Sunrise Mountain Trail

The Sunrise Mountain Trail is comprised of 3 sequential loops, each progressively more difficult than the last. While none of these loops are especially difficult, they provide you with access to as much or as little of the trail as you want while minimizing feelings of repetition from traveling out and back on the same stretch of trail. If you make it all the way to the final loop, you'll be rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding desert, and if you're early enough, spectacular sunrises! Needless to say, bring your camera or phone to capture the view. The best time to enjoy this trail is early in the morning, as it quickly becomes inundated with visitors around 9:30-10am. Get out early, and you'll have the whole place to yourself. Parking for this trail is at Westwing Park in the same lot as if you were going to head up the Westwing Mountain Trail. From the lot, head east through a wash before catching the singletrack trail south through a neighborhood and past West Wing Elementary. After clearing the neighborhood, continue up the trail as it climbs modest grades through typical Sonoran Desert flora. In a few places along the way you'll experience forks in the trail, but regardless of the direction you choose you'll stay on the trail. It will be very clear if you've reached the end of a spur trail, as the trail will seem to disappear in front of you. Simply turn around to rejoin the main trail. If you choose to summit the final lollipop via the Sunrise Summit Access Spur, you'll be rewarded with great views and a chair someone stashed up there. I've spent many mornings enjoying the sunrise sitting at the top. While it might be hard, get your kids out of bed early and reach the top before sunrise for a view they'll never forget.