I’m preparing to hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim in May with a Boy Scout troop, so I’m doing a lot of walking. I hiked Sunrise trail a week ago. It’s in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. I am blessed to live near such a gem.
We started at the Ringtail Trail parking lot on 128th St., walked the 1,000 feet of vertical elevation to Sunrise peak, descended to Sunrise Access Area, then turned around and walked back to our starting point. So a total of 2,000 feet vertical elevation over the 10-mile trip taking 4.5 hours.
It’s considered “difficult” according to the trail guide. If you do it, wear good boots with stiff soles. Much of the trail is rocky, with 2- to 4-inch diameter stones underfoot (my least favorite footing).
Scottsdale subdivisions, with Phoenix far in the distance. You might recognize Camelback Mountain on the horizon: an iconic Phoenix hike.
View to the north, from the peak. You can see the thin line of the trail coming in from the left.
The desert is green like this only for a month or two in the Spring, if we get enough rain.
Bonus picture unrelated to Sunrise Peak. Pinnacle Peak Trail. My sister and her husband and I walked it recently. Popular with young women who like to jog it.
Looking northeast from the peak
