Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trail 44 - North Mountain National Viewpoint & Trail 101 via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

7.3 mi · ▲ 1,142 ft · 3 hr

Trail 44 - North Mountain National Viewpoint & Trail 101 via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 7.3-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Stony Mountain Villas, AZ. The route reaches Trail 44 - North Mountain National Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.7 miles in. It climbs 1,142 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,391 – 2,018 ft · steepest grade: 26%8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.59233, -112.04063
Nearest town Stony Mountain Villas, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Trail 44 - North Mountain National Viewpoint & Trail 101 via #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

7.3 mi · ▲ 1,142 ft · 3 hr

Elevation 1,390–2,018 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.59233, -112.04063

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 140 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  4. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  6. 0.5 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.7 miBear left, heading W.
  8. 500 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 0.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 150 ftTurn left onto Trail 101, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Mountain Summit Trail, heading S.
  15. 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
  16. 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  18. 450 ftContinue straight onto Trail 44 - North Mountain National Trail, heading NW.
  19. 500 ftReach Trail 44 - North Mountain National Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 0.1 miSharp left onto North Mountain Summit Trail, heading N.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Trail 101, heading N.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  25. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  26. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading N.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  29. 2 miBear left, heading SE.
  30. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  31. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  32. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  33. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

69% dirt5% paved26% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~95 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 140 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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