town Cactus, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shadow Mountain

1.3 mi · ▲ 782 ft · 49 min

Elevation 1,492–1,911 ft

Out & Back · Shadow Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: 33.60588, -112.03206

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 100°F / low 81° · precip 6% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 434 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 350 ftPass Shadow Mountain.
  8. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 400 ftSharp left onto 310 - Shadow Mountain Big Loop Trail, heading NE.
  10. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  13. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  18. 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

96% dirt4% gravel

Weather

OvercastTemperature 100°F81°
Feels like95°Precip6%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity28%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°80°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 100°79°
Sun 101°77°
Mon 102°90°
Tue 104°92°
Wed 102°89° 19%
Thu 101°85° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 434 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead