HikeArizona.COM

I'm still trying to get the lay of the land around here. When I am driving east down Bell Road what are those mountains that appear to be at the end of Bell Road or that general vicinity?

The McDowell Mountains

Click on "Map" on top left corner of this page and then in the search box, type in McDowell Sonoran Preserve and a dropdown menu will come up. Select McDowell Sonoran Preserve area Map and all of the Hikes in that Park will show up on the Map. McDowell Sonoran Preserve is on the "Scottsdale" side of the range. I believe it's Mcdowell Mountain Regional Park is on the Fountain Hills side. Some of those Trails will tie together.....You can also look up the Trails individually through Mapdex as well....

You can do the same for all of the Regional Parks in the Valley. And some, outside the Valley....

Thanks, I thought that they might be the McDowells. Will start looking for a hike now for the weekend.

how long? we'll have some suggestions

Canal walk. You have to start with a canal walk, just so you can appreciate being in the mountains away from everyone else ...

Just was looking and I'm thinking about Tom's Thumb. Prefer stuff that makes it to the top of a peak and with lots of elevation gain.

you can do tom's thumb from the north, or tom's thumb from gateway as an out and back
tom's thumb loop off windgate pass trail is an option, but i'm partial to doing it off windgate bell loop:
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=12311
the lookout is a nice side trip
there's a lot to explore around tom's thumb
you could add a side trip up east end, too - that's the highest point in the mcdowell mountains
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=16641
dang, i wish i was doing this hike this weekend

Another option is to go up through Bell Pass then over to Thompson Peak and back, or make a big loop and do Tom's Thumb and Thompson from Gateway TH or 104th and Bell.

20mi / 5k or make your own