Bell Pass is about a three and a half mile hike the pass itself in the McDowell Mountains. The round trip from start to finish is about seven miles and takes somewhere from two hours to three hours depending how fast you do it. Bell Pass is at 3,500 feet and has a fairly steep ascent in the last part of the trail.

Trail Heads and Parking

Bell Pass has two trail heads. The trail head at Bell Rd and 104th St has a small graded dirt area for parking. It holds about fourteen cars maximum and can become crowded during the peak periods in spring and fall.

The larger main trail head is on Thompson Peak Parkway and Foothills Drive. This has a facility with toilets and drinking water. There is ample parking there as well, some paved, mostly finely graded dirt.

Hike Distance

Approximately seven miles from Bell and 104th St.

Hiking Time

Two and a half to Four hours. If you are very fit you can get to the pass within an hour.

Hike Elevation

3,500 Feet.

Hike Difficulty

Moderately difficult for experienced hikers. This can be a brutal hike in summer. Always bring plenty of water.

Trail Description

From Bell and 104th the trail goes up 104th St for a while before hitting the Levee Trail. You follow the levee up until it meets the main trail. From there follow the signs to Bell Pass. From Thompson Peak and Foothills the main trail is followed from parking area.

The trail itself slowly ascends up to Bell Pass at 3,500 feet. The scenery is stunning with centuries old saguaro's, fishhook cactus, cholla's and wildlife crowding the mountain sides. The last mile or so the ascent increases considerably and the last 200 yards is very steep.

We have seen mountain bikers on the trail but it isn't that often bike riders are on it. Probably because the trail is pretty strenuous in ascent.

Trail Map

Bell Pass on Google Maps. More on the McDowell Regional Park including trails and maps.

Trail Heads and Parking

There is a small dirt parking area at the Trail head. This is a popular hike in North Scottsdale and the parking area fills up quickly. There is parking along the side of the road leading up to the parking area and this is where most people end up parking. The trail head as toilets and water.

The park is located on 102nd Way in Scottsdale but to get to it you have to come there from Pima Rd via Happy Valley Rd and then turning north on Alma School Rd to 102nd Way.

Hike Distance

One and three quarters miles from trail head to trail head. Approximately three and a half miles for a round trip.

Hiking Time

An hour to an hour to two hours depending how hard you hike it.

Hike Elevation

The highest point on the trail is 2,880 feet. The trail head is at 2,570 feet so the actual elevation of the trail is about 300 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Easy for experienced hikers. This is a good trail to run because the elevation is easy and the paths well maintained. For less experienced hikers this is a fun trail to hike.

Trail Description

Pinnacle Peak is a not a trail that goes to the peak and comes down. The trail goes past the peak in a series of easy switch backs and then descends to a trail head on the opposite side of the peak. So you start ascending, get to the top, go past it and descend it again. The fun part of this hike is the trail being designed that way.

This is a not a hard trail for experienced hikers. The ascent is mild, as is the descent. There are no really strenuous sections either. This is not Camelback or Bell Pass. For that reason it is a good trail to run, or to enjoy a strong walk on the trail. It is also a fun trail for less experienced hikers as there is no killer section that will grind your muscles or lungs to mush.

The trail is too crowded for mountain biking.

Trail Map

Pinnacle Peak on Google Maps. More information on Pinnacle Peak park.

Trail Heads and Parking

The trail head is on Thompson Peak Parkway and Foothills Drive. This has a facility with toilets and drinking water. There is ample parking there as well, some paved, mostly finely graded dirt.

There is a secondary trail head on the north side of the McDowell's which is in a gated development. Apparently you have to park outside the development and then walk up to trail head.

Hike Distance

From the main trail head it is a long hike about four miles one way and an eight mile round trip.

Hiking Time

For a round trip from the gateway access area this is probably a four to five hour hike for experienced hikers.

Hike Elevation

Approximately 3,000 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Moderately to increasingly difficult for experienced hikers. Main issues are a series of difficult switchbacks prior to the Tom Thumb outcrop and the length of the hike necessitating a lot of water.

Trail Description

From the Gateway trail head the hike is not heavily strenuous until a series of switch backs is hit. From then on it is a very strenuous hike until the small Plateau the Tom Thumb's rocks are on are hit.

