Very Large Cactus–Levee trail, 4 sights
12.2 mi · ▲ 1,230 ft · 4 hr 41 min
Very Large Cactus–Levee trail, 4 sights is a 12.2-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Taliesin West, AZ. The route reaches Very Large Cactus at the turnaround, 6.1 miles in. It climbs 1,230 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Very Large Cactus–Levee trail, 4 sights
12.2 mi · ▲ 1,230 ft · 4 hr 41 min
Elevation 1,648–2,093 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: Lost Dog Wash Trail · 33.59946, -111.81348
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 99°F / low 82° · precip 5% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Kovach Family Nature Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading NE.
- 2.3 miContinue straight onto Quartz Trail, heading W.
- 1.3 miBear right onto Paradise Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Levee trail, heading N.
- 0.5 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 W.
- 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.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Levee trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 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.
- 2.3 miBear right onto Kovach Family Nature Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Lost Dog Wash Trail, heading SE.
- 400 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~86 min). Leave by 5:04 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Lost Dog Wash Trail Trailhead
- Anasazi Spur–Lost Dog Wash Trail Loop, 4 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 305 ft
- Old Jeep Trail–Ringtail Trail, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 430 ft
- Sunrise Peak–Peak Spur, 3 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 1,325 ft
- Promenade Trail (Moderate)–Sunrise Trail, 3 sights 11.5 mi · ▲ 1,742 ft
- Lower Ridgeline–Overlook, 4 sights 13.8 mi · ▲ 2,422 ft
- Lower Sonoran Trail–Sunrise Trail, 3 sights 15.1 mi · ▲ 3,260 ft
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Hikes near Taliesin West, Arizona