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One of the best but most difficult trails in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.


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Map Key

4.4

Miles

7.1

KM

Singletrack

2,850' 869 m

High

1,774' 541 m

Low

1,120' 341 m

Up

952' 290 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

30%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Description

From the Lost Dog trailhead, take the Lost Dog Wash Trail to the first junction and take a right to get on the Sunrise Trail.

There's a small climb which leads to another junction. Take it left to stay on Sunrise and climb up the rocky trail. It's a constant climb all the way to the top of the first switchbacks from here. Keep climbing and eventually, the rocky trail will turn into hardpack. Climb up the switchbacks to get to the false summit and enjoy fantastic views.

Continue on the Sunrise trail along the mountain edge for another mile or so until you reach the Sunrise Peak Spur. From here you can turn around and go down or continue down the other side of Sunrise Trail. It's mostly hardpack with occasional rock gardens, but it is some awesomely scary downhill.

Take it down to the Sunrise Trail and either take the trail along Via Linda road back to the Lost Dog Trailhead or turn around and go back up (Ridiculous!!!)

Contacts

Land Manager: Maricopa County Parks

Shared By:

Daniel Young

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 14 votes

#11332

Overall
  3.7 from 14 votes
5 Star
21%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
14%
2 Star
7%
1 Star
7%
Trail Rankings

#291

in Arizona

#11,332

Overall
19 Views Last Month
4,970 Since Sep 4, 2013
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
7%
0%
80%
13%

Photos

McDowell Mountain | Epic climb, crowded descent on Lost Dog Wash, Old Jeep, and Sunrise | 12/29/2019
Dec 29, 2019 near Fountai…, AZ
View from the top of Sunrise trail.  136th street spur can be seen headed down the mountain
Sep 4, 2013 near Fountai…, AZ
Headed up the initial climb
Sep 4, 2013 near Fountai…, AZ
Top of the first climb
Aug 4, 2013 near Fountai…, AZ
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Jan 1, 2024
Hiko Muhic
Jun 3, 2023
Omar Rodriguez
Aug 25, 2020
Doug Saffran
Did the climb up from Lost Dog Wash. The switchbacks at the top are indeed exclusively hike-a-bike. Going down the other side is the same.
Apr 28, 2019
J- Ru
Apr 27, 2019
J- Ru
Mar 11, 2019
James Calvetti
Jan 25, 2019
Buckaroo Banzai
Many hikers. Now very rocky/bumpy, with the trail acting as a "wash" and washing away the dirt in many areas, leaving a bunch of rocks behind. 4.4mi — 2h 00m
Aug 15, 2018
Private User
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