McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Desert Spring Park Lake & Horseshoe Trail via Desert Park Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 673 ft · 3 hr 6 min

Desert Spring Park Lake & Horseshoe Trail via Desert Park Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Pinnacle Peak Heights V-VI, AZ. The route reaches Desert Spring Park Lake. It climbs 673 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,686 – 2,205 ft8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.68016, -111.84475
Nearest town Pinnacle Peak Heights V-VI, AZ

Directions

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Desert Spring Park Lake & Horseshoe Trail via Desert Park Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 673 ft · 3 hr 6 min

Elevation 1,685–2,204 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.68016, -111.84475

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 1 miTurn left onto Wingspan connector, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  4. 250 ftSharp left, heading W.
  5. 0.8 miSharp left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right onto Desert Park Trail, heading S.
  9. 250 ftPass Desert Spring Park Lake.
  10. 1.3 miBear left onto Horseshoe Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.7 miReach Desert Spring Park Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.7 miBear right onto Desert Park Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  17. 0.9 miSharp right, heading N.
  18. 250 ftBear left onto Wingspan connector, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.8 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

57% dirt15% gravel28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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