The McDowell Sonoran Preserve located in Scottsdale, Arizona is a treasure fiercely guarded by the locals. It’s not surprising that this is the case – the preserve is comprised of over 30,000 acres of showy upper Sonoran desert, and is, in fact, the largest urban preserve in the United States. It provides a beautiful contrast to nearby development, and with trails for every level of hiker, mountain biker, and horseback rider, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve offers a remarkably accessible escape from the hustle and bustle of the every day.
There are many possible routes to take in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and these can be put together in various ways to suit the level of challenge the hiker is looking for. The hikes I’ve described here are either a single trail, or a combination of trails, each emanating from one of the major trailheads:
Trail names will become live links as I publish blog posts on each one. Subscribe now (at the bottom of this page) if you would like to be notified of these posts as they become available.
Select a hike for more details including:
- specific location and interactive map,
- trail statistics and description of trail quality, and
- GPS data files available for download in three formats (GPX, KML and GeoJSON).
Hikes from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
| Trail Name | Distance | Elev Gain | Level |
| TTT to Marcus Landslide | 3.8 miles | 423 feet |  |
| TTT to Tom’s Thumb | 2 miles (4 miles return) | 1,209 feet |  |
| TTT to Gateway Trailhead via Windgate Pass | 7 miles (14 miles return) | 1,607 feet |  |
| TTT to Gateway via East End and Bell Pass | 7.5 miles (15 miles return) | 1,723 feet | |
Hikes from Gateway Trailhead
| Trail Name | Distance | Elev Gain | Level |
| Gateway Loop Trail | 4.3 miles | 731 feet | |
| Gateway to Inspiration Point | 2.8 miles (5.6 miles return) | 1,055 feet |  |
| Gateway to Windgate Pass | 3.6 miles (7.2 miles return) | 1,461 feet | |
| Gateway to Bell Pass | 4.6 miles (9.2 miles return) | 1,554 feet | |
| Gateway – Bell Pass – Windgate Pass Loop | 9.1 miles | 2,180 feet | |
| Gateway to Tom’s Thumb via Windgate Pass | 5.5 miles (10.10 miles return) | 2,504 feet | |
| Gateway – Tom’s Thumb – East End – Bell Pass Loop | 11.6 miles | 3,226 feet | |
| Gateway to Thompson Peak via Bell Pass | 6.9 miles (13.8 miles return) | 3,838feet | |
Hikes from Lost Dog Wash (LDW) Trailhead
| Trail Name | Distance | Elev Gain | Level |
| LDW – Ringtail Loop | 2.8 miles | 300 feet |  |
| LDW – Taliesin Overlook | 2 miles (4 miles return) | 344 feet | |
| LDW – Old Jeep Trail Loop | 4 miles | 497 feet | |
| LDW – Quartz Trail | 4.4 miles (8.8 miles return) | 1,054 feet | |
| LDW – Sunrise Peak | 2.8 miles (5.6 miles return) | 1,440 feet | |
| LDW – Sunrise Trailhead | 4.4 miles (8.8 miles return) | 1,357 feet | |
Hikes from 136th Street Trailhead
| Trail Name | Distance | Elev Gain | Level |
| 136th Street Spur Trail | 1.6 miles (3.2 miles return) | 882 feet | |
Hikes from Sunrise Trailhead
| Trail Name | Distance | Elev Gain | Level |
| Sunrise Trail – Overlook | 1.1 miles (2.2 miles return) | 542 feet | |
| Sunrise Trail – Sunrise Peak | 1.8 miles (3.6 miles return) | 1,194 feet | |
| Sunrise Trail to LDW Trailhead | 4.4 miles (8.8 miles return) | 1,144 feet | |
| Sunrise to Andrews Kinsey (AK) Trail | 4.4 miles (8.8 miles return) | 1,797 feet | |
| Sunrise to AK Trail w Western Loop | 10.7 miles | 2,439 feet | |
Hikes from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
| Trail Name | Distance | Elev Gain | Level |
| Brown’s Mountain Loop | 4.6 miles | 681 feet | |
| Brown’s Mountain / Cone Mountain Loop | 5.9 miles | 784 feet | |
Hike Levels
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Easiest |
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Easy |
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Moderate |
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Moderately Difficult |
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Difficult |
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Extremely Difficult |
For more detailed information about the meaning of the hike levels, have a look at About the Hike Levels.
Further Information
Note that elevation gain is cumulative. For information about my methodology in obtaining and displaying trail statistics, read About the Trail Data.
An overview of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and its trailheads can be viewed on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Trailhead Map.
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