Friday Nov 16, 2018 – Desert Park Gateway Loop

Shorter Hike

Longer Hike

Directions: Take I-10 West to exit 161 onto Loop 202. Drive to exit 50A and onto Loop 101. Drive to exit 39 and turn right onto Raintree Drive. Travel 0.7 miles and turn left onto North Thompson Peak Parkway. Drive 2.6 miles and look for the entrance to the park, which is not well marked (The entrance is 0.5 miles north of Bell Road, on the right).

Summary: This is an easy hike in the McDowell Mountains that travels through the flats alongside a housing area then climbs slowly to the Gateway Loop Trail where it climbs a ridge and descends to the valley and loops back to the trailhead. Mike Colton will lead a more strenuous hike in the same area. 

History of this area: In 1991 a group of Scottsdale citizens got together to discuss their concerns about a new home and commercial development on the outskirts of the city. They formed the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust and set about to find a way to protect the McDowell Mountains and the surrounding desert from development. It was a landmark moment in 1994 when, as a result of the trust member's efforts, the City of Scottsdale dedicated the initial McDowell Sonoran Preserve, totaling 5 acres. Over two decades of hard work and advocacy by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy (formerly Land Trust) have led to the development of new trailheads, a complex network of multi-use trails, and even a research initiative to monitor and track the flora and fauna of the preserve. In October 2012, the city celebrated the opening of the Brown's Ranch Trailhead and the incorporation of over 50 miles of new trails. 

Check out maps and directions on line.
alltrails

Google Maps East+McDowell+Foothills+Drive,+Scottsdale,+AZ - Desert Park Gateway Loop 

 

November 18, 2016 - Desert Park, Gateway Loop and Gateway Saddle Loop Hike at Scottsdale McDowell Preserve

 Desert Park, Gateway Loop and Gateway Saddle Loop Hike 

A great day for a hike, not too hot and not too cold, blue sky and no wind. We had two groups this week for the hike at the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve on Desert Park and Gateway Loop Trail. The long hike was about 7 miles, which took us from the Trailhead to Gateway Loop trail, up the Gateway Loop Saddle and down Desert Park Trail. The long hike met the short hike before lunch. The short hike started the opposite way and went up the Desert Park trail and completed the Gateway Loop. Gateway Saddle Loop is an extension of the Gateway trail and allowed the hikers on the long hike to view Tom’s Thumb, an outcrop of rocks on a mountain that stands out like a thumb. This trail descends as the Desert Park Trail which leads back to the Trailhead through a residential area and Golf Course. It was a fun and enjoyable hike and we were home in the early afternoon.

http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/trailhead/displayLocation/1#sthash.LHZKC6l8.dpbs


                                                                               



                              
                                                                                                                                                                       

  

 


                                   

Fish Hook Cactus

                                            




Directions:

Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve

   Take I-10 West to exit 161, onto Loop 202, to exit 50A onto Loop 101. Go to exit 39 and turn right onto Raintree Drive. Travel  .7 miles and turn left onto North Thompson Peak Parkway. Go 2.6 miles and look for “Gateway Trailhead” sign, then the entrance to the park, on the right. (It is .5 miles north of Bell Road.)  65.5 mi.     33°38’57.85N, 111°51’32.93W