Sunset hikes

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Balanced Rock–The Amphitheater, 3 rocks 0.4 mi away

   Leave by 5:12 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:12 PM
   2. Sunset6:50 PM
   3. Head back7:05 PM
   4. At your car8:16 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.9 mi to the viewpoint · 280 ft climb · 150 min of walking

2. Branding Iron Trail–Cow Poke Trail, 5 sights 0.9 mi away

   Leave by 5:43 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:43 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:50 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.8 mi to the viewpoint · 140 ft climb · 92 min of walking

3. Black Hill Tank–East Dixileta Drive, 4 sights 1.8 mi away

   Be there by 6:31 PM

   1. Be there6:31 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Dark7:16 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

4. McDowell Sonoran Preserve Viewpoint–Tom's Thumb Viewpoint, 9 sights 2.1 mi away

   Leave by 2:57 PM

   1. Leave trailhead2:57 PM
   2. Sunset6:50 PM
   3. Head back7:05 PM
   4. At your car10:15 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 10:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   7.6 mi to the viewpoint · 970 ft climb · 404 min of walking

5. Brown's Mountain–Brown's Summit Viewpoint, 10 sights 2.1 mi away

   Leave by 4:08 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:08 PM
   2. Sunset6:50 PM
   3. Head back7:05 PM
   4. At your car9:27 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 9:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.5 mi to the viewpoint · 320 ft climb · 283 min of walking

6. Dixileta Trail via Whiskey Bottle Trail 2.2 mi away

   Leave by 6:25 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:25 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:11 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 5 min before dark.

   0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 10 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

7. Brown's Summit Viewpoint–High Desert Trail, 13 sights 2.3 mi away

   Leave by 3:52 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:52 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car9:39 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 9:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.9 mi to the viewpoint · 500 ft climb · 311 min of walking

8. The Amphitheater–118th St. Trail, 3 sights 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 5:45 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:45 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:49 PM
   5. Dark7:16 PM

   Back at your car by 7:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.8 mi to the viewpoint · 90 ft climb · 89 min of walking

9. Rock Tank Trail–Vaquero Trail, 3 sights 2.6 mi away

   Be there by 6:31 PM

   1. Be there6:31 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Dark7:16 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

10. Sunset Vista–Brown's Ranch Road Loop, 3 sights 2.7 mi away

    Leave by 5:51 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:51 PM
    2. Sunset6:51 PM
    3. Head back7:06 PM
    4. At your car7:47 PM
    5. Dark7:16 PM

    Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.5 mi to the viewpoint · 100 ft climb · 82 min of walking

11. Cholla Mtn Viewpoint–Sunset Vista, 5 sights 2.9 mi away

    Leave by 6:26 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
    2. Sunset6:51 PM
    3. Head back7:06 PM
    4. At your car7:11 PM
    5. Dark7:16 PM

    Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 4 min before dark.

    0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 11 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

12. Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Tom's Thumb Viewpoint, 10 sights 3.4 mi away

    Leave by 3:52 PM

    1. Leave trailhead3:52 PM
    2. Sunset6:50 PM
    3. Head back7:05 PM
    4. At your car9:16 PM
    5. Dark7:16 PM

    Back at your car by 9:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    5.3 mi to the viewpoint · 1040 ft climb · 290 min of walking