Such a great experience at Brown's Ranch! The volunteers (specifically Mary!) were so sweet to my friends and I when we showed up late morning on a hot day for a hike. She immediately warned us of the heat and how easily and quickly heat exhaustion can hit. She recommended we do the quick .5 mile loop and then come back to see how we feel. We completed this in about 15 minutes but saw some gorgeous cacti, butterflies, lizards, and other desert critters! We let her know we were up for more so she gave us another path to take and told us a specific marker to turn around at. This one definitely upped our heart rate and was more challenging. I wish we came sooner so we could have completed it in full, but we were wiped by the end of it with the heat. There is a building at the front of the trailhead with bathrooms, maps, and some of the animals that live in this part of the dessert. It was very informative! read more

See all

Easy to park and easy to navigate to multiple trailheads. The building is well maintained. We took a couple of different trails and they were all marked clearly and had no issues. Take lots of water, minimal shade. read more

Brown's Ranch Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

This is a beautiful trailhead // park that the City of Scottsdale takes great care of. My friend and I decided to take a bank holiday hike up here very last minute. I had never been to this trailhead in all my years of AZ living (a surprise!) and really enjoyed it. There is plenty of parking for cars, off-roads and trailers. You're bound to see humans and four-legged friends all over. The trailhead has a nice ramada with a small office for their volunteers, and public bathrooms. They also have a historical timeline of the area and lots of maps (both large and printed) to help figure out where you wanna go. We spoke for a minute with one of the volunteers to decide on a trail that wasn't too crazy - we just wanted to be outside, not do a lot of climbing and enjoy the scenery. We got all of that, and some, taking the ~4mile Latigo and Chuckwagon Loop. As my saying still goes, no bad day on the trails... read more

Beautiful hiking trail!!!! Great place to take a group of all levels. Pretty flat, and very easy to follow the trails. Know that you will definitely stop many many times to enjoy the beautiful views all around. read more

See all

Mountain biking fast flow, furious fun, fly free like a bird FFFFFFLAB! Trails really rolly- poly, nice packed DG. Seems like I'm always accelerating because you blast a short decent and fly with a little pedal power up and down, short ascent - makes complete sense. This is one of the best places to MTB. Ride on challenging Snake Eyes and Scorpion, black diamond trails. Weave your way through large boulder fields, roll clip and plop over, up and down - steep rock slabs, vertical drops, narrow slots and protruding rocks. Pick the right line, you'll be fine. If not crash and burn. Trails for all levels. Lots of hiking too read more

See all

Exploring a new to me trail in the valley, we headed out to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and headed out on Brown's Ranch Trailhead to go up Brown's Mountain. There is plenty of signage letting you know what trail you are on, or where to go if traversing onto a different trail. For this we took Brown's Ranch Trailhead to the sign that said Brown Mountain Trial, then we turned left and started our way. Once your on Brown Mountain Trail you will start climbing up, you gain anywhere between 500 to 650ft elevation gain. When your more than 1/2 way up, there is a little bit of a clearances, you can take in the views, rest for a minute. You also will see the sign pointing to the summit, this is where you will have the most incline. For me this trail was moderate. After we climbed down, we continued along Brown's Ranch Trailhead to finish the loop. Love that the McDowell Sonoran Preserve has so much to explore! read more

See all

Peaceful and beautiful scenery. Trails for all ages. Trail can get busy. Be careful of passing mountain bikes and horses sharing the path Lots of people leave their pet poop along the trail and I despise that read more

See all

So many trails, awesome views, easy parking and restrooms. The trails are clearly marked and rated. Opens at 5am and closes at sunset.

Great hike, lots of options from easy to moderate. Beautiful desert scenery with history of the area.

