Very Large Cactus–104th Street Spur, 4 sights
2.3 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 49 min
Very Large Cactus–104th Street Spur, 4 sights is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Very Large Cactus at the turnaround, 0.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 108 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Very Large Cactus–104th Street Spur, 4 sights
2.3 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 49 min
Elevation 1,680–1,812 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 104th Street Spur · 33.64016, -111.85674
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 99°F / low 83° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on 104th Street Spur, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Saguaro Trail, heading SE.
- 400 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftReach Very Large Cactus, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto 104th Street Spur, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Levee trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto 104th Street Spur, heading W.
- 0.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:31 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:51 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from 104th Street Spur Trailhead
- Desert Spring Park Lake–104th Street Spur, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 241 ft
- Gateway Saddle–104th Street Spur Loop, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 683 ft
- 104th Street Spur–Levee trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 496 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–104th Street Spur, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 646 ft
- Bell Pass–104th Street Spur, 6 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 2,343 ft
- Prairie Falcon Overlook–Bell Pass, 7 sights 12.4 mi · ▲ 3,264 ft
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