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Ridgeline-McDowell Mountain Preserve

Updated
Views of the Fountain Hills Fountain
Hiking the Ridgeline trail
Ridgeline:Map
Hiking the Ridgeline trail
Ridgeline:Elevation Plot
Hiking the Ridgeline trail
Hiking the Ridgeline trail
Hiking the Ridgeline trail

Location

How to Get There
This hike is located Fountain Hills, AZ.

In the Phoenix area, take state HWY-87 towards Payson. Turn left onto Shea Blvd into Fountain Hills. From Shea Blvd, drive 3 miles and turn right onto Palisades Blvd. Take Palisades Blvd for 1 mile and turn left onto signed Eagle Ridge Drive. Take this paved road 2.2 miles through the neighborhood to the signed trailhead and parking. There are restrooms and water at the trailhead.
addressone
14800 N. Eagle Ridge Drive
city
fountain hills
state
az
country
USA
Region
Phoenix Area and Central Arizona

Hike details

Distance
4.00 [Miles] Total
Hike Distance- Details
About 4 miles for the out and back.
Time
2.00 [Hours]
Time-details
It took two hours to complete the loop.
Elevation Change
900 Total gain/loss [Feet]
Elevation Details
With all the up and down, expect to gain and lose about 900 ft of elevation
Hike Trail Type
Out and Back

Season

Best Season
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • October
  • November
  • December
Worst Season
  • July
  • August
Date Hike completed
December 29, 2021

Solitude

Solitude
Low
Solitude Details
This is a popular weekend trailhead so parking may be a challenge. Expect to share this trail with 30 - 40 people.

Difficulty

Difficulty Rating
Easy
difficulty detail
The best part about this hike is it's proximity to the Phoenix area. This trail is easy in difficulty.

Skills

Skills Detail
Some minor route finding.

Permits

Be Aware of
Parking could be a challenge on weekends.

Hiking the Ridgeline trail from the Adero Canyon Trailhead in the McDowell Mountain Preserve near Fountain Hills, Arizona.

From the parking area, follow the signs to the Overlook trail (immediate right when leaving the parking area). Although there is route finding on this hike, thankfully, the trail junctions are well signed.

Follow the Overlook trail by staying right and following the signs. You'll enjoy the impressive views of Fountain Hills and the Four Peaks to your left. If you're lucky, you'll enjoy good views of the Fountain Hills fountain going off, as you're hiking right towards it. After about 0.2 miles of hiking, you'll reach the signed junction with the Wayne Tall Loop (JCT_1R on the map). Stay right here and continue another 0.4 miles to the next signed trail junction with the 'Easy trail access' and shortly after the Ridgeline trail (JCT_2R on the map). Stay right here take the signed Ridgeline trail. The trail lives up to its name, as it stays mostly on a ridgeline jutting out towards Fountain Hills. As a result, the views of the area are quite nice. Its another 1.4 miles to a prominent overlook and the turn around point of the hike.

Map

Swap Start/End
Adding markers to the map ...
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