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An easy loop around the west side of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.


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Map Key

5.5

Miles

8.9

KM

Point to Point

2,297' 700 m

High

1,694' 516 m

Low

628' 191 m

Up

633' 193 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

An awesome loop hike through the west McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. This route is singletrack over well-marked rolling terrain.

Description

Leaving out of the Gateway Trail, hike the Saguaro Trail on a slight uphill to the first sign and fork in the trail. Go right and follow the Gateway Loop Trail counter-clockwise around the mountain. Continue past the Paradise Trail and Bell Pass Trail turnoffs on your right.

Head uphill and over the Gateway Saddle for spectacular views of the north valley.

Heading past the saddle, cruise down a screaming downhill to the junction with the Windgate Pass Trail. Turn right on Windgate Pass Trail. Hike rolling terrain for about a mile and you'll see the turn to the left onto the Desert Park Trail.

It's all downhill from here. You hike around the mountain and under a few bridges back to the Gateway Trail.

Contacts

Land Manager: City of Scottsdale

Shared By:

Tom Dobson

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 8 votes

#3508

Overall
  4.0 from 8 votes
5 Star
13%
4 Star
75%
3 Star
13%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#141

in Arizona

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Overall
28 Views Last Month
2,711 Since Apr 12, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
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75%
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Photos

Destination...Tom Thumb
May 15, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ
Bridge along the Desert Park Trail
Apr 12, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ
McDowell Sonoran Preserve border. From the Desert Park Trail
Apr 12, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ
Lookout Point
Apr 12, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ
Trailhead at Daybreak
Apr 12, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ
Tunnel
Apr 12, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 74 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Feb 13, 2022
Jim Pierce
Great trail 6.1mi
Dec 27, 2018
TJ Wilson
Nov 10, 2018
Mark Seiferth
Aug 25, 2018
Tori Bowman
Jul 29, 2018
C O
5.5mi
Mar 23, 2018
Eduard Pfeffer
Enjoyed it. 5.5mi
Mar 12, 2018
Brandi Joy
5.5mi
Feb 20, 2018
Hussein Alkhafaji
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