AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Sunrise Trail

11.2 mi · ▲ 1,943 ft · 4 hr 42 min

Sunrise Trail is an 11.2-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Taliesin West, AZ. It climbs 1,943 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,700 – 2,976 ft11.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.59699, -111.80469
Nearest town Taliesin West, AZ
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sunrise Trail

11.2 mi · ▲ 1,943 ft · 4 hr 42 min

Elevation 1,698–2,975 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.59699, -111.80469

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 99°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.1 miSharp right onto Ringtail Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.7 miTurn right onto Sunrise Trail, heading NE.
  4. 1.9 miTurn left onto Andrew/Kinsey Trail (Moderately Difficult), heading SE.
  5. 2.4 miSharp left onto Western Trail (Hard), heading SE.
  6. 250 ftBear left onto Promenade Trail (Moderate), heading NE.
  7. 350 ftTurn left onto Overlook, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right onto Overlook Trail, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Overlook, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Overlook Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Overlook, heading SE.
  12. 200 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Overlook Trail, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Overlook, heading NE.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto Overlook Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftTurn left onto Overlook, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right onto Promenade Trail (Moderate), heading N.
  18. 350 ftBear right onto Western Trail (Hard), heading W.
  19. 250 ftSharp right onto Andrews-Kinsey Trail (Moderately Difficult), heading W.
  20. 2.4 miTurn right onto Sunrise Trail, heading S.
  21. 1.9 miTurn left onto Ringtail Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.7 miSharp left, heading S.
  23. 250 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/sunrise-trail-out-back-18-km-7314

Trail surface

98% dirt2% paved

Weather

OvercastTemperature 99°F82°
Feels like94°Precip4%Wind1 mphUV8Humidity28%
Rained 0.1″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
100°80°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Sat 98°81°
Sun 100°79°
Mon 101°84°
Tue 102°86°
Wed 102°86° 25%
Thu 99°85° 28%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Taliesin West, Arizona