Very Large Cactus–Anasazi Spur, 7 sights
12.9 mi · ▲ 1,258 ft · 4 hr 56 min
Very Large Cactus–Anasazi Spur, 7 sights is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Taliesin West, AZ. The route reaches Very Large Cactus at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 1,258 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 27/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Very Large Cactus–Anasazi Spur, 7 sights
12.9 mi · ▲ 1,258 ft · 4 hr 56 min
Elevation 1,648–2,093 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.59699, -111.80469
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ringtail Trail, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right onto Anasazi Spur, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Sunrise Trail, heading N.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading NW.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Quartz Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miBear right onto Paradise Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Levee trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Crossover Trail, heading W.
- 250 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Saguaro Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Very Large Cactus, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Levee trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Paradise Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miBear left onto Quartz Trail, heading SW.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading SE.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Sunrise Trail, heading E.
- 350 ftSharp right onto Anasazi Spur, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Ringtail Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:12 PM — 1 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lost Dog Overlook–Anasazi Spur, 4 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 333 ft
- Taliesin Overlook–Anasazi Spur, 5 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 397 ft
- Sunrise Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 1,074 ft
- Sunrise Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 1,647 ft
- Sunrise Trail 11 mi · ▲ 1,770 ft
- Sunrise Trail 11.2 mi · ▲ 1,943 ft
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