Bursera Trail

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Head north out of the parking lot at 19th Avenue and Chandler Boulevard - you'll be on Pyramid Trail for a short distance. You'll soon come to an intersection where a trail marker shows Bursera Trail branching off to the left. Bursera Trail starts off rather tame but soon becomes a steep, twisting climb, rising 600 feet in 1.5 miles.

Although generally wide and non-technical, this trail is definitely moderately difficult, as the switchbacks are tight and often steep. Some definite grunt climbs with a few overlooks to catch your breath and soak in the view. As you climb higher there will be just a few flatter or brief downhill sections interspersed with the climbs, and the view becomes more stunning. To the north, you'll be able to look down into the Gila Valley on the neighboring Gila Trail and Lost Ranch Trail and ruins.

Much of the trail is just on the northern side of the ridgeline, but you'll have frequent viewpoints to the south affording expansive views across the Ahwatukee neighborhoods, agricultural fields of the Gila Indian community, and the rugged Estrella Mountains to the southwest. The ridgeline sections of the trail are great fun. The exposure is not excessive, but this is Arizona where everything bitesanimals, plants, and rocksso be careful heading into some of the obscured turns.

The descent continues down the west side, all the way to the bottom of the valley and through the wash to meet up with the Gila Trail. Take a right as Bursera and Gila Trail briefly merge, and then Bursera will branch off to the left heading upward for some more climbing. This section was formerly referred to as the Kebo Trail by those who were hiking the area before the official naming.

There will be more switchbacks near the top until you finally meet up with the west section of National Trail.