Great flowy fun gravel for a mountain bikers and mountain hikers it has vistas and wildlife, closes at sunset! Enjoy this treasure! read more

Brown's Ranch Trailhead - views - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Love walking here! It's dog and horse friendly! Be aware they change the park hours to reflect sunrise and sunset. It's located in North Scottsdale. Crossroads are Alma School and Dynamite. Bathroom and water Fountains available at the trailhead. Lots of car and horse trailer parking. Mountain biking can also be done here. Check out the trail map at trailhead for unlimited possibilities. read more

See all

Great place for a trail day. Kid friendly, dog friendly, horse friendly, bike friendly. Everything ranging from easy to challenging. Amazing scenery! read more

See all

I consider this a family friendly hike. Most of the trail is a "sandy" texture. I suggest bringing BUG spray (especially if hiking in the evening) we had a swarm of gnats/random bugs surrounding us. Nature at its finest: Bunnies Quail Little snakes Wildflowers Saguaros This trail is also good for mountain bikes & trail running. Approx 3 miles out & back. (Brown's Summit) read more

See all

Absolutely stunning and gorgeous scenery! One of the easiest and most beautiful hikes I've ever done in all my years of living in Scottsdale. Pristine, clean and well marked trails. Not at all strenuous. Plenty of parking. Welcome center. Dogs allowed. Five stars! read more

Browns is absolutely spectacular and a great place to take out of town guests as it isn't too difficult. Informative trailhead as well. Very well maintained and bathrooms etc. So much amazing wildlife and lots and lots of trails. Couldn't love this place more. read more

This is the perfect desert landscape with plenty of saguaros and desert flora and fauna however most of the time you're either hiking along or looking at powerlines so be prepared that it does seem like you're in the middle of nowhere (once you pass through the neighborhood) but you're constantly reminded of the city. Also there are nonstop bikers on the path and though there are signs telling them to slow down and be cautious of hikers they zoom right by you. If you do hike with your dog this is definitely something to be aware of. read more

Brown's Ranch Trailhead - A bit of history at the start along with horse trailer parking, doggy water fountain, clean bathrooms - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Great hike, beautiful at the top. I've done this hike more than any. Not too difficult but has some elevation to it near the top. Pretty views, and seems like this trail always has the friendliest people. read more

Nice local option but the last time I was here couple of weeks ago was very busy and lots of bugs! It is heavily trafficked and some portions go through a neighborhood, which isn't so scenic. But overall good options with bathrooms and water/maps at the trailhead. read more

Love this place! Super clean and peaceful the staff of volunteers is friendly and helpful. It is a great place for people of all skill levels. read more

See all

This is a popular trail head that has plenty of parking and restrooms. You will find hikers, runners, explorers and plenty of bikes on this trail. It's family and dog friendly. There are several trails to choose from so you can go for an hour or spend a day here. It is beautiful from start to finish. The only thing that worried me is how many times I was warned about rattlesnakes. I really didn't want to come across one and fortunately I didn't. read more

First hike there on Monday and wow, it's now my favorite! Even the drive there was beautiful let alone the hike. Awesome sahuaro, rock formations, and endless trail options. And the trailhead is the nicest I've seen with quality bathrooms. Can't wait to go back! read more

See all

Rented mountain bikes for my birthday weekend and were recommended this trails here as a beginner friendly. Sure enough, we had an amazing time. Starting with the Upper Ranch Trail and cutting through Brown's Ranch Road, we crossed the Corral Trail and ventured over to Cathedral Rock. On our way back to the trailhead, I heard the hissing of a snake in one of the bushes as we rode by on a narrow trail off of Maverick Trail. Well, that scared me silly but fortunately we were towards the end of the ride. Overall beautiful views and well maintained trails. Hope to return soon. read more

See all

I've been an avid Mountain Biker for a dozen years and have ridden Browns in the past with good results. It was a little hit and miss due to my unfamiliarity with the area. Since I live on the West side with access to amazing trails outside my door and within a 15 minute drive, there was little impetus to drive 45 minutes out to Browns. That changed earlier this year when my sister and BIL bought a second home a couple of miles from the Trailhead. Tippy (BIL) is also an avid MTBer and has fit in nicely with our crew. Plus he has served as a trail guide to the area which has made it even better. The area has it all for riders. Nearly all of the trails are flowy and not very rocky (unlike Apache Wash or Cave Creek Rec area). There are actually some marked "Black Diamond" trails that are fairly technical (with chicken chutes to bypass them). The only negative for the trails is there are no large climbs so if you're looking for elevation, this really isn't the area for you. I did the one climb a number of years ago and it quickly went from zero-100, very technical and challenging and was over before I knew it. The area is very popular with a large parking lot, beautiful facilites (restrooms and shaded seating, and an information booth). I've really enjoyed exploring the area, always great to find a new gem. read more

