Windmill Trail - MSP, AZ

Overview
This trail is named after an old structure that's fairly easy to find along its route. Whether you approach it from the west or the east, and even though it's a short jaunt of barely a mile, you will gain a new appreciation and love for the McDowell-Sonoran Preserve by the time you complete it.


Hike
The Windmill Trail runs for 1.1 miles. Most hikers will access it while heading east from the intersection of the Bell Pass / Windgate Pass trails. It can also be reached from the East End Trail if you are heading down and southbound from Tom's Thumb. Or it can be accessed while heading westbound from the Coachwhip Trail.

My access point was southbound from the East End Trail and Tom's Thumb, which placed me within eyeshot of the Bell Pass/Windgate Pass intersection, just a few yards away. At this point, you are surrounded by gorgeous and diverse scenery in each direction. To your back is Tom's Thumb and the East End peaks. Ahead and to your right are the trails leading straight into the McDowell Mountains, up to Windgate Pass and beyond. To your left is your route along the Windmill, with the Superstition Mountains 40 miles away visible in the background. If you have the freedom to pick any one of those directions at random depending on which ones looks more delicious to you in that moment, we should all be so lucky. But if you choose to hike along the Windmill, eastbound, you'll enjoy a fairly flat, slightly downhill stroll until connecting to the Coachwhip Trail.

I should point out that I lost the trail for a few brief moments, and was only saved because I'd downloaded a GPS track. For about 10 minutes, I found myself doing some light bushwhacking through a dry creekbed that I'd mistaken for the trail, before looking at my device and seeing that I was off-trail. Whether this was my own carelessness or because the trail was easy to lose, you can judge for yourself. But other than that minor slip-up, I had no route-finding difficulty. As for "the windmill" itself, you can spot it if you're paying attention without leaving the trail. It is standing south of the trail.


Water Sources
None. Bring ample water for hot, desert hiking during warm weather.

Camping
Not allowed in the Preserve.


Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

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2014-08-19 neilends