AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Sidewinder Overlook–Rock Tank, 7 sights

3 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 4 min

Sidewinder Overlook–Rock Tank, 7 sights is a 3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Sincuidados, AZ. The route passes Sidewinder Overlook and Rock Tank. It is mostly level, with 141 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,421 – 2,566 ft3.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Powerline Road #2 33.75109, -111.87634
Nearest town Sincuidados, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sidewinder Overlook–Rock Tank, 7 sights

3 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 4 min

Elevation 2,423–2,564 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: Powerline Road #2 · 33.75109, -111.87634

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 98°F / low 75° · precip 3% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start on Crested Saguaro, heading N.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Social Trail, heading E.
  4. 100 ftTurn left onto Rock Tank Trail, heading NE.
  5. 150 ftBear left onto K-Rock Slab Drop, heading N.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Upper Slab Drop, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto K-Rock Hi Slab Drop, heading N.
  8. 50 ftPass Sidewinder Overlook.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Sidewinder Loop 1, heading N.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Sidewinder, heading N.
  11. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Loop 1, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Sidewinder Loop 2, heading NW.
  13. 250 ftTurn right onto Latigo Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.5 miContinue straight onto West Express, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Dare A Sarah Option, heading N.
  16. 150 ftTurn right onto Old Trail 16 - Dare A Sarah, heading N.
  17. 450 ftContinue straight onto Dare A. Sarah Option, heading NE.
  18. 100 ftBear right onto Old Trail 16 - Dare A Sarah, heading NE.
  19. 100 ftTurn right onto Dare A. Sarah Option, heading NE.
  20. 100 ftBear right onto Old Trail 16 - Dare A Sarah, heading N.
  21. 200 ftTurn right onto Dare A. Sarah Option, heading N.
  22. 50 ftBear right onto Old Trail 16 - Dare A Sarah, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Scorpion Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Scorpion Trail Overlook, heading E.
  25. 50 ftSharp right onto Scorpion Trail, heading E.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Scorpion Trail Bypass 2, heading E.
  27. 100 ftContinue straight onto Scorpion Trail, heading E.
  28. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  31. 0.2 miPass Rock Tank.
  32. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  33. 0.1 miTurn left onto Rock Tank Trail, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miTurn right onto Latigo Trail, heading S.
  35. 250 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Loop 2, heading S.
  36. 250 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Loop 1, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftTurn right onto Sidewinder, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftBear left onto Sidewinder Loop 1, heading W.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto K-Rock Hi Slab Drop, heading SW.
  40. 50 ftBear right onto K-Rock Slab Drop, heading SW.
  41. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rock Tank Trail, heading S.
  43. 50 ftTurn right onto Social Trail, heading S.
  44. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  45. 50 ftTurn left onto Crested Saguaro, heading S.
  46. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/sidewinder-overlook-rock-tank-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

84% dirt16% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 98°F75°
Feels like86°Precip3%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity28%
Rained 0.3″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°75°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Sat 97°77°
Sun 99°80°
Mon 98°84°
Tue 99°84°
Wed 98°84° 21%
Thu 96°83° 22%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:07 PM — 9 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

More from Powerline Road #2 Trailhead

Hikes near Sincuidados, Arizona