Bell Pass–104th Street Spur, 6 sights
11.3 mi · ▲ 2,343 ft · 4 hr 56 min
Bell Pass–104th Street Spur, 6 sights is an 11.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Bell Pass. It climbs 2,343 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bell Pass–104th Street Spur, 6 sights
11.3 mi · ▲ 2,343 ft · 4 hr 56 min
Elevation 1,688–3,211 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 104th Street Spur · 33.64016, -111.85674
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on 104th Street Spur, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Levee trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Crossover Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Bell Pass Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail, heading E.
- 400 ftPass Bell Pass.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Windgate Pass, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Windmill Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miReach Bell Pass, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Windgate Pass, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading W.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading SW.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Crossover Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Levee trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto 104th Street Spur, heading W.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:28 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:48 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:13 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from 104th Street Spur Trailhead
- Very Large Cactus–104th Street Spur, 4 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Desert Spring Park Lake–104th Street Spur, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 241 ft
- Gateway Saddle–104th Street Spur Loop, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 683 ft
- 104th Street Spur–Levee trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 496 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–104th Street Spur, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 646 ft
- Prairie Falcon Overlook–Bell Pass, 7 sights 12.4 mi · ▲ 3,264 ft
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