Because it is a lengthy hike from the gateway access trail head it is a quiet hike with not many others on the trail. At the Tom's Thumb section it is busy as numerous hikers come up the northern trail from the north trail head which is much shorter.

The main source of difficulty with this hike is its length mixed in with the switchbacks that are a difficult ascent.

Trail Map

Tom's Thumb on Google Maps. More on the McDowell Regional Park including trails and maps.

Trail Heads and Parking

The trail head is at 7th Street and Peoria Rd. There is a large area for parking and seating. Follow the parking loop north and park in the northern car park. Sometimes there are quiet weekends and the loop itself is closed. Parking is then in the large central parking area.

Hike Distance

1.6 miles.

Hiking Time

About 45 minutes.

Hike Elevation

2,104 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Moderately hard. For experienced hikers this is not a strenuous hike.

Trail Description

North Mountain is a sharp vertical hike on a paved road. The paved area is the access road to the cell towers at the top of North Mountain. For this reason it is a clean hike with solid footing. It is also good for running up the mountain.

There is a trail which continues past the cell towers and this is a standard rocky and dirt trail that loops around to the north side of the car park. The trail has a lot of shale on it and can be difficult to get secure footing when descending.

Trail Map

North Mountain on Google Maps. More about North Mountain Park.

Trail Heads and Parking

The trail head is on Thompson Peak Parkway and Foothills Drive. This has a facility with toilets and drinking water. There is ample parking there as well, some paved, mostly finely graded dirt.

Hike Distance

Approximately 8 miles.

Hiking Time

Five hours for experienced hikers.

Hike Elevation

Approximately 3,000 Feet.

Hike Difficulty

Moderately difficult though mainly for the length. There isn't any difficult ascent's or switch backs on the hike.

Trail Description

Windgate Pass is a long and leisurely trail that runs from the gateway access to another of the passes from the western side of the McDowell's to the eastern side. This is a longer hike than some of the shorter but steeper ascents like Bell Pass so bring plenty of water. This can be an arduous hike in summer.

Trail Map

Windgate Pass on Google Maps. More on the McDowell Regional Park including trails and maps.

Trail Heads and Parking

Echo Canyon's trail head is Echo Canyon Parkway which is off MacDonald near the McDonald and 44th/Tatum Street intersection. There is a small parking area at the trail head which holds about forty or so cars. Usually cars wait in line for a space to open.

There is some parking down Echo Canyon Parkway but it is really limited. There is no good over flow parking and most people seem to go down McDonald and 44th to the cul de sac at E McDonald Drive and park in that area.

Hike Distance

1.4 miles round trip.

Hiking Time

Experienced hikers can ascend Camelback in around half an hour but most hikers will take about an hour to complete the ascent.

Hike Elevation

2,704 feet. The ascent is 1,300 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Strenuous.

Trail Description

Echo Canyon is one of the great city hikes and one that any out of towner in Phoenix should do. The trail has stairs and rails to help through the worst sections but most of the difficult ascent is rocks laid out in a hap hazard stair like manner.

There are several very steep sections where it is hard on the lungs and the legs. For this reason it is a favorite among avid hikers in the Phoenix area. This trail is a great cardio-vascular work out.

Trail Map

Camelback's Echo Canyon on Google Maps. More on Echo Canyon and Camelback.

Trail Heads and Parking

There are several parking areas near the trail head to Piestewa Peak (from Lincoln Drive) but demand far out strips supply. Especially in the parking areas that are nearby the trail head. Additional parking is in the development on Squaw Peak Drive but it is a walk to get to the trail head from there.

Hike Distance

The summit hike is 1.2 miles.

Hiking Time

Experienced and fit hikers will do the ascent in about thirty minutes.

Hike Elevation

2,608 feet. The ascent is 1,208 feet from the trail head.

Hike Difficulty

Moderately difficult. Not as hard as Camelback's Echo Canyon but still a strenuous ascent.

Trail Description

The trail to the summit of Piestewa Peak is well laid out and well traveled. This is a popular walk all year round. There are steps carved out of the rocks for the difficult areas and the parts of the trail that have poor footing have rails for stability and support.