Fantastic trailhead and a must for parents with young hikers. I'm not sure how this gets any less than 5 stars from anyone. The trailhead has good facilities with restrooms, water, free paper maps and helpful volunteers to give you insight on various loops based on your desired hiking style. The paths range from a simple, smooth half mile loop that any two year old can walk while still feeling like a hike, too back country, rougher single lanes many miles from the car. There are many cyclists on certain trails, but there is adequate passing space. You can also see the common bike routes at the trailhead. If you cut off of those early, the traffic is almost non existent. Lastly, if you have young kids, be sure to speak with the trailhead volunteers. They will give your child a passbook with fun facts and places to collect stamps for various trail systems in the area. read more

We have visited this trailhead several times now, both to hike, ride our mountain bikes, and walk our two labrador retrievers. This is a beautiful park with plenty of trail options, from mild to fast n' wild. We have also been blown away with the wildlife here...coyotes, rattlesnakes, and even a lone Gila Monster have all been spotted here. The plentiful Saguaro (pronounced sew-wahr-oh) cacti act as natural sentinels, guarding creatures large and small. For great trail info when biking here, visit either the Trailforks or MTBproject apps on your PC or smartphone. The main trailhead access is off of Alma School road, and winds through affluent neighborhoods before t-ing off at the parking lot. Plenty of parking awaits you, especially during the busy months in fall/winter/and spring seasons. Bring plenty of water, and be careful of your pups paw pads...all trails here are full exposure. Pack sunscreen as well. Best time to come is when a Monsoon has just passed, cooling temps by 10 degrees and tacking up the trial surface. Great for hooking up those knobby tires. Remember if your biking to walk your bike through the main trailhead structure. Cyclists yield to all here, as equestrians and hikers are abundant on weekends. Pack a bear bell for the ultimate in consideration to your fellow park users. The main kiosk features clean bathrooms and plenty of shade for a post hike/run stretch. Lots of trash cans too, so remember to pack out those gel packs you used and drop them here before you leave. Well maintained and centrally located, this is an excellent spot to get your sweat on with dusty feet, handlebars, or leashes. We will be back.. read more

See all

Temporarily handicapped due to surgery and no assist ebikes are allowed. Discrimination.

Love this place so much! It is such a great trail for a beginning mountain bikers! There are so many beginner trails here and it's a really great place to explore if you want something that's exciting but not super technical! There is a really nice shaded Ramada where the trail starts, nice bathrooms and even maps of different levels and routes you can ride or hike. There's tons of parking and lots of trail signage! read more

Beautiful trail and mountain biking area! We love the user-friendly aspects of this trailhead including a large parking area, well marked signage, and nice facilities. Very happy we stumbled upon this gem. Will be back! read more

One of my favorite places I took my horse to ride in Arizona!!! Plenty of horse trailer parking - m read more

Brown's Ranch Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

One of best Local trails in AZ for all levels. Easy to access and always a good time.

