FOUNTAIN HILLS

McDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVE

Fountain Hills McDowell Mtn Preserve offers over 8 miles of trails across 824 acres in the McDowell Mountains with interconnects to the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve and McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

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Click here for the history of the Preserve, trail information and desert hiking safety tips.

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DOGS are welcome but please abide by the posted rules.

DIRECTIONS

OUR TRAILHEADS

(HOURS OF OPERATION ARE SUNRISE TO SUNSET UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

ADERO CANYON TRAILHEAD (ACT)

Fountain Hills' southern gateway to the McDowell Mountain Preserve. Access the Preserve trails, or simply enjoy the views with a picnic lunch at the gazebo.  Either way the ACT is a great place to explore the Sonoran desert.

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DIRECTIONS

GOLDEN EAGLE TRAILHEAD (GET)

Our northern trailhead to the McDowell Mountain Preserve is located at the end of Golden Eagle Blvd by the entrance to the community of Eagle's Nest. Access to the Preserve is via the Dixie Mine trail in the McDowell Mtn Regional Park. 

This trailhead has restroom facilities and has a $2 entrance fee to the McDowell Mountain Regional Park.  

DIRECTIONS

LAKE OVERLOOK TRAIL

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Said to be one of the best views in Fountain Hills, this easy 1.5 mile hike rises 300 feet above Fountain Park offering panoramic views of the McDowells, the Goldfields, the Superstitions and the Mazatzals.

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DOGS are welcome but please abide by the posted rules.

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This TRAIL is open from sunrise to sunset.

DIRECTIONS

DIRECTIONS

FOUNTAIN HILLS BOTANICAL GARDEN 

Donated in 1975 by Jane Haynes the Botanical Garden offers an easy hike for an immersive glimpse of 8 marvelous acres of native Sonoran Desert.  It offers a walking tour via 26 informative signs on the plants and features of the Garden, and is listed as an eBird site.

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Parking is available off of and along Fountain Hills Boulevard.  

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DOGS are welcome but please abide by the posted rules.