Motivated: South Mountain Loop - Marcos de Niza/Midlife Crisis/National Trail

More of a “Motivated Lite” hike for the Christmas week that is close in to Sun Lakes.

Description: South Mountain Loop from Pima Canyon Trailhead including Marcos de Niza trail, Midlife Crisis trail and a crosscut to the National trail to head back to the parking lot.

We will leave from the East Pima Canyon parking lot starting on the Marcos De Niza trail going clockwise. This will get the steepest portion of the hike completed first. There are nice views of Phoenix in the beginning from some of the plateaus. The latter part of the hike has some great rock formations to look at and explore.
There are a few areas where we will need to climb over or around and through some of the rocks, a fun experience.

Leader: Ted Maresh
Distance: 5.9 miles
Trailhead Elevation: AEG: 1,100 feet
Driving distance and driver fee: 15 miles
$2 fee.
Directions: Plug in “Pima Canyon Trailhead” into google maps or enter 4500 East Pima Canyon Road into your GPS.
Take I-10 to Elliott Road exit. Go West towards South Mountain. Take a right on South 48th Street. Stay in the left lane where 48th will bear to the left and then take a left into East Pima Canyon Road and follow it to the parking lot. Note*** E. Pima Canyon Road looks like you are turning into a golf course. It’s easy to miss.