McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Sunset Vista–Brown's Ranch Road, 4 sights

7.3 mi · ▲ 284 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Sunset Vista–Brown's Ranch Road, 4 sights is a 7.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Reata Pass, AZ. The route reaches Sunset Vista at the turnaround, 3.7 miles in. It climbs 284 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,585 – 2,809 ft7.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Connector 33.77004, -111.78972
Nearest town Reata Pass, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sunset Vista–Brown's Ranch Road, 4 sights

7.3 mi · ▲ 284 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Elevation 2,585–2,810 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: Connector · 33.77004, -111.78972

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:48 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 450 ftTurn left onto Connector, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Powerline Road #2, heading W.
  4. 1.8 miTurn left onto Chuckwagon Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Brown's Ranch Road, heading SW.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Sunset Vista Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftReach Sunset Vista, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Brown's Ranch Road, heading N.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Chuckwagon Trail, heading N.
  12. 1.2 miTurn right onto Powerline Road #2, heading SE.
  13. 1.8 miTurn left onto Connector, heading E.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  15. 450 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

98% dirt2% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:48 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Connector Trailhead