Lower Sonoran Trail - FHP, AZ

Overview
The Lower Sonoran Trail is a relatively new trail (it was completed in 2016) in the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve (FHP). Hikers are able to do a loop hike in the northern end of the FHP by combining the Lower Sonoran Trail and the Sonoran Trail on a hike.

Hike
The Lower Sonoran Trail is best accessed from the Adero Canyon Trailhead. From the trailhead, take the Promenade Trail north until its terminus at a junction where the Sonoran Trail goes to the left and the Lower Sonoran Trail goes to the right. At the junction you will see two signs: one for the Sonoran Trail and one for the Lower Sonoran Trail.

The Lower Sonoran Trail goes for 2 miles, at which point in converges with the Sonoran Trail at the boundary between the FHP and the Maricopa County McDowell Mountain Regional Preserve (MMRP). At that point you have 3 options: 1) Turn around and go back the way you came to the Promenade Trail, 2) make a loop by taking the Sonoran Trail back to the Promenade Trail, or 3) go north on the Sonoran Trail into the MMRP -- you'll hike about 0.8 miles until you come to the Dixie Mine Trail.

The Lower Sonoran Trail is almost all dirt with very little rock, so it is easy to hike on. The trail goes through typical Sonoran Desert vegetation, and there are nice views to the east of Four Peaks, the Mazatzal Mountains, the Goldfield Mountains, and the Superstition Mountains.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2019-02-13 DixieFlyer