Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 6 sights
11.3 mi · ▲ 1,335 ft · 4 hr 26 min
Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 6 sights is an 11.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Gateway Saddle. It climbs 1,335 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 6 sights
11.3 mi · ▲ 1,335 ft · 4 hr 26 min
Elevation 1,548–2,380 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.64777, -111.85812
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 98°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bajada Nature Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Saguaro Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Levee trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Paradise Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Quartz Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading W.
- 200 ftReach Gateway Saddle, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Javelina Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Taliesin Trail, heading SE.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Quartz Trail, heading NE.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Paradise Trail, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 400 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miPass Gateway Saddle.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Saguaro Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Bajada Nature Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive 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 4.0 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- 104th Street Spur–Levee trail, 3 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 134 ft
- Levee trail–Paradise Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 249 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Saguaro Trail, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 639 ft
- Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 5 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 659 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 606 ft
- Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 5 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 635 ft
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