Gila Trail - South Mountain Photoset • astrobrewer • 2025-04-27 • HikeArizona.COM

Gila Trail - South Mountain, AZ

	2025-04-27
	4 by astrobrewer

Gila Trail - South Mountain

Phoenix, AZ

Gila Trail - South Mountain

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking	21.04 Miles	4,012 AEG

Hiking	21.04 Miles	8 Hrs 4 Mns	2.82 mph
	4,012 ft AEG	36 Mns Break

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Bursera Trail - South Mountain

Kiwanis Trail - South Mountain

Las Lomitas Trail - South Mountain

Max Delta Trail

Alta Trail

Ma Ha Tuak Perimeter Trail

Partners

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Forecast was for another cool-ish weekend day, so I took advantage of it. Did the same 20 mile loop trail as last weekend, but this time did it counter-clockwise which should have been easier. The route started at Bursera trailhead heading toward Lost Ranch. Took the Gila Trail eastward this time to where it meets National Trail. Took National east down the hill, then Kiwanis Trail. Then Las Lomitas to Max Delta.

After a short rest and a snack at the Bike Hub at the "Y". Then up and over the Alta Trail. On Alta I started noticing that my brand new boots that I was breaking in didn't fit as well as I thought they would in the store. Not great. Still another 15 miles to go. Hopefully it won't be too bad (my feet were in pain for the last 5 or 6 miles

- not fun). Ate my lunch at the San Juan lookout, then headed north to Ma Ha Tuak Perimeter trail. There was a nice breeze that kept it cool and comfortable. As the trail got closer to the 202 freeway that breeze turned into a stiff headwind that tried to take my hat. All day there were times with no wind when it was hot, and strong wind when it felt cold. On average it was pretty comfortable.

From the Perimeter Trail to National Trail to Gila Trail and then back. This time I hiked the entire length of the Gila Trail starting from the middle to the east end, and from the west end back to the middle. There are shorter ways to hike Gila end to end, but none of then are real short since neither end of the trail is at a trailhead.

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