McDowell Sonoran Preserve – Gateway Trailhead

At roughly 30,500 acres, this is the largest urban preserve in the United States, protecting a vast stretch of Sonoran Desert and the McDowell Mountains on Scottsdale's northern edge. The Gateway Trailhead is the flagship access point, with a visitor center, restrooms, ample parking, and trails ranging from the short, paved, accessible Bajada Nature Trail to long climbs into the range. Excellent saguaro-studded desert hiking and biking.