McDowell Mountain Park is one of the oldest and largest of the marvelous chain of regional parks in Maricopa County. These parks surround the huge Phoenix metro area and offer a multitude of recreational opportunities. McDowell Mountain has over 40 miles of hiking/biking/equestrian trails, a marvelous campground with group and primitive areas, a separate tent-only camping area, a competitive mountain bike track complex, 88 open picnic sites in two areas, plus reservable group picnic ramadas and a small nature center.
Most trails in the park are multi-use, allowing bikes, horses, and hikers. The trails interconnect, allowing an almost infinite variety of loop hikes to be created. Some of the primary trails:
- Pemberton Loop: 15.3 miles, 667-foot elevation gain.
- Scenic Trail: 4.5 miles, 272-foot elevation gain.
- Escondido Trail: 6.2 miles, 284-foot elevation gain.
- Tonto Tank Trail: 2.7 miles, 446-foot elevation gain.
- Lousley Hill: 1.2 miles, 295-foot elevation gain.
- Granite Trail: 2.5 miles, 332-foot elevation gain.
- North Loop: 2.9 miles, 138-foot elevation gain.
The McDowell Mountain Competitive Track consists of three inter-connected tracks: the Long Loop for general riders, the Sport Loop for intermediate and advanced riders, and the Technical Loop for expert riders. The tracks contain a variety of features to test riders’ skills, including steep inclines, swooping turns, and rugged terrain. The track is open to runners and horseback riders as well.
Camping
- E. I. Rowland Campground: A typical campground with 76 sites for RVs or tents. Water and electric hook ups.
- Ironwood tent camping area: Thirteen primitive sites with nearby restrooms and water.
- Three-acre group campground: Room for up to 30 RVs or tents.
- Youth group campground
- Minks Camp and Eagle Camp: Small primitive camps.
- Group Picnic Ramada: Can be reserved for groups larger than 30 units and is also used for overflow camping
The beautiful desert and mountain scenery of McDowell Mountain Park is a real treasure for residents and visitors to the Phoenix area.
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