Phoenix: Shaw Butte-North Mountain Loop

-Mapped by Bob Wold

Trail Facts

• Distance: 11.5
• Miles from city center: 17

Waypoints

SNC001

Location: 33.59826, -112.066735

From parking area, head SW on side trail; in 250 ft., R @ T onto Trail 100

SNC002

Location: 33.598461, -112.070602

Bear R @ Y, hiking NW. In .3 mi., turn R @ T onto Trail #306 to start loop

SNC003

Location: 33.603649, -112.074501

Pass trailhead on R, then go L @ 4-way onto 4×4 road. In .2 mi., road zigs L for ridgeline climb past barrel cactus, ocotillo

SNC004

Location: 33.595268, -112.086494

Turn L @ Y for .2-mi. push to Shaw Butte, an exposed flattop spiked with radio towers

SNC005

Location: 33.593951, -112.086677

Shaw Butte (2,149 ft.): Look out across Valley of the Sun, ringed by distant ridgelines; retrace to WPT 4, turn L

SNC006

Location: 33.589748, -112.087601

Turn L @ T for descent E; ignore roads that cross path. In .4 mi., L @ T onto Trail 100. Go .2 mi. more and bear R @ Y (stay on 100)

SNC007

Location: 33.594131, -112.073196

Turn R @ 3-way onto Trail 100a. In .4 mi., turn R @ 3-way onto trail winding S

SNC008

Location: 33.589377, -112.066863

Bear R @ Y onto paved North Mtn. Summit Rd.

SNC009

Location: 33.587686, -112.066939

Turn R to stay on road. In 400 ft., trail curves to SW in scrubby foothills

SNC010

Location: 33.585171, -112.072098

North Mtn. (2,104 ft.): Squaw Peak’s folds break up cityscape to SE; retrace steps to WPT 7 and turn R (N) onto Trail 100

SNC011

Location: 33.597889, -112.071999

Turn R @ 4-way; retrace steps to parking lot

Cacti

Location: 33.595833, -112.08078

©Bob Wold

Sunrise

Location: 33.594662, -112.084068

©Bob Wold

Backlit Saguaro

Location: 33.593285, -112.088074

©Bob Wold

Ocotillo at sunrise

Location: 33.591335, -112.087685

©Bob Wold

Views from North Mountain

Location: 33.585428, -112.072037

©Bob Wold