Hike along the Gateway Loop trail in the McDowell Mountain Preserve near Phoenix, Arizona.

The McDowell Sonoran preserve holds a fantastic variety of desert trails to hike. To the beginner, the multitude of trails may seem daunting. A good introduction to this area is the easy Gateway Loop trail hike. This trail is well signed and easy to follow throughout its length. The typical sonoran cactii make their appearances here (Saguaro, Barrel cactus, Cholla). The only drawback to this trail is that it is quite popular. You'll have to share it with other hikers as well as the occasional mountain biker.

From the trailhead, walk across the metal bridge to start hiking on the Saguaro trail. You'll pass through an ampitheater and hike about 0.3 miles to the start of the signed Gateway Loop trail (JCT_1L on the map). You can take this lollypop loop in either direction. We chose clockwise and the instructions below reflect this choice.

JCT_1L   Turn left here to start the loop. From this point, every trail junction is signed. If you don't want to think too much about navigation, just remember to turn right at every trail junction from here until you reach this point again.

JCT_2R   Turn right here at the junction with the horseshoe trail

JCT_3R   Turn right here at the junction with the windgate pass trail

After about 2 miles of hiking, you'll reach the highest elevation point of the loop at the Gateway Saddle (elevation 2,375 ft).

JCT_4R   Turn right at the junction with the Bell Pass trail

JCT_5R   Turn right at the junction with the Paradise trail

JCT_6R   Turn right at the junction with the Levee trail (via the Crossover trail)

From the last trail junction, it's another 0.2 to return to the loop start (JCT_1L). Turn left here and hike the remaining 0.4 miles to the trailhead.