Great little trail hot as all can be early in the am. Signs of animal life nothing really troubling…read moreto write about. Tons of cacti. So when MTN biking be mindful of the hikers because one wrong move might throw you into a whole bunch of cacti real fast. Bring water almost all trails will state the water index you need if you aren't accustomed to the heat bring double. This area has no potable water (no drinking) has restrooms at trial head and a ton of parking

What a fabulous hike!! And can go all the way up to the top of the mountain with the Ridgeback…read moreOverlook/ Apache Wash Loop. The scenery is so amazing!!! Not super hard but long and very rocky. The views at the top make it more than worth it!!!

I like this trailhead. There is one closer to home that I frequent, but every once in a while I…read moremake my way over here. It's easy to get to and there are signs from Via Linda. Plenty of parking and there are bathrooms and a water fountain, plus a bottle filling dispenser. There's hardly ever a crowd here, which I prefer. I've done a few of the trails, including Lost Dog, Old Jeep, and most recently, Sunrise trail. This one connects to, you guessed it, the Sunrise trail. That one is not my favorite, and it takes longer to get to the trailhead, so I don't go there often. However, this trailhead allows me to get to the sunrise peak (which I enjoy) and continue to the back trail (Andrew Kinsey). From there, I take it until I reach the Adero Canyon trailhead, which is in Fountain Hills. This is a well-maintained trailhead with all the necessary amenities, clearly labeled signs, and lots of trails to choose from depending on preference of difficulty/length/group. Highly recommend!

Just finished a workout and thought I could use some time outside. Alternating Trail running and…read morewalking for me today. Plus an EPIC sunset as my reward!! Really great quick hike before sunset. I like this trail a lot. To the look out spot it's one mile out. Not busy at all on Thursday afternoon. Big fluffy clouds in the sky and perfect temperature out. Weather app says it's 65° right now. Lots of parking, there's a restroom at the trailhead. What's not to like. There are other longer trails to take here, but going to the look out spot is all I wanted for today! Came back to the trailhead l/ parking lot with a lit up sky.

Beautiful Scenery for hiking and enjoying the outdoors…read more - - - - - - - - February, 2026 Visit We visited Scottsdale / Phoenix and had a very memorable partial- and full-loop hike at McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Before leaving home for Scottsdale, we explored hikes and parks near the hotel and McDowell is one we briefly looked at. Once we arrived, McDowell was on our short list and after a work day we got here just at sunset for a Hoo before it got dark - we enjoyed the short Saguaro hike and also the Interpretive Trail, on a nice night. The next day I did not work, but had a planned day off, so we had more time for the full hike...The Gateway Trail... 4.4 mile loop from the trailhead and another half mile or so to/from the car. This Trail rating is Moderate, and that seems right. There is a wide variety of rock on the trail, from sand to pebbles to rocks and built rocks. There is 650+ feet in elevation gain; the high point is about midway, at or near the Gateway saddle (thatMs just what it looks like!) and it's up one way and down the other; depending on whether you go left or right right. Someone else recommended following the trail clockwise, so we did... it's a bit shorter to the high point... about 2 miles "hiking to the left / to the northern side and about 2.5 miles on the right / southern side. Along the way we saw some birds, which looked like quail, at the 1.0-1.5 mile mark; fauna: the Arizona landscape is different from the California that we are more familiar with... many more types of cacti - tall Saguaro, shorter barrel, and buckhorn cholla and cholla; also, blue polo verde and more Do take a lot of water; even on a mostly cloudy day in the 70s, we drank two 32oz bottles apiece and had the last sips on the walk to the car; a sunny day would have had us likely feeling a bit dry from having finished our water earlier. The elevation change may provide a challenge on your thigh muscles and to your knees. As we we headed down, we met a lady who passed us going up, and then on her return down, some 30 minutes later, and she mentioned having not yet completed the full loop before, and being impressed that we were about to finish it; that was a good motivation for us - thanks!! Thank you all at the Conservancy who created and maintain this wonderful trail.

Excellent overall. Very well maintained trail with excellent views of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix…read moreand Scottsdale. The loop takes you up the side of the mountain, around the back, and back in. The back of the range is one of the very few times in the entire Phoenix area you'll see just wilderness and serene beauty instead of urban sprawl and unending traffic. It really is a wonderfully disconnecting experience. Water is available only at the trailhead buildings. From there, several trails are marked with different expertise levels. If you're bringing a dog, numerous signs are posted about the dangers of heat stroke on dogs, so beware. One of thehighlights of our visit to Scottsdale.

One of my favorite places to hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Fraesfield is quieter than a…read morelot of the Scottsdale trailheads, which makes it perfect if you want space and calm instead of crowds. The trails are well marked and give you options from easy desert walks to longer hikes with great scenery. Lots of saguaros, wide open desert, and beautiful light in the early morning or late afternoon. The trailhead is clean, easy to navigate, and every time I've gone has had ample parking. It feels peaceful and well cared for, not busy or touristy. If you like quiet desert hikes and expansive views, Fraesfield Trailhead is a great choice.

Looking for a flatter slightly undulating running or bike trail in North Scottsdale? Look no…read morefurther. Located off Dynamite and approx 134th street. Lots of extra parking and a very nice bathroom. Look closely at the map posted near the start of the trail to plan to your course. Lots of options. I ran the Black hill/Turpentine/ Whisky row loop. It's about 4.5 miles but seemed shorter but I think I was mesmerized by the surroundings. Only saw a few mountain bikes and a couple of Hikers. A good trail to run if you want something not so hilly and remote feeling.

Rose Garden Mountain has a very small parking lot able to hold possibly 6 to 8 vehicles. There is…read morealso street parking but a little further away. I had been here some time ago. It looks like the city has cleaned it up quite a bit and made it into a hiking area. To begin, the path is very level with easy terrain. There are some hillsides that you can climb up. Make sure you wear hiking shoes. Athletic shoes may not have the same grip. If you only have athletic shoes on, just stay on the level path. Lots of saguaro to look at as you hike. I did see patches of garbage here and there.

THIS IS A CHALLENGING HIKING TRAIL if you end up going up the mountainside/hill! full of large…read morerocks to scramble over and loose rocks as well. there isn't a well marked trail path going to the top of the hill so just be aware of that! if you stay on the lower part and don't go up the hill, its pretty flat.

A great variety of trails to hike! It is dog friendly, but be weary of the rocks and cacti. So many…read moreamazing opportunities for pictures! If you're visiting, they have volunteers (called Stewards) that can recommend trails, provide maps, and more! They have nice bathrooms and water fountains with a bottle fill station too. Wonderful place to go hiking, regardless of hiking ability!

Love this trail! I do the saddle 2-3 times a week. There's shorter hikes (2-4m) or longer hikes…read more(4-6m) Not to vertical, not super strenuous. It's a nice, pretty, calming, quiet hike. It depends on the day, with how many people will be on the trail. Sometimes it can be busy. But for the most part, they seem to have hikers etiquette. The only thing I'd ask is, if you have a dog and you're walking by someone, put the dog on the short leash, and keep it to yourself. I personally love dogs, but not everyone does. Some people actually have a fear of dogs. Respect on public trails, is always NEEDED!

This park is a hub for soccer, basketball, tennis, and for littles who want to use the playround!…read moreThere's even a cute free library. Parking is never and issue. It's a nice, clean spot to rest while continuing on the greenbelt and more.

I have been coming to Mountain View Park since 1989…read more It's a great pit stop/rest room stop on the bike trail from Shea Blvd (Next to Scottsdale Hospital) to ASU. The trail runs right though the park. And most interesting: The Restrooms have not been updated since 1989 so it's kind of a museum of what urinals looked like back then--but they work fine. Check them out.

My daughter's flag football team holds their practices at Sereno Park, so I've been there several…read moretimes recently... It's definitely a spacious park in a nice neighborhood and offers play equipment, large green fields, a couple of baseball/ softball fields, walking paths, and even an equestrian area. There is a large parking lot and street parking. There are picnic tables scattered around as well. All of that said, I made the mistake of checking out the bathrooms on a recent visit and whoa... not a good idea. They are dark, dirty, doorless, etc... I walked in and walked right out. So... definitely an okay park if you're in the area, but I suggest using the restroom before your visit!

Nice park. Lots of open space. Baseball parks, playground and plenty of trees. There is even a…read moreplace to exercise your horeses. Don't fly your drone there. If it has a remote ID, it will disable the drone. IDK if it's due to being close to a school or what.