Where to Find Perfect Hiking in Scottsdale for All Ages

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The McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail in North Scottsdale, Arizona, is an ideal way for hikers of all ages and skill levels to explore the beauty of the Sonoran Desert in the Phoenix area. Read on for the best hiking in Scottsdale.
The Phoenix area provides many hiking opportunities , but I will admit that I rarely stray from my favorite place. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail is perfect for all ages and ability levels. It is easily accessible from Downtown Scottsdale and all areas of Scottsdale. The trailhead offers a range of trails, from an easy nature trail to a rugged 9.5-mile hike around the mountains. It also provides amazing views of the valley and surrounding natural areas.
Many people imagine the desert as barren, but the Sonoran Desert is a complex ecosystem with many types of flowering shrubs, cacti, and trees. Although the foliage is not dense, the various shapes and textures of the foliage interact in interesting ways. I also love how you can see across the landscape to the multiple shades of green rolling along the hills. The lushness may change with the temperatures and amount of rain, but there is always some green and often flowers.
When hiking in Scottsdale, you can explore Flora and fauna at McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Photo by Judy Karnia
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve encompasses over 30,000 acres in North Scottsdale , the largest urban preserve in the country. The ten trailheads lead to 200 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. I usually choose the Gateway Trailhead due to the easy accessibility from my home in Old Town and the variety of trails.

A word of warning : the preserve is wild land. No stairs or railings guide your path, and wild animals make this their home. Except for the Nature Loop, much of the trail is rocky, and parts are steep. Rattlesnakes can live throughout the preserve. Although I have only seen two, and they were not on the two main trails, you should be alert for them anywhere. Keep your distance and move away from them as quickly as you can. I was able to walk around the first one I saw and turned around at the second one. Cougars, bobcats, and coyotes also live in this area, but I have never seen one or evidence of one on the trails.

It may seem obvious, but the desert is hot and dry. Pay attention to the weather, especially the temperature. The low humidity often fools visitors to Arizona into underestimating the heat. Bring more water than you think you need and snacks for longer hikes.
Prickly Pear cactus is a common sight when hiking in Scottsdale. Photo by Judy Karnia
History of the Preserve
Humans first visited the North Scottsdale area from 5000 BC to 50 AD. The Hohokam, who built the first irrigation canals in the Phoenix area, utilized the preserve for resources from 100 to 1450 AD. The Yavapai then moved into the area as hunter-gatherers. We hike among the same plants Native Americans used for food and materials.
In the 1860s, European settlers began mining and ranching in the area. The US Army established Camp McDowell just east of the current preserve in 1865. As urban growth accelerated, increased use of the area led to ecological disturbance and fragmentation.
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy began in 1991 to preserve the natural integrity of this part of Scottsdale. In 1994, the City of Scottsdale began purchasing land within the McDowell Mountains, and Scottsdale citizens voted twice for a tax to raise funds for this.
Heading to the Trailhead for Hiking in Scottsdale
First of all, the Gateway trailhead is easy to find and has ample parking. Only once in the dozens of times I have been there have I had to drive around for a few minutes to find a spot. Not to mention the lovely winding entranceway with the McDowell Mountains beckoning just beyond it.
The trailhead also contains clean, modern bathrooms and a potable water station. Rangers are often available for guidance. You can also find trail maps and a 3D model. One main trail leads across a metal bridge from this area, and the other paths split off from it.
Trailhead of McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail. Photo by Judy Karnia
Saguaro Trail
The Saguaro Trail is the main trail leading from the trailhead. The path is wide, with a mild slope upward and a spectacular view of the McDowell Mountains calling you onward. The Bajada Nature Trail splits off to the right from this trail. After four-tenths of a mile, a sign helps you decide which way to go. Straight ahead is the Saguaro Loop Trail, and the other two directions lead you around the Gateway Loop Trail. If you take the right path, you will reach the junction for the Bell Pass Trail and choose the left to approach the Windgate Pass Trail.
Bajada Nature Trail
For those looking to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert but not looking to climb the mountain, the Bajada Nature Trail offers wonderful views in the distance and diverse cacti, trees, and flowering shrubs up close. The half-mile route is a flat, wide dirt path with educational placards along the way. You can learn about the native animal and plant life and the interaction between people and the non-human world. This trail is perfect for families and groups of all ages and abilities.
Entrance to Bajada Nature Trail. Photo by Judy Karnia
Saguaro Loop Trail
At the top of the Saguaro Trail, straight ahead is the Saguaro Loop Trail. These two routes combine for about a 1.5-mile round-trip hike. This provides a quick opportunity to explore the desert and gain some elevation to see Phoenix from above.
Gateway Loop Trail
The most popular route from the Gateway Trailhead seems to be the Gateway Loop Trail. The 4.5-mile trek rises 650 feet in elevation as it winds around a mountain. For most of the hike, the metropolitan area of Phoenix spreads out beneath you. For one segment, however, the city disappears, and the quiet and beauty of the desert overtakes you. A large portion of the way is a gradual incline or decline, but the middle is a bit steep.
View from Gateway Loop at the height of spring flowers. Photo by Judy Karnia
Bell Pass Trail is My Favorite Spot for Hiking in Scottsdale
While I love hiking anywhere in the preserve, the Bell Pass Trail is my favorite. After branching off of the South half of the Gateway Loop Trail, the path becomes increasingly steep. Fortunately, the city views behind you provide a great excuse to pause and catch your breath. The canyon narrows with dark expanses of steep dark rock dotted with foliage on the right and rolling hills of saguaro and cholla cacti on the left. The pass is barely visible when embarking on the trail and progressively looks achievable.
While the gradual incline of the three miles from the trailhead tires me a bit, the last half mile takes some stamina. At one point, a sign at a fork in the road signals two directions: one “steeper” and one “less steep”. As the “less steep” path is still quite steep and longer, I usually choose the “steeper” one and take my time climbing it. The “steeper” part does have a big drop-off, so you might prefer the other if you are unsure of your footing.
Bell Pass rewards those who struggle up to its 3,200-foot elevation with a sweeping vista of mostly unoccupied desert with mountains across the landscape. After immersing in the sights for a bit, you can make the easier descent back to the trailhead while watching the city buildings grow in size. Another option is to continue and meet up with the Windgate Pass Trail.
View from Bell Pass while hiking in Scottsdale. Photo by Judy Karnia
Windgate Pass Trail
The Windgate Pass Trail branches off of the north side of the Gateway Loop Trail and swings around the mountains up to Inspiration Viewpoint, then beyond to the pass. The route is not as difficult as the Bell Pass Trail, and I will choose the six-mile round trip to the viewpoint for a more leisurely hike. At the sign for the vista, head up the narrow path until you reach a long bench made of rock. You can see Tom’s Thumb at the top of the opposing mountain, the trail leading there, and Windgate Pass.
Inspiration Viewpoint. Photo by Judy Karnia
Bell Pass Trail to Windgate Pass Trail Loop
For those up for a challenge, the loop that passes through Bell Pass and Windgate Pass travels nine and a half miles up and down through the mountains. The section between the passes includes stunning views and few other humans. I prefer the route up to Bell Pass first and then around to Windgate Pass, which conquers the steeper pass earlier in the hike. I love feeling like I am out in the middle of the desert while still near enough to civilization to maintain a cellphone connection. This hike usually takes me around four hours or so at a moderate pace, with some pausing to enjoy the scenery.
View along Windgate Pass Trail near the junction with Bell Pass Trail. Photo by Judy Karnia
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Hiking in Scottsdale
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve in North Scottsdale provides wonderful desert hiking, and the Gateway Trailhead is a great option for accessing it. The choices vary from the easy Bajada Nature Trail to the challenging route through Bell and Windgate passes, offering an immersive desert experience. We invite you to explore more on Wander With Wonder about things to do when you visit Scottsdale or elsewhere in the Southwest . We also have a few of our favorite hiking trips to share with you.
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Where to Find Perfect Hiking in Scottsdale for All Ages
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