McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail

McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2021-08-22 by Judy Karniafollow
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve, encompassing over 30,000 acres of desert and 225 miles of trails, offers great hiking and views for everyone to enjoy. The Gateway Trailhead is located in North Scottsdale off Thompson Peak Parkway. It is easy to reach, just a few minutes drive from the 101 expressway with a paved road leading to the large parking lot.



The entrance to the trail offers clean restrooms, a water fountain, and easy to follow maps. After you walk over a short metal bridge, the wide trail first brings you to a nature trail. The Bajada Trail is accessible for all. It is shaped in a figure eight. The entire trail is a half-mile or you can head back at the middle of the eight for a quarter-mile trip. There are multiple signs educating about the various plants, animals and features of the Sonoran desert. You can hear the road for part of the trail but you do feel the experience of being in the desert and have views of the hills all around.




The Gateway trail is further along the path. It is a loop so you can head in either direction at the split. The trail is 4.5 miles long and gains 650 feet in elevation. There are a few fairly steep parts of the trail but is overall moderate in difficulty. You can catch your breath when you step aside and let the trail runners and mountain bikers go through. The views of the desert along the path and of the landscape from the top of the trail are beautiful.



For a more difficult and longer hike, take the Gateway loop to the left and continue onto Windgate Pass trail after about a mile and a half. The trail becomes much less crowded at this point. You can take a break and turn around at Inspiration Point or continue the full 3.8 miles to Windgate Pass for a 7.6-mile round trip.




Another option is to go right on the Gateway loop then continue onto the Bell Pass Trail. After 3.5 miles, you reach Bell Pass and get a breathtaking view of miles and miles of desert and mountains. The last half-mile of the trail is quite steep but the view at the top is well worth it. The trail is not crowded and offers an ever-shrinking view of the entire Phoenix valley as you climb up the narrowing valley.




If you are up for an almost ten-mile hike, continue on the trail down the other side of the Windgate or Bell pass and loop around to the other one. You are treated to vast views of the desert with little sign of human civilization. This is the one place I have seen a rattlesnake, so keep an eye and ear out as you hike.

Rattlesnakes generally do not want to bite you, so keep a wide birth if you do see one and you should be okay, except for a mildly racing heart for a few minutes!



The trails here are rocky for the most part so hiking boots can really help your footing. There are some areas in which the rocks can shift under your feet. The trails are wide enough that it is unlikely you will brush against any cactus needles. Bring much more water than you think you will need and snacks if you are attempting the longer trails. Unless you are out early enough to hike in the shadow of the hills, there is very little shade and the sun gets very hot.



The preserve is a vital and diverse ecosystem holding over 300 types of plants. You will see all sizes and shapes of saguaro cacti. This majestic cactus can only be found within the Sonoran Desert. Look to the tops to see their flowers and fruits and watch birds alight among the needles. There are palo verde trees with green bark and tiny leaves and mesquite trees that fill the air with their scent after a rain. The ground is covered with multiple types of cacti and wildflowers. You will likely see many small lizards scampering into the rocks as you approach and lots of hummingbirds flitting by. There are also all sorts of interesting looking insects if you are not squeamish about bugs. Take your time moving through the preserve and observe all that the desert offers.



#animals_wildlife
#day_trips
#near_phoenix
#outdoor
#parks
#walks
%wnphoenix
79236 - 2023-06-11 05:11:35

Tags

Outdoor
Free
Music
Family_friendly
Festivals
Educational
Community
Fundraisers
Arts_culture
Near_phoenix
Restaurants
Food_wine
Places_of_interest
Dinner
Fun_things_to_do
Copyright 2024 OatLabs ABN 18113479226