McDowell Sonoran Preserve
27102-27002 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
A huge sweep of protected Sonoran Desert reaching right to the edge of the city, laced with trails that climb from saguaro flats into rugged mountains.
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is one of the largest urban preserves in the country, a vast expanse of protected Sonoran Desert that Scottsdale set aside so that wild country would survive right at the city's doorstep. It stretches across tens of thousands of acres of desert flats, washes, and the rugged McDowell Mountains, threaded by a well-designed network of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
What makes it remarkable is the contrast. One moment you are in a growing desert city, the next you are alone among towering saguaros with a coyote trotting off through the brush and nothing but mountains ahead. The preserve exists because residents chose to protect this land rather than pave it, and it stands as a model of a city keeping the desert that gives it its character.
What Guests Love
- Miles of desert trails within minutes of the city
- Classic Sonoran scenery of saguaro, palo verde, and rocky peaks
- Well-built trailheads with maps, ramadas, and clear signage
- Sunrise and sunset light on the McDowell Mountains and cactus
Worth Knowing
- Summer heat is severe, so hike at dawn, carry ample water, and avoid the midday sun
- The desert has thorns, uneven rock, and wildlife, so wear sturdy shoes and stay on trails
- Popular trailheads fill up on cool-season weekends, so arrive early
- There is little shade out on the trails, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and more water than you think you need
Details
Scottsdale, AZ
Learn about McDowell Sonoran Preserve
A city that saved its desert
As Scottsdale and the wider Phoenix area grew rapidly, the open desert around them was vanishing under new development. In response, the community organized to protect a large block of that desert, voting to tax themselves to buy and preserve the land before it could be lost. The effort, driven by local citizens and stewards, grew the preserve into one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
That grassroots origin still shapes the place. Volunteer stewards help build and maintain the trails, lead hikes, and watch over the land, and the preserve is managed to stay as natural as possible rather than being turned into a manicured park. The result is genuine wild desert, kept intact right where the city ends, a legacy the community is rightly proud of.
The Sonoran Desert up close
The preserve protects a rich stretch of the Sonoran Desert, the lushest desert in North America. Giant saguaro cactus stand like sentinels across the slopes, alongside cholla, prickly pear, ocotillo, and the green-barked palo verde and mesquite that shade the washes. In spring, after a wet winter, wildflowers and cactus blooms can wash the desert in color.
This habitat teems with life for those who look. Coyotes, javelinas, jackrabbits, and desert cottontails move through the brush, while roadrunners dash across the trails and hawks circle overhead. Lizards sun on the rocks, and in the cooler hours the desert comes alive with birdsong. Early morning and evening are the best times both for wildlife and for escaping the heat.
The McDowell Mountains and its trails
Rising behind the desert flats are the McDowell Mountains, a rugged range of granite peaks and boulder-strewn slopes that give the preserve its dramatic backdrop. Trails climb from the easy flats up into these mountains, offering everything from gentle desert strolls to steep, rocky ascents that reward hikers with sweeping views across the Valley of the Sun.
The trail network is one of the preserve's great assets, extensive, well-signed, and served by proper trailheads with maps, shade ramadas, and restrooms. Hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians all share the paths, and there is something here for every level, from a short after-work loop to a long day out among the peaks.
Seasons and desert light
The preserve is a year-round destination, but the seasons demand respect. From fall through spring the weather is glorious, with warm days and cool mornings perfect for long hikes, and the spring bloom can be spectacular after a rainy winter. This is peak season, and popular trailheads fill early on weekends.
Summer is a different world, with dangerous heat that makes any hiking a dawn-only affair with plenty of water, and midday best spent indoors. In every season the finest hours are the edges of the day, when the low sun turns the saguaros to silhouettes and the McDowells glow warm against the sky, a reminder of why this desert was worth saving.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Scottsdale
Old Town Scottsdale
About 12 miles, a 20 minute drive
A walkable district of galleries, shops, restaurants, and a preserved Old West main street at the heart of Scottsdale.
Taliesin West
About 8 miles, a 15 minute drive
Frank Lloyd Wright's desert home and studio, a landmark of organic architecture built into the McDowell foothills.
Pinnacle Peak Park
About 5 miles
A granite spire and popular hiking trail on the preserve's northern edge, with sweeping desert and mountain views.
Desert Botanical Garden
About 20 miles, a 30 minute drive
A celebrated garden in Phoenix showcasing desert plants from around the world along shaded trails.