Along with Camelback, this is one of the great city hikes. Together they make Phoenix unique for hiking and as an outdoor city. Anyone who comes to Phoenix should ascend Piestewa Peak as a right of passage.

Trail Map

Squaw Peak on Google maps. More on the Piesta Peak and Dreamy Draw trail area.

Camelback Mountain from Squaw Peak's summit.

Trail Heads and Parking

The trail head is located at Cholla Lane off Invergordon. There is no parking on Cholla Lane and most people park on Invergordon Road to the south of Cholla Lane. There is ample parking there but you have to walk a fair way to the trail head.

Hike Distance

1.5 miles

Hiking Time

Experienced and fit hikers can do it in under thirty minutes. For most leisurely hikers expect to take an hour to the summit.

Hike Elevation

2,704 feet. The ascent is 1,200 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Difficult. Nowhere near as strenuous as Echo Canyon though and an easier hike if you want to get Camelback's summit.

Trail Description

The Cholla Trail climbs around the spine of eastern Camelback. It is a pretty hike with plenty of good views to the south, east and north. With Echo Canyon you end up hemmed in rocky canyons as you climb. Cholla Route is more scenic because the trail follows the ridge of the mountain.

There is a saddle about half way through the ascent to the summit with good views to the south. Many people stop here and descend again. It is a good work out to the saddle.

After the saddle the climbing becomes more rocky and increasingly difficult. The final section requires picking your way over some rocks to get to the summit. The trail in this area can be confusing but the trail was recently marked with blue paint to point out the path.

This hike is less strenuous than Echo Canyon and a fun one to do if you want a more leisurely, but still difficult, hike to the summit of Camelback. For this reason it is a popular hike and always has a lot of people on it.

Trail Map

Cholla Route hike to the Camelback Summit on Google maps. More on Echo Canyon and Camelback.

Trail Heads and Parking

There are several trail heads around the mountain. All have good accessibility and ample parking. The main trail head is off Central Avenue and Dobbins Rd. This trail head is a good starting point for Dobbins Lookout which is the summit hike.

Hike Distance

2.9 miles along the Holbert trail.

Hiking Time

About two hours round trip.

Hike Elevation

2,370 feet. The ascent is 1,020 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Easy. There are no real strenuous sections.

Trail Description

South Mountain is a large network of trails that criss-cross the mountains south of Phoenix. The summit hike from the main trail head is an easy and leisurely hike through South Mountain to Dobbin's Lookout.

Because South Mountain offers easier hiking than Camelback or the McDowell's there are more people doing trail running, walking their dogs, mountain biking or even uni-cycling!

Trail Map

South Mountain on Google Maps. More information on South Mountain.

Trail Heads and Parking

This hike is only accessible in summer. There is a large parking area at the trail head with port-a-potties but no water. The trail head is off Snow Bowl Road and is a chair lift in winter.

Hike Distance

4.5 miles for the ascent. 9 miles round trip.

Hiking Time

Bet on it taking most of the day. Don't get caught on the summit late in the day either.

Hike Elevation

12,633 feet. The ascent is 3,333 feet.

Hike Difficulty

Very Difficult. This is a long and strenuous hike. Added difficulty is the thinner oxygen near the summit. Be careful.

Trail Description

This hike is only accessible in summer and even then the weather is pretty dodgy with storms often blowing in. Due to the peak being 12,500 feet it can snow at any time of the year so make certain to bring warm clothes.

The first three quarters of the trail is through deep, damp and heavy pine forest with glimpses of the mountains and valleys through the trees. It is really beautiful.

There is a saddle at the tree line which a lot of people use as a turn around point. From that point on there is snow on the ground and no trees. It is bare rock with the occasional lichen mixed in with mud and ice.

From the saddle onwards it gets colder and colder; and the air gets thinner too. Bring plenty of water and food as stopping to eat for a while is a good way to get your breath back in the thin air.

The actual peak is after about five fake peaks. By the time you get that close to the summit you are tired and sore and want the hike to end. The constant fake peaks can psyche you out, so beware. Getting to the peak is worth it. You get a panoramic view of northern Arizona.

Trail Map

Humphrey's Peak on Google Maps. More information on Humphrey's Peak.