Apparently, when it's rainy and cold (hovering around 50F) Phoenicians do not venture out to the trails because I had the WHOLE park to myself- not another soul in sight except for the ranger who greeted me then promptly went into his office. At first I hesitated to venture onto the trail as an urbanite, I was a bit awed by the silence of being in the vast preserve as the only person out in the open. Then I told myself I had driven all this way in the rain, whole time not knowing if I would hike to just walk for ten minutes and turn around so my driving in getting there was not wasted. I bundled up in my down jacket, gloves, and hat- put on my headphones w my Tibetan meditation music and just started walking on the well groomed, wide trail with no expectations. And you know what? It was divine, it was heavenly, it was purity to just walk with no need to make conversation or to hurry to keep pace with a group. And it was cold and lightly raining but after awhile, I warmed up and forgot about the light rain. The surrounding was serene and peaceful that I felt so grateful for the preserve. I said my thank you to the people who created the preserve. It was simply a perfect existence. I followed the trail and decided to hike to Brown's Summit and really the whole trail is easy. In fact this is a perfect beginner trail for someone who want to try trail running. Even the ascent to the summit is not bad. There was a moment of mysticism when I was sitting at the summit taking in the view. It started to rain harder and then the whole summit got covered in clouds. I could see the clouds coming and forming. It was so thick for a bit that I could not see the hand in front of me. In all my years of living in Phoenix, this was the first time for me to experience something like this- so much like Yellow mountain in China. It was so calming, so centering to be there at that moment. Then I started my hike back to my car- it was so cold, my iphone froze and that was fine too. I hiked in silence. Again, no expectations. What a fantastic preserve. There are quite a few affluent homes in the area, I hope they take the time to hike & enjoy this treasure. read more

Found this place by accident when attempting to go to Pinnacle Peak. There are many different trails to choose from, from a quick easy stroll to several miles. It's fantastic for mountain bikers and hikers alike, some even bring their horses. It's far less congested than Pinnacle Peak, and there's plenty of good parking. It's very picturesque, so take your time here and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. read more

See all

Breathtakingly beautiful, serene, and quiet... a perfect place to go for reflection, meditation, and/or a nice and easy hike.

Amazing view from up top. Trails are well laid out, junctions are clearly labeled. The trail is actually good for both hiking or running if you skip the spur to the summit. I had a great hike: would definitely visit again. read more

See all

My son & I loved this trail! Friendly volunteers who showed us different trails that they recommend. Ample parking & 5 star bathrooms. Great for mountain biking too. We will bring our bikes in the future. There are plenty of trails to choose from with varying degrees of flat to hilly so not a tough but good workout. Bonus is the beautiful scenery! Enjoy your hike this is a true gem! read more

See all

Perfect for a level hiking experience. The desert at it's finest. The bikers make it a dangerous trail dodger at times.

Horse feces everywhere. Some horses startled by the bikers and hikers. Mountain bikers going extremely fast (most trails are fast for them) and can easily hit you, your dog, your child, etc. And seems like quite a few don't exactly have the skill to be going that fast. Ugly powerlines go across the main part of these trails and many of the trails require you to walk under the powerlines for a long time or else take a much longer route (all that snap, crackle, pop isn't comforting). Ruins the view much of the time. Also seems to be popular with some bowhunters who are too lazy to go out into a more appropriate and less populated area to do their thing. Quite a few casual hikers in everyday clothes come here with a minivan full of kids who know nothing about trail etiquette, occupy the entire trail so nobody can pass, don't maintain control of their kids, and make for an unpleasant mix with many of the above factors mentioned. And lastly, too many superficially friendly people here - do you realize that if you make it your policy to say "hello" to everyone that this will involve upwards of a 100 or so hellos on a decent hike here? Do you people do this at Disneyland or at the State Fair too? Sheez. read more

Family hike with 7 and 10 yr old boys...about 1 mile longer than we bargained for, but everyone had fun! We went up the front side to the peak and down the back side. Took us about 2.5 hours, including stopping to look around. read more

What I love about this place is that if you want a short or a long hike, grueling or just enjoying the scenery, this the place to go. Doesn't hurt that it is 3/4 mile from my house. They always have guide volunteers on hand to direct you to the right trail and maps to go along with the hike. Beauty all around. Give it a try. read more

Brown's Ranch Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Pretty desert scenery! Free ample parking and the trails are very well marked. The trailhead has a lot of information about the area and there are bathrooms. Trails have varying degrees of difficulty. We hiked around the cone mountain trail, which circles around cone mountain so it is fairly flat, about 4 miles round trip. Bring water! The sun gets hot if you are out there after 10am. read more

Brown's Ranch Trailhead - Cone mountain - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona