I came here with a friend on a Monday morning to do Gateway Trail / Bell Pass / Toms Thumb, and the parking lot had ample parking at 7:15AM. We started the hike and it was long but pretty good! The way up goes up for a while but its not too bad, pretty rocky the whole way as people have said. Take AllTrails with you as there are a lot of intersections, but theyre all signed which is great if you know where youre going. We got up to Toms Thumb at around 10AM, and it was slightly windy up there with alright views. The hike down was a bit monotonous and we got back to our cars around 12:30PM. During the entire hike, we saw probably about 30 people, most wearing masks.

Wish there were more signs on trail to say where you are and how far to the top/middle of the trailBeautiful for sunset Make sure to get there well before sunset to make the hike.

Nice trail but lots of people very close to each other and virtually no one wearing masks

I really enjoy the Gateway trail in the Sonoran Preserve. If you want a real challenge recommend doing Gateway to Bell pass loop Counter clockwise its about 9.5 miles.

My favorite place in the Phoenix area to hike and enjoy nature. Highly recommended.

Great spot to hike, bike, or just immerse yourself in the Arizona landscape. There is the convenience of ample parking, clean restrooms, and no fees. Trails vary in length and most are dirt once you stray from the visitor center. Trail maps were easy to navigate, as were the trails, making this a great spot for family or casual hikes. It is a vast, quiet area for those looking to add distance. Highly recommend visiting. Check the website for organized group events.

Nice hike. Fairly easy, with some scenic views.

Great system of trails to get out and explore. Excellent, new and clean bathroom facilities. We did the gateway trail up to Inspiration Point then came back on the trail that ended up going through a development. Everything was very easy. Beautiful area.

Awesome hiking trails from begginer to advanced. Beautiful views of the mountains and city.

The wide range of trails here is perfect! I was able to take my older parents on a short loop that still gave them a hiking experience in the desert without exhausting them. But, I’ve also been able to take a hike so exhausting, I haven’t been able to make it all the way there yet (Tom’s Thumb)! One of these days, I’ll get to it. :)

Great for various hiking abilities, from wheelchair accessible to very challenging. Crowded on weekends. Restrooms at the trailhead. Lots of cacti in all shapes and sizes. Wildflowers will be abundant later in the spring.

Good hiking trails but difficult biking experience.

Incredible trails, great facilities, ample parking. Whats not to like?? Probably the most properly developed hiking spot in the greater Phoenix area. Always enough parking, good restrooms, free maps, free water (only at the trailhead!), and a great selection of trails depending on where you want to go. Short, flat, smooth trails easy enough for small children or long steep trails leading way back and around several peaks to make an entire days adventure.

Great place for a quick hike, Rv parking & bathrooms.

Great area to hike - lots of trail options that vary in difficulty. It is very dog friendly. Trails are a little rocky. The views of the valley and the wildlife around the trails are beautiful. Clean facilities. Good maps of trails at trailhead.

One of those places you can literally be with nature. Blue sky , white clouds. No pollution.

Great park for a long trail hike. Be sure to wear a pair of shoes suitable for hiking. Trails are rocky and at times steep.

Fantastic park for hiking at all levels. Really well used.

Beautiful mountains, great very well maintained hiking trails there are trails for all levels and ages of hikers.

Stunning scenery. Nice easy walk.

The Gateway trailhead is a great starting off point for multiple hiking loops, and its popular enough to get a Lyft in both directions. We had planned on the loop around Gaineys Saddle, but had to cut it short due to family illness. Elevation on that loop is low for those hikers used to mountain hikes, around 650 ft. Stay on the trail as rattlesnakes are somewhat common in this area, hence the warning signs.

It is nice place, but please respect the nature of the place.

Amazing trails. Short, medium, and long trails for every type of hiker. Family friendly trails and amazing desert habitat in great condition. Ample parking. Oh and did I mention everything is free!?!? I appreciate the foresight to protect the land so we can all enjoy it.

Really cool and fun place for friends

Its such a beautiful place to just go and hang out with kids. There are a lot of trails and you can choose the one that suits you. We did a small one with the kids and all of us has a great time.

Great place for hiking. Lots of trails to choose from. Easy to difficult.

Plenty of trails that are well maintained and friendly for the dogs.

It was so beautiful. We went early and watched the sunrise while doing a short hike.

Some of the most beautiful sunsets Ive ever captured! Great place!

Peaceful atmosphere (few hikers) with stunning views and multiple trailheads of varying difficulty. Browns Ranch and Granite Mountain were my favorites.

I love this preserve. Its situated in both the Scottsdale and Phoenix area. Its so huge and theres just so much to explore. My favorite trails though are:1. Gateway Loop - very beginner friendly loop and it takes about 2 hours to do or a bit more depending on your pace2. Inspiration Viewpoint- this branches off from the Gateway Loop but offers amazing views3. Marcus Landslide Trails- another beginner friendly loop, and it includes educational signs so you can learn about the landslide formations along the trail.

A great place to hike and take puctures

Great place for a long or short hike. Incredible views and the architecture is inspiring.

Just walked the nearby loop on desert plants. Interpretation signage was excellent. The volunteers at the entry were also very helpful. Their enthusiasm for the Preserve was infectious.

Spectacular views. Well maintained trail. Premium trailhead with restrooms, shade, water fountains and visitor center. Had poop bags for pups. Not a very difficult hike. Lots of different trails of varying lengths.

Although this is an urban trail, it meanders through, and showcases Arizonas natural desert beauty! This particular day it rained and the wonderful smell of desert sage was in the air!

Going back 20 years ago, we almost bought land to build our home next to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. However, back then, the highway system precluded our doing so, and we ended up buying a home in North Phoenix, instead.It was great to get back to this wonderful place, during a business “stay-cation” at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort. We drove up to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, basically to note the changes, over the last 20 years. Much had changed in the surrounding area, but the Preserve was pretty much still the same.We hiked a few trails, and still marveled at both the beauty, and the views, which had drawn us there, in the first place. On a cool October day, the area was beautiful, under a crystalline Arizona sky

Its beautiful here! Bring water and enjoy.

Beautiful scenery! So many different views. Fabulous for photos!

Beautiful Hike.

Sunsets here are magical! We visited this beautiful place a few times during our Arizona vacation, to hike & take in the scenery.

Absolutely stunning and majestic place to walk.

Stunning place! We’ll be back.

Wonderful walk thru the desert, watch out for the Cholla cactus

What a great place, love the diversity of trailheads

Excellent trail system. Very well marked and maintained

Great place to see local plants but be warned, they have very strict photography permit requirements.

Very invigorating hike!

Good for all groups including pets and kids ️

Great hiking in north Scottsdale.

Want to see what Arizona looks like wirhout buildings and streets? Take walk in preserve and be delighted and amazed. This is a real Scottsdale treat!

Beautiful place to hike!

Beautiful!! It was pretty busy on a Sunday morning. But wasnt crowded. Passerbys were all courteous of other hikers. Definitely rocky so wear good shoes

Truly incredible scenery and experience. We hiked the Gateway pass loop clockwise which turned out to be a great workout. I wouldnt recommend this route for mountain biking due to the loose and rocky ascent but there were several riders powering up like they were attached to cables! The Gateway trailhead is beautiful and has public bathrooms and water fountains. The rustic look of the buildings just adds to the appeal.

Beautiful views and nice moderate hike. It gets really busy after 9am and its difficult to find parking. There are too many loose rocks for my joints and I recommend hiking shoes.

Awsome you will enjoy it.

The preserved land of the McDowell Sonoran Preseve is a desert treasure. Don’t miss it if you’re in the area. Take your hiking poles, the bikes, your dog on a leash, if isn’t too hot, or your horse. Trails are well marked and helpful volunteer guides are never far away. It is beautiful.

Easy access, many trails of various distances and difficulty, well maintained!!!

Great trails for all level of hiker with beautiful views of red rock and Scottsdale

March is a beautiful time to hike because the wildflowers are blooming and the temperature is just right. Make sure you stay on the trail because there are rattlesnakes. Bring water and wear the right shoes too. There is an easy loop at the Gateway trailhead that accommodates strollers and wheelchairs. It also has signs along the way telling you about all the plants and animals in the desert.

Wonderful place to relax and take a walk, get away from it all.

A natural jewel in the midst of N. Scottsdale. The Gateway Saddle hike is an excellent advanced-beginner hike.

Awesome place for a wander, amazing sunset snaps

Nice trails with a great trailhead. Ample parking, air conditioned bathrooms and incredible views.

Breathtaking at sunset

Stroller accessible trail but very small.We enjoyed our trail because we had a stroller and a child

The best local hiking imaginable! Every level and endless trails. We are so lucky this preserve exists. Its my weekly therapy to clear my head of lifes problems.

Have not been to the preserve in over a year. This is a great location for hiking. Parking is always available, facilities are clean, trails are maintained. Highly recommend this location, Lost Dog Trailhead is my go-to based in location great to be back.

Beautiful! Very well done trails. Great trail markers and info!

Easy hike, beautiful scenery

Beautiful fairy easy hike

Excellent trails and walking paths for visitors and dogs! Beautiful landscape and vistas! Free.

Really great place to spend day hiking or horseback riding, well laid out trails for all levels of experience, great for kids restrooms and water available, definitely take a hike when in Scottsdale

Great place to hike and see some desert scenery. Ive been here many times now and I can say it is one of my favorite trails in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

I loved this place. If you plan on month of December that will be a fantastic time.

Nice views. Good assortment of hiking trails.

Easy walking trails and plenty to see and read about in regards to our AZ climate and natural habitat.

Great scenery and large variety of trails for all level of hikers. Easy parking.

Overall, a great trail head. Excellent facility, with multiple educational opportunities.

Lots of native vegetation to see. Trail is rocky.

Pretty awesome scenery. Easy walkways

Great place for amateurs, experts, bikers, etc.

The McDowell Sonoral Preserve is over 30,000 acres of desert and mountains with over 200 miles of walking trails and a place I always visit every time in Scottsdale. The best starting point is the Gateway area with numerous trails, some more difficult that others . There is excellent parking facilities and its open from sun up to sun down. Take Scottsdale Road north and then east on Bell. The second alternative is to go to the east side of the McDowells and to the Tom Thumb Trailhead.(use a map or GPS) and you get a totally different view including the Verde River Valley and the Superstitions. Take The Marcus Landslide Trail for an easy walk or the Tom Thum Trail for a tough walkIt is free, fun and healthy and the scenery is the best around.

Amazing educational serene area I encourage everyone and their dogs to experience it

The McDowell Sonoral Preserve is over 30,000 acres of desert and mountains with over 200 miles of walking trails and a place I always visit every time in Scottsdale. The best starting point is the Gateway area with numerous trails, some more difficult that others . There is excellent parking facilities and its open from sun up to sun down. Take Scottsdale Road north and then east on Bell. The second alternative is to go to the east side of the McDowells and to the Tom Thumb Trailhead.(use a map or GPS) and you get a totally different view including the Verde River Valley and the Superstitions. Take The Marcus Landslide Trail for an easy walk or the Tom Thum Trail for a tough walkIt is free, fun and healthy and the scenery is the best around.

Nature walk is a wonderful outdoor museum! Learned so much!

Nice variety of trails. Clean. Great place to spend an afternoon.

Stunning. If you like to hike, it doesnt really get any better than this.

Beautiful trails.. Sonoran Desert scenery..

Great trails if you dont mind lots of people on the weekends.

We did the Bell Pass hike. It was a challenge but the views were worth it.

Easy, but scenic walk

Trails are well groomed and not too slippery.

Great set up for avid hikers to beginners and also a wonderful interactive trail for kids

Great scenic spot to get some exercise.

Fantastic place for walking, hiking. Beautiful preserve.

One of the best state park, no entry fee. Short walk or long hike.

Great challenging hike. Beautiful views.

Lots of beautiful choices for a short or long hike(dog friendly).

This is a great place to go on a hike. Not terribly difficult but provides some very pretty views of the day desert.